OSHA incident investigation form

Focus on asking “why” multiple times to dig deeper than immediate causes. Document all contributing factors in the form, including equipment conditions, training adequacy, procedural issues, and environmental factors. Avoid stopping at human error explanations and instead examine what system failures allowed the error to occur. The corrective actions section should address these underlying causes, not just symptoms.

Secure the scene first, then document everything while memories are fresh. Take photos of the incident area, equipment involved, and environmental conditions. Record names and contact information of all witnesses, and conduct brief initial interviews. Note the date, time, exact location, and sequence of events. This immediate documentation is crucial for accurate root cause analysis later.

Any incident that results in injury, illness, property damage, or a near miss that could have caused harm warrants formal investigation. Even seemingly minor incidents can reveal serious underlying safety issues. OSHA requires documentation for recordable injuries, but investigating all incidents, including near misses, provides valuable data for preventing future accidents and demonstrates your commitment to workplace safety.

Review completed forms regularly to identify patterns and trends across multiple incidents. Look for recurring locations, times, equipment, or procedures associated with incidents. Use this data to prioritize safety improvements and measure their effectiveness. Share anonymized findings with staff to build safety awareness. The preventive measures section becomes a valuable resource for updating training programs and safety procedures.