Free download
Free accident investigation form
A step-by-step accident and incident investigation form that takes you from the evidence to the root cause, and records the actions you will take to stop it happening again.
Download the template
Free to use, no sign-up needed.
What the template includes
19 fields in 5 sections.
Incident summary
- Incident reference, date and time
- Location
- People involved
- Injury, ill health or damage
- Investigation led by, and date started
Evidence gathered
- Scene, photos and equipment examined
- Witness statements taken (names)
- Documents checked (risk assessments, training, maintenance and inspection records)
Analysis
- Immediate causes: the unsafe acts or conditions that led directly to the incident
- Underlying causes: why those acts or conditions happened
- Root causes: the management or system failures behind them
Risk control measures
- Action 1: what, owner, target date, completed
- Action 2: what, owner, target date, completed
- Action 3: what, owner, target date, completed
Sign-off
- RIDDOR reportable? (Yes / No) and HSE reference
- Risk assessment updated? (Yes / No, and which)
- Lessons shared with
- Investigator signature and date
- Manager signature and date
How to use the template
- Start as soon as possible after the incident, once the area is safe.
- Match the depth of the investigation to the seriousness and potential seriousness of the incident, including near misses.
- Gather evidence: look at the scene, take photos, speak to witnesses and check records.
- Work back from what happened to why it happened. Keep asking why until you reach the management or system cause.
- Agree actions that fix the causes, give each one an owner and a date, and check they are done.
- Update your risk assessment and share what you learned with the people who need to know.
Before you investigate
Make the area safe, give first aid, record the incident and check whether it is reportable with the free RIDDOR checker. Our guide to what to do after an accident at work covers each step.
Keep investigations with the incident
Accident Book keeps the report, photos, witness statements, investigation notes and follow-up actions together, with a full audit trail. £9.99 per site per month, 7-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
What is an accident investigation?+
An accident investigation looks at what happened, why it happened and what needs to change. It gathers evidence, identifies the immediate, underlying and root causes, and agrees actions to prevent a repeat.
Is an accident investigation a legal requirement?+
Employers must assess and control risks under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. HSE guidance expects accidents and incidents to be investigated so that risk assessments and controls can be reviewed. Employers who keep an accident book must also take reasonable steps to investigate accidents entered in it.
What are immediate, underlying and root causes?+
The immediate cause is the unsafe act or condition that led directly to the incident, such as a wet floor. The underlying cause is why that existed, such as a leaking machine. The root cause is the management or system failure behind it, such as no maintenance schedule.
Should near misses be investigated?+
Yes. The depth of an investigation should reflect what could have happened, not just what did. A near miss with the potential for serious injury deserves a thorough investigation.