Incident investigation is key to workplace safety, helping identify causes and uncover opportunities for improvement. When such incidents occur, it’s essential to understand why they happened in order to prevent future occurrences. But what exactly is an incident investigation, and why is it so crucial?
Accident vs. Incident
The word “accident” suggests an event that was random and could not have been prevented. Since most workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses are preventable, OSHA suggests using the term “incident” when referring to these events.
Incident Investigation
An incident investigation is a systematic review and analysis of an unplanned event, whether minor or major, to identify the root causes and contributing factors that led to the incident. The goal of this investigation is to prevent similar occurrences in the future, by implementing corrective actions.
When conducting an incident investigation, it is important to assemble a team to produce an effective investigation. The incident investigation assembly team may include:
- Upper management
- Workers from the area not involved in the incident
- Maintenance supervisors
- Safety supervisors
- Supervisors from the affected area
- Or, safety committee members
Conducting Incident Investigations
There are many reason why an incident investigation may be needed, such as to:
- Find out the cause of incidents to prevent future ones
- Fulfill legal requirements
- Determine the cost of an incident
- Determine compliance with applicable regulations
- And, process worker’s compensation claims
Steps to conducting incident investigations may include:
- Preserve/document the scene
- Collect information
- Determine the root causes
- And, implement corrective actions
Reporting
Under OSHA, employers are required to report work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Employers must report the following to OSHA:
- All work-related fatalities, within 8 hours of finding out about them
- All work-related inpatient hospitalizations, within 24 hours of finding out about them
- All work-related amputations, within 24 hours of finding out about them
- And, all work-related losses of an eye, within 24 hours of finding out about them
“Of finding out about them” means whenever the employer is made aware of the situation, they have 8 or 24 hours after that time to report the incident.
As an example, Henry was involved in a work-related incident at 8:00 PM, resulting in the loss of his arm. He was transported to the hospital by 8:15 PM. The following morning at 9:00 AM, Henry notified his employer about the incident. As per regulations, the employer has 24 hours from the time of notification to report the incident. Although the incident occurred at 8:00 PM, the employer was not informed until 9:00 AM the next day.
Employers can report incidents by:
- Calling the nearest OSHA Area Office during normal business hours
- Calling the 24-hour OSHA hotline (1-800-321-OSHA (6742))
- Or, reporting online using OSHA’s Serious Event Reporting Online Form (Form No. OSHA 6-40.1)
*Employers must maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses using the OSHA 300 Form*
Incident Investigation Program
This program should clearly state a written plan, including guidelines for, but not limited to:
- How and when management is notified of the incident
- Who will conduct investigations and what training they received
- An annual program review to identify and correct program deficiencies and incident trends
- And, OSHA notification, which must comply with reporting requirements
Conclusion
An incident investigation is a crucial process that helps organizations understand the causes of an event, mitigate risks, and improve overall safety and performance. By systematically gathering data, interviewing involved parties, and analyzing potential causes, companies can uncover valuable insights to prevent future occurrences. Effective investigations not only identify immediate issues but also contribute to long-term improvements in policies, procedures, and safety protocols.