Accident / Incident Investigations

Accident / incident investigations are essentially figuring out why something unintended happened, like an injury, property damage, or even a close call. By understanding the root cause, the goal is to prevent similar incidents from happening again. These investigations are typically conducted in workplaces to improve safety but can also be used elsewhere.

Here are some key points about accident/incident investigations:

• Focus on Root Cause: Investigations go beyond immediate causes to find the underlying factors that contributed to the incident. This could be inadequate training, faulty equipment, or even unclear procedures.
• Preventative Measures: The main purpose is to identify ways to prevent future accidents. This might involve improving training, fixing equipment deficiencies, or changing procedures.
• Not About Blame: The goal isn’t to point fingers but to understand how the incident happened. This fosters a safer work environment where people feel comfortable reporting incidents.