What process examines workplace accidents or near misses?

The process that examines workplace accidents or near misses is incident investigation. This involves a systematic approach to identifying the root causes of an incident, understanding how and why it occurred, and determining what can be done to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Incident investigations typically include gathering detailed information about the event, analyzing data, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing relevant policies and practices. The ultimate goal is to learn from the incident to enhance safety and reduce risks in the workplace.

While incident reporting is an important initial step, as it documents the occurrence, it does not involve the in-depth analysis that an investigation entails. Continuous Improvement focuses on ongoing enhancements in processes, which can include lessons learned from incidents but does not specifically target the examination of accidents themselves. Monitoring methods may track safety performance or compliance but do not delve into the causal factors of specific incidents.