Accident / Incident Investigation & Reporting Certification Training

This Accident / Incident Investigation & Reporting training equips safety professionals, supervisors, managers and incident investigators with the practical knowledge and structured methodologies needed to conduct thorough, unbiased and effective investigations of workplace incidents. The course covers how incidents occur, how to plan and execute an investigation, gather and analyze evidence, determine root causes using proven techniques, and prepare clear, defensible reports that support corrective and preventive actions. Emphasizing real-world applications and case studies, this program helps organizations move from reactive responses to proactive safety improvements and embeds lessons learned into safety management systems.

1. Understanding How Incidents Happen

• Accident pyramid and learning from near misses
• Immediate, underlying and root causes
• Human and organizational factors
• Systems thinking approach



2. Planning an Investigation

• When to investigate
• Forming an investigation team
• Roles and responsibilities
• Securing the incident scene
• Legal considerations and notifications



3. Gathering Evidence

• Positions: scene mapping, measurements, photos and CCTV
• People: interviews, witness statements and sequencing
• Parts / physical evidence: equipment inspection and reconstruction
• Paper: procedures, permits, logs, training records and maintenance history



4. Human Factors in Investigations

• Behavior, decisions and performance shaping factors
• Design and system contributors
• Fatigue, communication, supervision and work environment



5. Cause Analysis Techniques

• Five Whys
• Fishbone diagram
• Event and causal factor charting
• Change analysis
• Logic trees



6. Determining Remedial Actions

• Corrective versus preventive actions
• Risk ranking
• Designing effective controls (engineering, administrative, PPE)
• Ensuring actions address root causes



7. Reporting and Follow-Up

• Writing an investigation report: structure and clarity
• Presenting findings to management
• Tracking and verifying corrective actions
• Feeding lessons learned into safety management systems



8. Case Study (Core of the Course)

• Evidence review using real incident data
• Conducting interviews
• Cause identification and root cause analysis techniques
• Remedial action planning
• Final report preparation and presentation

• Basic awareness of workplace health, safety or operational procedures
• General understanding of organizational processes and work activities
• No prior incident investigation or root cause analysis experience required
• Willingness to participate in discussions, interviews and case-based exercises

• HSE and safety professionals
• Operations, maintenance and engineering supervisors
• Line managers and team leaders
• Risk, compliance and quality professionals
• Internal auditors and assurance personnel
• Anyone involved in incident reporting, investigation or corrective action follow-up

• 20 multiple-choice questions covering all course modules
• Passing requirement: at least 15 correct answers
• Two attempts allowed to achieve a passing score
• Certificate issued upon successful completion of the exam

Obtaining the Accident & Incident Investigation & Reporting Certification with training equips professionals with structured, practical skills to investigate workplace incidents thoroughly and accurately. This training goes beyond theory by teaching proven methodologies such as root cause analysis, evidence collection, witness interviewing, incident classification, documentation best practices and corrective action planning. Instead of relying on informal or inconsistent approaches, participants learn how to uncover underlying causes, develop meaningful recommendations, improve safety systems and help prevent future occurrences - enhancing organisational safety performance and reducing repeat incidents.

From a career and financial perspective, earning this certification with guided training can significantly enhance credibility, employability and earning potential. Organisations across industries - including construction, manufacturing, oil & gas, logistics and healthcare - increasingly value professionals who can lead formal investigations, strengthen safety governance, and support risk management. Depending on experience and role, certified professionals such as Safety Investigators, HSE Officers, Risk Analysts and Compliance Leads can command annual salaries ranging from $55,000 to $90,000, with more senior or specialised positions in large or high‑risk environments exceeding $100,000. By combining a recognised certification with hands‑on training, participants not only validate their investigative expertise but also position themselves as critical contributors to safer operations and stronger organisational resilience.

He is an experienced safety investigation specialist with deep expertise in systematic accident and incident analysis, evidence collection and reporting methodologies. He brings practical insights into planning and conducting thorough investigations, understanding human and organizational factors and applying root cause analysis techniques to enhance safety outcomes. His approach emphasizes clarity in reporting, corrective action planning and integrating lessons learned into safety management systems. Passionate about improving workplace safety, he equips participants with the skills needed to lead credible investigations and drive continuous improvement.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain how accidents and incidents occur, including the role of near misses, underlying factors and systems thinking.
• Determine when and how to initiate an investigation, including forming an investigation team and securing the incident scene.
• Gather comprehensive evidence from multiple sources including scene mapping, interviews, physical evidence and documentation.
• Analyse human and organizational factors such as behaviour, communication, supervision and work environment that contribute to incidents.
• Apply structured cause analysis techniques such as Five Whys, fishbone diagrams and logic trees to identify root causes.
• Distinguish between corrective and preventive actions, and develop effective remedial measures that address root causes, not just symptoms.
• Prepare and write clear, well-structured incident investigation reports and present findings to stakeholders and management.
• Track and verify the implementation of corrective actions and integrate lessons learned into safety management systems to prevent future incidents.