6.3 How to Carry Out an Investigation

You need a system in place before anything happens. Think about these factors.

Look after the injured person

An injured person needs treatment as soon as possible. First aid is the initial management of an injury until expert medical help is available, and its aims are to preserve life, prevent the condition from getting worse and promote recovery. Provide enough first aid equipment, facilities and people of the right kind to treat employees who are injured or taken ill at work.

Preserve the scene

An effective investigation depends on collecting all the evidence, so secure the scene as soon as possible. Other places that are separate from the scene but relevant may also need securing.

Report the incident

Tell the injured person's line manager as soon as possible, so that the reporting process starts. That means filling in the organisation's forms and the accident book, which is a legal requirement in some countries such as the UK. An incident report form records the date and time, the place, the type of event, the harm or potential for harm, the people involved, a brief description, and the witnesses.

How an incident is reported depends on its seriousness, or its potential seriousness. Fatal and major accidents go to senior management at once. If the incident must be reported to the enforcing authority, someone must contact the authority quickly and complete its notification form. Depending on your country's law, you may have to report:

• the deaths of workers or other people
• some types of injury to workers
• dangerous occurrences
• occupational diseases
• injuries that lead to absence beyond a set period

You may also need to tell the family of the injured person, the owner of any damaged property, your insurer, your health and safety and human resources departments, and safety or worker representatives.

Who investigates?

The team needs a range of knowledge, skills and experience, and should be led by someone with enough authority and knowledge to make recommendations that carry weight. A good team may include:

• someone who knows the work location
• a supervisor or manager from that location
• a senior manager with authority or influence
• a safety and health expert
• a worker representative
• a person who was involved in the incident, if possible
• a technical expert, such as an engineer or doctor, if needed

You must make sure that the investigator is competent in analytical, interpersonal, technical and administrative skills. In a small firm one person may fill several roles. A line manager with safety responsibilities may take part, since there is unlikely to be a specialist. Senior managers are more likely to join the team for serious accidents.

A study aid, not published or endorsed by IOSH or OSHA. Laws and limits differ between countries.