Incident INVESTIGATION

NAVIGATE WORKPLACE INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS WITH AN EXPERT

Having an incident on your site is serious business. Not only because of the implications for the injured, but the other employees involved, OSHA investigators, your insurance company, attorneys, and so on. In the event an incident should occur, our Safety Associates will work with the leadership team to conduct a thorough investigation and provide simple corrective actions that will improve the overall health and safety of your workplace.

WHAT ARE THE BASIC STEPS FOR CONDUCTING AN INCIDENT INVESTIGATION?

At OECS, we recommend integrating the 5 Whys into your incident investigation process as follows:

1. Gather the Facts
Document what happened, who was involved, when and where the incident occurred and what conditions were present. Use photos, witness statements and any available records.

2. Assemble the Right Team
Include individuals with firsthand knowledge of the incident and a strong understanding of operations and safety. A team approach leads to better insights and reduces bias.

3. Ask “Why?”—and Keep Going
Start with the immediate cause and ask why it happened. Then ask why that happened. Continue until you uncover the root cause.
Example:
• Problem: A worker slipped on a wet floor.
• Why 1: The floor was wet.
• Why 2: A pipe was leaking.
• Why 3: The pipe hadn’t been inspected in months.
• Why 4: There’s no regular maintenance schedule.
• Why 5: Our safety program doesn’t include preventive maintenance policies.
The real issue wasn’t just a wet floor, it was a gap in the safety program. Now you know what to fix.

4. Identify Corrective Actions
Once the root cause is clear, develop corrective and preventive actions that address it directly. These may include policy changes, training updates or equipment maintenance schedules.

5. Follow Up and Document
Track the implementation of corrective actions and ensure they’re effective. Document everything. A thorough report not only satisfies OSHA requirements — it protects your business and your people.