What does ARM mean in NASA

An Accident Report Meeting (ARM) is a gathering involving the employer, employee and any required representatives to review information collected from incident investigations or safety reviews. The purpose is to discuss any contributing factors, remedies or other actions that should be taken to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.

As a minimum, the employer and employee should attend the meeting. Depending on the type of incident, representatives from health and safety teams, unions, legal advisors or external organisations may also be involved.

During an ARM the parties involved will review information gathered from any investigations or reviews arising from the incident. Facts surrounding what caused or contributed to it will be discussed as well as any subsequent corrective action taken to reduce risk of similar incidents taking place in the future.

Legal representation is not necessarily needed and may depend on several factors, such as if there is a dispute over facts concerning what happened and who was responsible for it as well as any potential claims made. It's recommended that employers speak with their insurance provider if they have questions about needing legal representation.

The length of time required for an ARM can vary but typically would take between half an hour and one hour depending on how complex the circumstances of the incident are that are being discussed.

At its conclusion you should have come away with increased understanding about what caused or contributed to the incident and knowledge of how similar risks can be managed more effectively in the future. You should also have details of any corrective actions that need to be taken regarding this particular incident so hopefully it won't occur again.

Yes, opinions can differ between those present at ARMs which is why these meetings are important - so all available information around what happened can be considered by each party before reaching a consensus decision on how best to move forward and prevent similar issues occurring again in future.

Yes - your employer should provide you with details of any decisions reached during your ARM, including advice on how best to avoid similar occurrences in future and also outline what sort of support you'll receive going forward if necessary.

Yes - employees are entitled by law under safety legislation to be paid for attending ARMs held during working hours unless otherwise agreed with your employer beforehand; though if they wish you must attend then payment doesn't always apply (such as when investigating criminal activities). In these cases requesting reasonable expenses would likely be acceptable instead.

Generally speaking it's usually employers who initiate them - often because requirements are placed upon them by health & safety bodies such as HSE (Health & Safety Executive) or local authorities such as local councils who want their employees to comply with accident reporting regulations or laws applicable within their jurisdiction. Having said that though some situations may require employees requesting them first too (such as when investigating criminal activities).