get the most out of your accident reports

Get the Most Out of Your Get the Most Out of Your Boating Accident ReportsBoating Accident Reports

Tuesday, September 14, 2010NASBLA Annual ConferenceHonolulu, Hawai’i

Tammy Terry, OhioRichard Moore, Florida

Why is Accident Reporting Important?

“Yet the best pilots have need of mariners, besides sails, anchor and other tackle.”

- Ben Jonson

mar·i·ner (m r -n r) n. One who navigates or assists in navigating a ship.

Knowing the Seas – What are the Federal Mandates Regarding

Accident Reporting?

33 CFR 173.55Conditions for a Report – Specific occurrences involving the vessel or its equipment that require operator/owner to file a BAR

33 CFR 173.55 (c)Who Submits the Report – Operator/owner files BAR with reporting authority

33 CFR Part 173 Subpart C – Casualty and Accident Reporting

33 CFR Part 174Subpart C – Casualty Reporting System Requirements

33 CFR 173.57Content of Report

Number, name of vessel (a) Name, DOB, contact info, experience, boating education level of instructor (h)

Availability and use of PFDs (o)

Cause of the accident, determination of alcohol (v)

Name, Address of vessel owner (b)

Name, contact info of operator (i)

Type and amount of fire extinguisher (p)

Make, model, type, beam width, depth, hp, propulsion, fuel, construction, year built (w)

Name of nearest city, county, state, body of water (c)

Number of people onboard/towed (j)

Nature, extent of injury (q) Name, contact info of witness (x)

Time and date (d) Name, contact info, DOB of victim (k)

Property damage estimate and description (r)

HIN (y)

Location (e) Cause of death (l) Description of equipment failure if a cause of accident (s)

Name and contact info of person submitting report (z)

Visibility, weather, water conditions (f)

Weather forecasts available, use prior to accident (m)

Description of casualty (t)

Air and water temperature (g)

Name, contact info of owner, property damaged (n)

Type of operation and accident (u)

33 CFR 173.53 & 33 CFR 173.55Timelines for Report Notification and Submission – Operator/owner files BAR with reporting authority within timeframe; requirements depend on nature of incident(deaths, injuries, vessel/property damage)

33 CFR 174.121 Forwarding of Reports to Coast Guard – Within 30 days of its receipt of accident report, State forwards report data to Coast Guard HQ

Get to Know Prior Explorers – What are Federal Uses of Accident Reporting Data?

Each year, the Boating Safety Division produces a statistics report on recreational boating accidents.

www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx The report gives a national perspective on accident causes and types, and also provides charts of state/territory data.

USCG Boating Safety Division

Data are used in Coast Guard publications, including:

The U.S. Coast Guard Budget in Brief and Performance Report www.uscg.mil/top/about/doc/FY08_Budget.pdf

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Performance Plan

The Coast Guard Posture Statement

USCG Publications

http://uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg54/docs/MSPerformancePlan.pdf

www.uscg.mil/comdt/DOCS/LOW.RES.CG%20FY09%20Posture%20Statement.FINAL.Jan29.pdf

NBSAC, established by the Federal Boating Safety Act of 1971, uses the data as it advises the USCG on a range of boating safety matters.

Currently, NBSAC subgroups are advising on the use of data to measure the impact of various objectives of the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program.

National Boating Safety Advisory Council

Get to Know Prior Explorers – What other Groups and Organizations are

using Accident Reporting Data?

•Non-Profits (Carbon monoxide case studies; propeller casualties)•Consultants (Environmental impacts)•University Researchers•Other Federal Agencies (Life jacket wear campaigns)•Media•Insurance Agencies (Promotional strategies)•Industry•Individuals•Lawyers•Claims Adjusters

Identifying human-, boat-, and external factors relating to recreational boating accidents/injuries/fatalities

Analyzing incidents and trends associated with operator non-compliance with safety equipment carriage requirements

Analyzing factors specific to fatalities among children and youth

Analyzing fatality patterns as they relate to safety awareness-building campaigns

NASBLAEngineering, Reporting and Analysis Committee (ERAC)

Developing recommended guidance for investigators and BARD-Web data entry personnel: types of boating accidents, contributing factors/causes, vessel type, activity, operation (terms and definitions)

Analyzing accident reporting gaps

Information on all of these projects and more can be found at:www.nasbla.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3305

NASBLAEngineering, Reporting and Analysis Committee (ERAC)

Get to Know Prior Explorers – What are State Uses of

Accident Reporting Data?

Many states compile their own annual statistical summary of recreational bating accident data:

• California CA • Florida FL• North Carolina NC• Ohio OH • Tennessee TN

Individual States

Taking it to the “next level” by using state and local trends in accident/injury/fatality data to determine the success of programs and try to hone in on problem areas.

Individual States

Looked at accident types on Candlewood Lake – Connecticut’s largest lake - to determine if special regulations were needed on the lake

Individual StatesConnecticut

Connecticut

Takes an annual look at location of accidents and fatalities throughout the state --- in comparison/correlation with registration location information, water use location, and various surveys --- to determine:

– Areas with high levels of accidents or fatalities that may require enhanced law enforcement or education emphasis

– Unique “trouble spots” that may require further investigation

– General trends in boater behavior and areas of use throughout the state

Individual StatesOhio

Analysis tool developed from ERAC charge

Looks at patterns in state fatalities across several parameters:

• Year (across a 10-year span)• Accident Type• Accident Cause• Body of Water (including size

and unique characteristics)

Individual StatesTennessee

Developing Improved Navigation Tools What are Critical Data and Process

Issues in Accident Reporting?

• Differences in data fields and data field options between states

State A State B

Data Standardization

□ Airboat□ Cabin Motorboat□ Open Motorboat□ Kayak□ Canoe□ Rowboat□ Houseboat□ Personal Watercraft□ Pontoon Boat□ Mini Jet Boat□ Sail Only□ Sail with Auxiliary Power□ Seaplane□ Inflatable□ Jon Boat□ Raft Homemade□ Paddle □ Runabout□ Raft, Rubber□ Offshore□ Bass Boat

□ Airboat□ Auxiliary Sail□ Cabin Motorboat□ Canoe□ Houseboat□ Kayak□ Jet Boat□ Open Motorboat□ Personal Watercraft□ Pontoon Boat□ Rowboat□ Sail Only□ Other: ______________

• Differences in data fields and data field options between states

State A State B


□ Airboat□ Cabin Motorboat□ Open Motorboat□ Kayak□ Canoe□ Rowboat□ Houseboat□ Personal Watercraft□ Pontoon Boat□ Mini Jet Boat□ Sail Only□ Sail with Auxiliary Power□ Seaplane□ Inflatable□ Jon Boat□ Raft Homemade□ Paddle □ Runabout□ Raft, Rubber□ Offshore□ Bass Boat

□ Airboat□ Auxiliary Sail□ Cabin Motorboat□ Canoe□ Houseboat□ Kayak□ Jet Boat□ Open Motorboat□ Personal Watercraft□ Pontoon Boat□ Rowboat□ Sail Only□ Other: ______________

?

?

•Vague, conflicting or missing definitions for data fields and data field options

Examples:

•Injury requiring treatment beyond first aid (33 CFR 173.55 (a))•Vessels falling under the RBS Program (33 CFR 173.51)•Timeline for forwarding a report to the Coast Guard (33 CFR 174.121)•Commercial accidents (33 CFR 173.51)


• Gaps in BARD-Web data (Based on 2008 data)

– Only 69% of records included the Operator’s boating education

– Only 70% of records indicated the Operator’s age

Missing Data

• Incomplete information in narratives– “u1 ran into the stern of u2”– “PWC turned into other”

• A good narrative– Uses no personal information

(use Vessel 1, Operator, Victim 2, etc.)– Includes as much detail as

possible -- especially items that aren’t included in other

BARD-Web data fields

Missing Data

• Unable to analyze key issues in a reliable and valid manner

• Unable to accurately assess the success of various programs

• Unable to rely on data to guide programs into the future

Consequences of Non-Standardized and Incomplete Data

Get on Board – Charting a Clearer Course What’s Being Done? What Can You Do?

• USCG -- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on alignment of BARD/VIS/SNS

– http://nasbla.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=4198 – Deadline for comments is October 15, 2010

• USCG -- Additional work on accident reporting issues coming in the future

• ERAC -- Charge work– Standardized definitions– Possible “Forum”

• NBSAC Recommendations

Actions Under Way or Planned

NBSAC Recommendations

• Develop a two-tiered boating accident notification/ reporting system

• Clarify through policy and regulation, which watercraft qualify for boating accident reporting

•Include exclusive state waters in accident reporting requirements


• Clarify which boating-related injuries qualify for reporting by adopting OSHA standards for “medical treatment beyond first aid” as the standard for recreational boating injury reporting.• Consider revising reportable boating accident criteria to exclude incidents where the vessel was being used as a swimming platform or a person voluntarily leaves the vessel as the first event, regardless of whether the vessel was underway or not


• Create a Decision Matrix that will simplify the boating accident and casualty reporting decision-making process

• Establish and enforce the responsibility and accountability of first responders for notifying of an accident or casualty and of state reporting authorities for investigating and submitting boating accident report data.


• Amend the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to specify the essential elements of information required to be included in the initial notification of a boating accident• Amend the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to abstain from including specific data elements and require that essential elements of boating accident report information be specified in a US Coast Guard policy document


• Revise the former guidance document CG-449, and make it available in a condensed version through electronic media.• Examine the feasibility of harmonizing commercial and recreational boating accident cause data. • Continue to research methods for statistical adjustment of accident totals to help extrapolate unreported accidents.


• Draft text for inclusion in Boating Statistics discussing possible errors and limits to interpretation of data extracted from BARD. • Examine the suitability of additional models of accident causation (human factors) for use in describing fatal recreational boating accidents.


• Assist the states in conducting training, education and outreach efforts directed toward the boating public and accident investigators and regarding boating accident notification and reporting regulatory and policy revisions

Get Involved in Your State’s Accident Reporting:

– Look at ways to improve your processes and standardize your data

• Ensure completeness of data fields• Beef up your narratives • Stress the importance to your staff

and associates

– Look at ways you can use accident data to guide your own programs and evaluate your efforts

How YOU Can Help

Get Involved in Your State’s Accident Reporting:– Explore various tools that are available to you

– Provide your input and suggestions• Comment sheets/cards can be filled

out and dropped off today• Additional input and suggestions

can be forwarded to Tammy Terry [email protected]

• Comment on the NPRM for BARD/SNS/VIS by October 15, 2010

How YOU Can Help

QUESTIONS?

get the most out of your accident reports

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