What to Look for in an Accident Investigation
June 04, 2025
How to Conduct and What to Look for in an Accident Investigation
Accident investigations should be conducted for all workplace incidents, not just ones that result in an injury. When conducting an accident investigation, most of the time, it will be determined that the events surrounding the accident were predictable and that the accident could have been prevented if proper actions had been taken. Conducting an accident investigation is crucial for determining the cause of a specific accident and helping to prevent future accidents.
It is important to identify all the potential causes to understand the root cause of an accident.
What steps should an employer take following a workplace accident?
- Report the accident to the proper personnel
- Ensure any injured employees receive the required medical care
- Investigate the accident or incident. Ask these questions:
- Was the employee distracted? If so, why?
- Were proper procedures being followed? Why not?
- Were all safety devices working properly? Why or why not?
- Was the worker adequately trained on the task? If not, why?
- Determine potential causes
- Determine the root cause
- Report the findings of the investigation
- Develop corrective actions
- Implement corrective actions
- Evaluate the plan’s effectiveness
- Monitor the plan and make changes when needed
Accident investigations play a critical role in an effective safety program. Employers must conduct accident investigations properly to prevent similar incidents in the future. For additional information regarding Accident Investigations/Prevention, use the Online Safety Library under the topic index “Accident Prevention-Investigation.” Contact our Risk Management Team for further assistance or any questions.