Investigating a worksite incident— a fatality, injury, illness or close call— provides employers and workers the opportunity to identify hazards in their operations and shortcomings in their safety and health programs. Most importantly, it enables employers and workers to identify and implement the corrective actions necessary to prevent future incidents.

Incident investigations that focus on identifying and correcting root causes, not on finding fault or blame, also improve workplace morale and increase productivity, by demonstrating an employer’s commitment to a safe and healthful workplace.

OSHA has published a handy 24-page guide on incident investigations:

Incident [Accident] Investigations: A Guide for Employers. This guidance document provides employers with a systems approach to identifying and controlling the underlying or root causes of all incidents in order to prevent their recurrence.

CLICK HERE for more information from OSHA on incident investigations.