Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

8.4.3 Investigation 
method
There are four basic elements to a sound investigation:
1. collect facts about what has occurred
2. assemble, and analyse the information obtained
3. compare the information with acceptable industry 
and company standards and legal requirements to 
draw conclusions
4. implement the fi ndings and monitor progress.
Information should be gathered from all available 
sources, for example, witnesses, supervisors, physical 
conditions, hazard data sheets, written systems of work, 
training records, etc. The amount of time spent should 
not, however, be disproportionate to the risk. The aim 
of the investigation should be to explore the situation 
for possible underlying factors, in addition to the imme-
diately obvious causes of the accident. For example, in 
a machinery accident it would not be suffi cient to con-
clude that an accident occurred because a machine was 
inadequately guarded. It is necessary to look into the pos-
sible underlying system failure that may have occurred.
Investigations have three facets, which are particu-
larly valuable and can be used to check against each 
other:
➤
direct observation of the scene, premises, work-
place, relationship of components, materials and 
substances being used, possible reconstruction 
Figure 8.2
Near miss event likely – accident waiting to 
happen.

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Introduction to Health and Safety at Work
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of events, and injuries or condition of the person 
concerned
➤
documents including written instructions, training 
records, procedures, safe operating systems, risk 
assessments, policies, records of inspections or test 
and examinations carried out
➤
interviews (including written statements) with persons 
injured, witnesses, people who have carried out simi-
lar functions or examinations and tests on the equip-
ment involved and people with specialist knowledge.