What process involves examining the causes of workplace incidents?

The process of examining the causes of workplace incidents is known as accident investigation. This method goes beyond just identifying what happened and aims to understand the underlying factors that led to the incident, such as unsafe conditions, human errors, or systemic failures. By conducting a thorough accident investigation, organizations can develop insights that help prevent future occurrences. The investigation typically involves collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing data to uncover root causes and contributing factors.

In contrast, risk assessment is focused on identifying potential hazards and evaluating the risks associated with them before incidents occur. Incident reporting is the act of documenting what happened after an incident, but it doesn't delve into the analysis of causes. A safety review may involve a broader evaluation of safety management systems and practices but does not specifically target the causes of individual incidents as accident investigation does. Therefore, accident investigation is integral to understanding and preventing future workplace incidents through a detailed analysis of their causes.