Incident investigation form

Your investigation should systematically examine all potential contributing factors using this template’s structured approach. Focus on gathering evidence through photos, witness statements, and physical observations. Look beyond obvious causes to identify underlying system issues in environment, equipment, work processes, and human factors. The template’s categorized checklist helps ensure you don’t overlook critical elements.

Complete this form as soon as possible after an incident occurs—ideally within 24-48 hours while details are fresh in everyone’s mind. For serious incidents, begin the investigation immediately after ensuring injured persons receive care and the area is secured. Don’t wait for all information to be available; start documenting what you know and update as you gather more details through interviews and evidence collection.

Use the photo sections to capture visual evidence of the incident scene, equipment involved, and contributing factors before anything is moved or changed. Take clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles showing the overall scene and close-ups of specific hazards or equipment. These photos provide crucial context that written descriptions alone cannot convey and will be invaluable when analyzing root causes and implementing corrective actions.

After completion, share the form with key stakeholders including management, safety committee members, and affected departments. Use the findings to develop and implement corrective actions addressing the identified root causes. Store the form securely for future reference, trend analysis, and regulatory compliance. Revisit the investigation results when implementing similar processes or equipment to prevent recurring incidents.