Accident & Incident Investigations
What Are They?
Accident and Incident Investigations are formal processes carried out after a workplace accident, incident, or near miss. Their purpose is to determine:
- What happened
- Why it happened
- How to prevent it from happening again
These investigations are an essential part of your company’s risk management system. They help improve workplace safety, reduce the likelihood of future incidents, and support compliance with health and safety legislation.
Why Do You Need Them?
While no single piece of legislation mandates the investigation of every accident, two key UK laws imply its necessity:
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to control, monitor, and review all preventive and protective measures—investigating accidents supports this obligation.
- The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 require employers to take “reasonable steps” to investigate any reported employee accidents.
Beyond legal obligations, thorough investigations offer significant practical benefits:
- Identify the root causes—not just the obvious symptoms
- Address failures in systems, training, or equipment
- Prevent recurrence of similar incidents
- Show due diligence in the event of claims or enforcement action
- Provide solid evidence for insurance claims
- Demonstrate a proactive approach and commitment to a positive safety culture
Even near misses are valuable—they often highlight risks before actual harm occurs.
What Can We Offer?
We deliver comprehensive accident and incident investigations, conducted by experienced health and safety consultants using a methodical, evidence-based approach.
Our investigation process includes:
Gathering Information
- Interviews with staff and management
- Reviewing documentation, photographs, and physical evidence
Analysing Findings
- Identifying immediate, underlying, and root causes
Recommending Improvements
- Corrective and preventive actions tailored to your workplace
Creating an Action Plan
- Clearly prioritised steps to prevent recurrence
Providing a Detailed Report
- Professional documentation for leadership, insurers, or regulators
Whether the incident involves a slip, trip, fall, machinery failure, occupational illness, or a near miss, we’ll help you understand what went wrong—and how to put it right.
Investigate. Learn. Prevent.
Let us help you turn workplace incidents into powerful learning opportunities—protecting your people, your operations, and your reputation.