What goes in an incident investigation?

The facts and the timeline, statements from the people involved and witnesses, the factors that led to it, the root cause, and the actions that follow, each with an owner and a date.

How do I do a 5 whys?

Start with the problem and ask why it happened. Take the answer and ask why again. Keep going until you reach a cause you can change, usually after about five rounds. Check that each answer is a fact, not a guess.

Does an investigation replace the incident report?

No. The incident report records what happened. The investigation works out why and what to change. If the case is recordable for OSHA, the investigation doesn't change that.

Free template

An incident investigation form that gets to the cause.

Use it after the first report is in. Lay out the timeline, take statements, ask why five times and write the actions that follow. Print the sheet or save it as a PDF.

Also calledRoot cause analysis template, 5 whys template, Accident investigation report, Incident investigation template

See the sheet All free tools

Free to print, copy and change. It’s a starting point. Add the lines your equipment and your rules need.

Download itPDF Word Excel Este formato en español

Incident investigation form

Incident report no.

Date of incident

Location

Investigator

Date of investigation

What happened

Facts only: what, when and where. Leave out blame and guesses.

Timeline

Time

What happened

Who saw it

Witnesses and statements

Name

Role

Statement taken (date)

Notes

Contributing factors

Tick all that apply, then say how in the lines below.

Equipment or tool
Procedure missing or not followed
Training or experience
Supervision
Work area or housekeeping
Weather or lighting
Pace, fatigue or schedule
Communication
Materials
Other

5 whys

Start with what went wrong. Ask why. Ask it again of each answer until you reach something you can change.

Corrective actions

Action

Owner

Due date

Done

A starting point. Adapt it to your equipment, your procedures and the rules that apply to you.Free template from portalbaseai.com

How to use it

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

Step 1
Start soon, and start with facts
Walk the spot, take photos, and talk to the people involved while it is fresh. Write down what happened before you decide why.
Step 2
Ask why until it is something you can change
A person made a mistake is where the question starts. Why was the mistake easy to make? That is the answer worth fixing.
Step 3
Turn the cause into an owner and a date
Every action gets a name and a due date, then moves to the corrective action log so it gets followed up.

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Report incidents and near misses from the phone, with the investigation and the corrective actions kept together on one record.

Book a walkthrough See how incident reporting works

Get new free tools by email.

A new template, calculator or guide when we publish one. No spam, and you can leave any time.

Common questions

What goes in an incident investigation?: The facts and the timeline, statements from the people involved and witnesses, the factors that led to it, the root cause, and the actions that follow, each with an owner and a date.
How do I do a 5 whys?: Start with the problem and ask why it happened. Take the answer and ask why again. Keep going until you reach a cause you can change, usually after about five rounds. Check that each answer is a fact, not a guess.
Does an investigation replace the incident report?: No. The incident report records what happened. The investigation works out why and what to change. If the case is recordable for OSHA, the investigation doesn't change that.

Related and more free tools

Free tool

An incident investigation form that gets to the cause.

Incident investigation form

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

Start soon, and start with facts

Ask why until it is something you can change

Turn the cause into an owner and a date

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Get new free tools by email.

Common questions

Related and more free tools

Incident report form

Corrective action log

Recordable case helper

First aid and reporting injuries

Incident investigation

Root cause analysis