Incident Investigations Across Australia

Incident Investigation With A Purpose | Safesystem

Had a incident occur recently? can’t sleep, waking up in a cold sweat? worried about your workers? At Main & Associates we offer incident investigations. We then make suggestions and put a plan into action. Within this plan are steps and actions to mitigate this issue from happening again.

What Is A Incident Investigation?

An incident investigation is about ensuring your buisness stays complaint and workers remain safe, dramatically reducing the chance an incident of similar nature will occur again. When something goes wrong—whether it’s a workplace accident, a near-miss, or a safety breach—it’s not just about fixing the problem, it’s about preventing it from happening again.

At SafeSystem, we make incident investigations simple, effective, and transformative. Think of it as a deep dive into the “why” behind the “what.” Our expert team uncovers the root causes of incidents—whether it’s a human error, equipment failure, or a process flaw—and helps you implement solutions that protect your team, your business, and your reputation.

Why settle for band-aid fixes when you can uncover real solutions? An incident investigation isn’t just a box to tick for compliance—it’s an investment in your company’s future. With SafeSystem, you’ll walk away with not just a report, but a roadmap to a safer, more efficient workplace.

Ready to turn risks into results? Let’s investigate your way to a safer, smarter business!

Why Conduct a Safety Audit?

Compliance Assurance: Stay aligned with Australian safety laws and regulations.

Hazard Identification: Proactively uncover potential risks before they lead to incidents.

Improved Safety Culture: Foster a culture of safety and accountability among employees.

Cost Reduction: Minimize the financial impact of workplace injuries and compliance penalties.

4 Steps of an Incident Investigation:

Immediate Response

Purpose: To ensure safety, preserve evidence, and prevent further harm or damage.
Benefits:

Protects employees, the public, and property from additional risks.
Ensures critical evidence is preserved for an accurate investigation.
Demonstrates a proactive approach to safety and compliance.
Actions:

Secure the Scene:

Immediately isolate the area to prevent unauthorized access and eliminate further risks. For example, shut down equipment or cordon off hazardous zones.
Provide Aid: Administer first aid or emergency care to any injured individuals. Prioritize their well-being.
Report the Incident: Notify supervisors, safety officers, and regulatory authorities as required by law or company policy.

Data Collection
Purpose:

To gather all relevant information about the incident systematically.
Benefits:

Ensures a comprehensive understanding of what happened.
Reduces the chance of overlooking critical details that could point to the root cause.
Provides an accurate basis for analysis and decision-making.
Actions:

Interview Witnesses: Talk to employees, bystanders, and involved parties while the incident is still fresh in their minds.
Document the Scene: Take photos, videos, or sketches of the site to capture physical evidence and environmental conditions.
Review Records: Examine equipment logs, safety reports, risk assessments, and training records to identify potential system failures.

Root Cause Analysis
Purpose:

To determine the underlying reasons why the incident occurred, not just the surface-level factors.
Benefits:

Prevents recurrence by addressing the real issues rather than symptoms.
Helps identify systemic problems, such as procedural gaps or organizational shortcomings.
Strengthens your safety management system by targeting the root causes.
Actions:

Analyze Contributing Factors: Use tools like the “5 Whys,” fishbone diagrams, or fault tree analysis to map out the causes.
Identify Failures: Pinpoint failures in processes, equipment, or human actions.
Prioritize Findings: Categorize issues based on their impact and likelihood of causing future incidents.

Corrective Actions and Reporting
Purpose:

To communicate findings and implement solutions that prevent similar incidents in the future.
Benefits:

Improves safety culture by demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.
Builds trust among employees and stakeholders through transparency and accountability.
Reduces costs and downtime by mitigating risks proactively.
Actions:

Write a Clear Report: Include an overview of the incident, findings, and recommended corrective actions. Make it accessible to all stakeholders.
Develop Solutions: Address the root causes by updating processes, training, equipment, or policies.
Monitor Effectiveness: Track the implementation and success of corrective actions through audits or follow-ups.
The Big Picture: Why Each Step Matters
Immediate Response ensures safety and evidence preservation.
Data Collection builds the foundation for a thorough investigation.
Root Cause Analysis gets to the heart of the problem for effective prevention.
Corrective Actions turn lessons learned into real, actionable improvements.
When each step is performed thoroughly, your business not only meets compliance requirements but also fosters a safer, more resilient workplace. This proactive approach reduces risks, enhances productivity, and builds trust with your team and clients.

How Can Main & Assoicate Help?

SafeSystem can come in at any step of the incident investigation process, depending on your business’s needs. However, we are typically most impactful starting at Step 2: Data Collection and playing a pivotal role through Step 3: Root Cause Analysis and Step 4: Corrective Actions and Reporting. Here’s how we contribute:

Step 2: Data Collection
How SafeSystem Helps:

We bring expertise in gathering comprehensive and unbiased evidence.
Our consultants conduct professional witness interviews to ensure critical details aren’t missed.
We utilize advanced tools to document the incident scene (e.g., digital photography, mapping, and condition assessments).
We review policies, procedures, and historical data to identify systemic issues.
Why It’s Valuable:
Having a third party like SafeSystem ensures objectivity and thoroughness. We identify not just what’s visible but what may be overlooked due to familiarity with the workplace.

Step 3: Root Cause Analysis
How SafeSystem Helps:

We facilitate expert-led analysis using proven methodologies like the 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams.
Our team identifies not just immediate causes but the deeper, systemic issues that led to the incident.
We provide insights into industry best practices and benchmarks to contextualize findings.
Why It’s Valuable:
Root cause analysis is where experience matters most. SafeSystem ensures the analysis goes beyond the obvious to uncover actionable insights that lead to meaningful change.

Step 4: Corrective Actions and Reporting
How SafeSystem Helps:

We draft clear, comprehensive reports that comply with regulatory requirements and are easy to understand.
Our team collaborates with you to design and implement effective corrective actions, such as process updates, training programs, or equipment modifications.
We assist in creating follow-up plans to monitor the success of corrective measures.
Why It’s Valuable:
Our expertise in safety systems ensures that solutions are not just reactive but proactive, enhancing long-term workplace safety. We also make the reporting process stress-free, ensuring compliance with laws and standards.

Flexible Involvement
If your business requires assistance during the Immediate Response (Step 1)—for example, securing the scene or handling initial regulatory notifications—SafeSystem can guide you remotely or deploy a team to support on-site.

By integrating SafeSystem into your incident investigation process, you gain expert support to handle challenges efficiently and turn every incident into an opportunity for improvement.

Case Study: Transforming Workplace Safety with an Effective Incident Investigation Process

Background

A large logistics company operating multiple warehouses across Australia faced a recurring issue: forklift-related incidents. Over six months, the company reported five significant incidents involving forklifts, including one near-miss with an employee, two instances of damaged goods, and two minor injuries. These incidents disrupted operations, increased costs, and raised concerns among staff about workplace safety.

The company approached SafeSystem to conduct a comprehensive incident investigation after the latest incident—a forklift operator struck a pallet, nearly hitting another employee.

Incident Details

The most recent incident occurred in a busy warehouse during peak operations. A forklift operator was transporting a loaded pallet when they collided with another pallet left in the aisle. The collision caused the loaded pallet to tip, damaging $5,000 worth of goods and narrowly missing a nearby employee.

Investigation Process

SafeSystem was brought in to investigate, identify root causes, and recommend improvements. Using our proven 4-step incident investigation process, we uncovered critical insights.

Step 1: Incident Description

SafeSystem conducted interviews with the forklift operator, witnesses, and the warehouse supervisor. Key findings included:

The aisle where the incident occurred was poorly lit.
The pallet that caused the collision had been left in the aisle as a result of poor workflow planning.
The forklift operator had not seen the pallet due to the low visibility and the high load they were carrying.

Additionally, SafeSystem documented the scene with photographs and measurements, noting the aisle width, lighting levels, and the position of the pallet.

Step 2: Identification of Causes

Using root cause analysis techniques, SafeSystem identified multiple contributing factors:

Environmental Factors: Lighting in the warehouse was below recommended safety standards, particularly in the aisle where the incident occurred.
Human Factors: The forklift operator had not been trained to handle low-visibility situations, and their load was stacked higher than safe limits.
Systemic Factors: Workflow planning did not include specific guidelines for staging pallets, leading to pallets being left in aisles.

The analysis revealed that the incident was not the result of a single error but rather a combination of systemic issues, environmental hazards, and insufficient training.

Step 3: Identification of Changes

SafeSystem worked with the company to develop targeted changes aimed at addressing root causes:

Lighting Improvements: The company upgraded aisle lighting to meet safety standards, ensuring better visibility for forklift operators.
Updated Training Programs: Forklift operators received additional training on safe load handling, situational awareness, and working in low-visibility conditions.
Workflow Redesign: Warehouse workflows were restructured to include designated staging areas for pallets, preventing obstructions in aisles.
Pre-Shift Safety Checks: Forklift operators began conducting pre-shift checks of their work area, identifying hazards such as misplaced pallets or poor lighting.

Step 4: Learning

To ensure lasting improvements, SafeSystem facilitated learning sessions with all warehouse staff. These sessions included:

A walkthrough of the incident and the changes implemented.
Open discussions about safety concerns and suggestions for further improvements.
Clear communication of the company’s commitment to creating a safer work environment.

Additionally, SafeSystem provided the company with a detailed report outlining the findings, changes, and recommendations for ongoing monitoring.

Outcomes

Within three months of implementing the changes, the company saw significant improvements:

Incident Reduction: Forklift-related incidents dropped by 80%, with no injuries or near-misses reported in the following quarter.
Operational Efficiency: Better workflow planning reduced pallet obstructions, resulting in smoother warehouse operations.
Improved Employee Confidence: Warehouse staff reported feeling safer and more confident in their work environment.
Cost Savings: The company avoided further product damage and operational delays, saving an estimated $50,000 annually.

Key Takeaways

This case study highlights the power of an effective incident investigation process:

Systemic Issues Often Underlie Incidents: Identifying these issues is critical for meaningful change.
Collaboration is Key: Engaging employees and management ensures practical, sustainable improvements.
A Safer Workplace is a Smarter Workplace: The changes not only improved safety but also enhanced operational efficiency and employee morale.

Conclusion

By partnering with SafeSystem, the logistics company turned a costly, recurring problem into an opportunity for growth. Our expertise in incident investigation and workplace safety helped them create a safer, more efficient environment that benefits both employees and the bottom line.

Ready to transform your workplace safety? Contact SafeSystem today to see how we can help you achieve similar results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is one reason we typically conduct incident investigations?

To identify the root cause of an incident and prevent similar occurrences in the future by implementing corrective actions.

What are investigations about an incident mainly used for?

Incident investigations are primarily used to analyze the factors that contributed to the incident, assess compliance with safety procedures, and develop strategies to mitigate risks and improve workplace safety.

What is one reason we typically conduct incident investigations?

Incident investigations help organizations meet legal and regulatory obligations while promoting a culture of safety and accountability.

Who is responsible for conducting all Workplace Incident Management (WIM) investigations?

The responsibility typically lies with trained safety officers, supervisors, or designated workplace safety professionals. At Safe System, we recommend involving competent personnel who are trained in investigation techniques to ensure thorough and unbiased reporting.

Why do most incident investigations fall short?

Most incident investigations fall short because of inadequate root cause analysis, lack of proper training for investigators, failure to involve all relevant stakeholders, or a focus on blame rather than solutions. Safe System emphasizes thorough training and a no-blame approach to ensure effective outcomes.

How to contact Safe System?

We’re here to help! Feel free to reach out to our team.

Contact our team on 0425 812 090 or email steve@safesystem.com.au.

You can also submit an enquiry to our Contact Page.

What are you waiting for?

Each year over 490,000 workers are injured.
Most of these injuries could have been avoided if organisations had taken the time to see where their safety gaps were.

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