Downloaded from https://www.everyspec.com d. Upon receipt of written notification of recommendations, the responsible DA-level organization will provide telephonic acknowledgement within 5 working days and an initial response to the USACR/SC within 60 calendar days as to corrective action initiated or planned. Interim and follow-up reports are required every 90 days after initial response until the action is closed. e. All DA-level recommendations not accepted or implemented by the responsible command, organization, agency, or activity will be returned to the commander, USACR/SC, with support rationale within 60 calendar days after the date on the letter of transmittal. 3–22.
Maintaining accident records All accident report records required by this regulation and maintained by USACR/SC will be retained at least 10 years. For other organizations, maintain records of accident investigations to include the current fiscal year and the previous 5 fiscal years. 3–23. Deviations Occasionally, the safety accident reporting requirements of this regulation may be incompatible with mission ac- complishment. In such cases, Army Headquarters commanders may request deviation from the specific requirements from Office of the Director of Army Safety (DACS–SF), 200 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310–0200. 3–24.
Scene preservation A concerted effort is required by Army Headquarters commanders to ensure that each group of investigators is able to collect the information and evidence required to properly conduct its investigation. a. When the situation permits preservation of the accident scene, only those actions necessary for rescue or recovery of victims and the initial on-site investigation by MP/CID will be allowed. Whenever possible, photographs of the location of victims should be made before the victims are moved. Access will be restricted to those commanders and personnel directly involved in investigating the accident.
Before the accident investigation board arrives at the accident site, MP/CID personnel should remove only those items of evidence that would otherwise be destroyed by time or the elements. During the on-site investigation, the safety board will be accompanied by MP/CID personnel who know the nature and location of the evidence removed prior to the board’s investigation. Personnel who directed the rescue operations and who can discuss damage to or movement of wreckage that occurred during the rescue operation should also assist the board. b. When the situation does not permit preservation of the accident scene, MP/CID personnel will remove all items of evidence needed for their investigation.
Photographs of items before they are collected will be made whenever possible. All components, wreckage, and debris that must be moved will be stored in a secure area and guarded when necessary until released by the board president. Personnel involved in the recovery operation and knowledgeable of the resulting damage to the wreckage will be available during the accident investigation board’s preliminary inspection of the wreckage. The appointing authority will ensure that photos are taken and a sketch of the scene is made with sufficient detail and measurements to allow a scale drawing to be made.
All wreckage, damage, and ground markings incident to the accident will be identified and photographed before measurement and cleanup of the accident scene. The sketch and photographs will be provided to the president of the board as soon as possible after his or her arrival. c. The accident investigation board will be allowed to inspect physical evidence collected by MP/CID personnel. The board president is responsible for ensuring that no member of the board takes any action that would destroy the evidence or would compromise the legal chain of custody of those items. 3–25.
Accident scene investigation Procedures for accident scene investigation are contained in DA Pam 385–40 and the USACR/SC handbook. 3–26. Access to information from other investigations The accident investigation board will have access to all evidence, photographs, and witness statements collected by MP/CID investigators. The accident investigation board will also have access to all personnel and medical records of personnel involved in the accident and maintenance records on the equipment involved in the accident. If evidence is forwarded to CID laboratories for analysis, the board president will be provided a copy of the laboratory report.
Whenever possible, CID personnel will advise the board president of laboratory determinations that may be received from the laboratory by telephone. The board president may determine that additional information is necessary for the investigation. When this occurs, the board president will request additional analysis by the laboratory. The results of the additional testing are considered common source factual data available for use by all investigators, unless it clearly reveals the board deliberative process. 3–27. Access to information collected by accident investigation boards a.
Other Army authorized investigators will be given access to— (1) Reports received pursuant to submission of equipment to Army depots for teardown and analysis. (2) Command directed fitness-for-duty examinations. 33 AR 385–10 • 23 August 2007