2000/02/01 Caterpillar

Engines:

All Commercial

General

Caterpillar has had an ongoing program for many years in order to obtain written reports of incidents that involve Caterpillar products. The majority of the reports of incidents are filed by Caterpillar Dealers. This system has been very effective and participation in the process for reporting is encouraged. This written system will continue to be available. However, Caterpillar has developed a new faster means of reporting incidents to Caterpillar. You will be able to submit an electronic incident report if you have access to the Caterpillar Intranet. Log your computer into the Cat Neutral Net. An electronic incident report can be completed, printed and submitted. The form for the electronic incident report and the directions for completing the form are at the following address:

https://cds.cat.com/tsd/incident.nsf/$about?OpenAbout

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON REPORTS OF INCIDENTS

An incident is an event that involves any Caterpillar product which results in personal injury, death, product damage, or property damage. An incident can also be an especially unique event with no occurrence of injury or property damage. Information that is gathered and recorded on the incident report will help Caterpillar evaluate the need for changes to the product. Report the facts rather than opinion or speculation. The incident should be reported as soon as possible after the incident occurs. Early reporting will enable Caterpillar to quickly conduct further investigation. Consequently, the results of the investigation will be communicated faster. Information that is gained after the initial incident report can be forwarded at a later date. Because the incident report may subsequently be reviewed in the course of future legal cases, accurate reporting of the facts of the incident is essential.

Additionally, many states have become more consumer oriented in regard to "lemon laws". The total time at the service facility is considered as down time under most "lemon laws". This includes the following items.

• Waiting for shop area

• Waiting for mechanics

• Waiting for parts

• Actual repair time

INCIDENT REPORT (WRITTEN SYSTEM)

Caterpillar supplies a prepared form in order to make written reporting of incidents easier, more uniform, and more accurate. A form with instructions follows later in this article. Forms may be duplicated from the one that is provided, or pads of 50 may be ordered through the Literature Distribution System. Request 00082918. The back of the form has complete instructions for completing and submitting the form.

LOCATIONS OF CONTACTS

Please call the following persons if you have questions concerning the procedure for the incident report.

Technical Support Manager

Manager of Standards & Regulations

Product Safety Coordinator

Contact any of the above persons for any of the following reasons:

• You have questions on the method that is needed in order to proceed with the incident reporting process or the investigation process.

• You have an opportunity to inspect the product or the site of the incident before either the product or the site is altered.

• You have parts that were involved in the incident or you can get parts that were involved in the incident.

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