Accidents and Investigations

Employers should monitor the effectiveness of the measures they put in place to control the risks in their workplace. As part of the monitoring, they should investigate incidents to ensure that corrective action is taken, learning is shared and any necessary improvements are put in place.

Investigations will help them to:

• identify why their existing control measures failed and what improvements or additional measures are needed;
• plan to prevent the incident from happening again;
• point to areas where the risk assessment needs reviewing;
• improve risk control in the workplace in the future.

Reporting incidents (Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981) should not stop employers from carrying out their own investigation to ensure risks in their workplace are controlled efficiently. An investigation is not an end in itself, but the first step in preventing future adverse events that includes:

• occupational accidents;
• occupational diseases;
• dangerous occurrences;
• commuting accidents.

Are these matters being reported to the correct authorities in a timely manner and in accordance with national legislation?

Find out more

1. Investigation of occupational accidents and diseases - A practical guide for labour inspectors. The guide provides inspectors with information on the importance of, and a suggested methodology for, conducting effective investigations and compiling reports.