Fundamentals of Accident Investigation

Short course/CPD

Fundamentals of Accident Investigation

Course date: 14 Jan 2013 - 01 Feb 2013

Course overview

Additional course dates: 13 - 31 May 2013

Fundamentals of Investigation is a 3-week course offered by the Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre in close collaboration with the accident investigation community and with the endorsement of the Centre’s Industry Advisory Board.

Location

Cranfield University is located at the very heart of the UK – within the innovation triangle between London and the cities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Our central location provides easy access from the M1, excellent main line rail service as well as proximity to key international airports. Set in rolling countryside, Cranfield offers a rich, rural landscape complemented by thriving towns and picturesque villages.

Road: We are just 10 minutes from Junctions 13 & 14 of the M1 motorway. There is free parking on campus.
Rail: Milton Keynes or Bedford
Air: London Luton (22 miles), Heathrow (50 miles) or Birmingham (70 miles).

View our location maps.

Course fee:

£5,010

Accommodation fee:

£1653

£480

Accommodation is on a full-board basis from the evening before the course commences until the afternoon of the last day. The course fee includes refreshments and lunch during the day. The accommodation fee includes all other meals. Details of accommodation will be provided in the delegate information pack.

How to register

Further information

For more information on this course or booking details please contact:
Academic Operations Unit
T: + 44 (0) 1234 754192
E: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk

Course Booking Conditions

Course description

On successful completion of this course the delegate will be able to:

Describe the accident investigation process for a transport accident including elements of preparation, emergency response, evidence collection and analysis, report-writing and recommendations
work safely under supervision at an accident site
conduct witness interviews and collect material evidence from a variety of relevant sources
conduct an analysis of evidence to develop a no-blame report of what occurred and recommendations for future prevention
critically assess strategies for working alongside interested parties including the emergency services, legal services, pathologist, scientific support, news media, families and regulator.

The course brings together the considerable expertise and experience of investigators, operators and researchers to deliver a level of training that is second to none. The close relationship that has existed with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) since the first course ran in 1977 has now been enhanced by collaboration with the Marine Accident Investigation (MAIB) and Rail Accident Investigation Branches (RAIB). The course draws upon the best experiences from air, marine and rail transport to give a balanced view of the accident investigation process.

Who should attend?

The course is designed for those who may have to conduct, or participate in, transport accident investigation. This may be in the role of official investigator for a state or as a representative of a manufacturer, operator, insurer or service provider. Previous attendees have come from the railway, marine, aviation and road transport areas including both military and civilian operations.

All lectures and workshops will be in English and due to the intensity of the course those without a thorough knowledge of English would be at a severe disadvantage. There are no formal qualifications for entry, but course numbers are limited and preference will be given to applicants best able to benefit fully from the course.

Content summary

The course timetable includes lectures, workshops, case studies, simulations and site visits and includes the following elements:

Appraisal of the accident site
disaster response
health and safety at the accident site
recovery of wreckage
collection of evidence
interviewing techniques
structures and crashworthiness
physiology, psychology and ergonomics
passenger behaviour / survivability
media management
accident pathology
court procedures for investigators
data recorders and their analysis
analytical techniques
systemic approach to investigation
managing investigations
liaising with victims and their families
relations with the regulator / interested parties
developing and managing recommendations
report writing
follow-up actions
the future of investigation

The course also includes a major investigation simulation which includes a site phase, interviewing, analysis and presentation of recommendations to an expert review panel.