Accident Investigation
When something goes wrong, we help you find out why and stop it happening again. Independent, thorough investigations focused on prevention, not blame.
Understanding What Went Wrong
Every workplace accident has a cause. Often, it has several. A proper investigation goes beyond what happened on the surface to understand the underlying failures in systems, procedures, training, or supervision that allowed the incident to occur.
We conduct independent investigations that are thorough, fair, and focused on one outcome: making sure it does not happen again. Our reports are clear, evidence-based, and written to a standard that satisfies the HSE, insurers, and legal advisors.
Your Legal Obligations
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must have arrangements for investigating accidents, incidents, and near misses. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) require certain incidents to be formally reported to the HSE.
Getting this right matters. Failure to report a RIDDOR incident is a criminal offence. An inadequate investigation leaves you exposed to repeat incidents, enforcement action, and civil claims. We handle both the reporting and the investigation so you can be confident your obligations are met.
Not Just Injuries
When to Investigate
Accident investigation is not just for serious injuries. The most effective safety management systems investigate the full spectrum of events, because near misses and minor incidents are warnings that the next one could be far worse.
- Injuries and ill health
- Any workplace injury, from minor first aid cases to major incidents requiring hospital treatment. Patterns in minor injuries often reveal systemic problems before a serious incident occurs.
- Near misses
- Events that could have resulted in injury or damage but did not. Near misses are warnings. Investigating them is one of the most effective ways to prevent the real thing.
- Dangerous occurrences
- Specific types of incident that are reportable under RIDDOR regardless of whether anyone was hurt, such as scaffold collapses, crane overturns, or uncontrolled explosions.
- Occupational disease
- Diagnoses of work-related conditions such as occupational asthma, hand-arm vibration syndrome, or occupational dermatitis that must be reported and investigated.
- Property and equipment damage
- Damage to plant, equipment, vehicles, or structures. Even where nobody is hurt, these events indicate a failure in controls that needs to be understood.
- Environmental incidents
- Spills, releases, or other events with potential environmental impact that may also indicate health and safety control failures.
How We Work
Our Investigation Process
A structured, methodical approach ensures nothing is missed and the findings stand up to scrutiny. Every investigation follows the same rigorous process, adapted to the scale and complexity of the incident.
- 01Initial Response
- We attend site promptly to preserve evidence and assess the scene. We advise on what to secure, photograph, and record before conditions change. Where RIDDOR reporting is required, we handle the notification to the HSE on your behalf.
- 02Evidence Gathering
- Systematic collection of physical evidence, photographs, measurements, and documentation. We review existing risk assessments, method statements, permits to work, and training records relevant to the incident.
- 03Witness Statements
- Sensitive, structured interviews with those involved and witnesses. We focus on understanding what happened and why, not assigning blame. People are more forthcoming when they trust the process is about prevention, not punishment.
- 04Root Cause Analysis
- We look beyond the immediate cause to identify the underlying system failures. Why did the risk assessment not cover this scenario? Why was the control measure not followed? What organisational factors contributed? This is where the real value of investigation lies.
- 05Written Report
- A clear, structured report setting out what happened, the immediate and root causes, and prioritised recommendations. The report is written to be useful to you, not to sit in a filing cabinet. It is also suitable for disclosure to the HSE, insurers, or legal advisors if required.
- 06Corrective Actions
- We help you implement the recommendations, not just read them. This means updating risk assessments, revising method statements, amending policies, arranging retraining, or redesigning work processes as needed.
What Sets Us Apart
Beyond the Report
Most investigation services hand you a report and move on. As your health and safety consultants, we do not stop at findings. We help you implement the changes, update your documentation, and verify that the corrective actions are working. For retained clients, this is seamless because we already know your business.
- Updated Risk Assessments
- Investigation findings go straight back into your live risk assessments. For retained clients, we already know your documentation and can update it immediately rather than starting from scratch.
- Revised Method Statements
- Where the incident reveals gaps in safe systems of work, we revise your method statements and procedures to reflect what has been learned.
- Staff Briefings and Toolbox Talks
- We help you communicate lessons learned to your workforce in a constructive way. Toolbox talks, safety briefings, or team meetings focused on what changed and why.
- RIDDOR and HSE Liaison
- We advise on what is reportable, handle the notification, and liaise with the HSE on your behalf if an inspector becomes involved. Having experienced support at this stage makes a material difference.
- Insurance and Legal Support
- Our investigation reports are written to an evidential standard. We work with your insurers and loss adjusters, providing the documentation needed for claims management and defence.
- Follow-up Review
- We return to verify that corrective actions have been implemented effectively and that the changes are working in practice. Closing the loop is what separates investigation from paperwork.
Construction Site Investigations
Construction sites present distinct investigation challenges. Multiple duty holders, transient workforces, changing conditions, and complex regulatory requirements under CDM 2015 all affect how an incident should be investigated and what the findings mean for the project.
With over 30 years of CDM experience, we understand how construction site incidents interact with the Principal Designer's duties, the construction phase plan, and the health and safety file. We can advise on implications for the client, Principal Contractor, and individual contractors.
What This Means in Practice
- Investigation findings fed into the construction phase plan
- Advice on CDM duty holder responsibilities following an incident
- F10 and HSE notification requirements assessed
- Contractor and subcontractor coordination during investigation
- Lessons captured in the health and safety file for handover
Frequently Asked Questions
Need help after an incident?
Whether you need immediate support following a serious incident, an independent investigation of a near miss, or ongoing arrangements for accident management, our team can respond quickly.