Investigation
Stage 4: Conduct investigation - Additional guidance
Visiting the scene of the incident
To qualify as an investigation for OPM purposes, you must
during the investigation visit the scene of the incident
(i.e. where the incident occurred on the site or premises)
unless one or more of the following exceptional circumstances
apply:
- it is impossible to visit the scene, e.g.
because the scene no longer exists or it has been
significantly disturbed
- the scene has no material bearing on the
incident, e.g. in a case of breathing apparatus
failure
- plant, equipment or other conditions which
contributed to the incident are no longer present or
available; and
- there are no other site-related contributory
factors to investigate.
In such circumstances it will be necessary for a visit to
be paid (other than to the scene of the incident) to
undertake the investigation, if it is to be counted for OPM
purposes.
Where, in wholly exceptional circumstances, no visits
whatsoever are planned, the line manager should agree this
course of action before an investigation is recorded on COIN
and ensure the following criteria are satisfied:
- the facts should be clearly established
(including the underlying causes) and verified and, in
particular, the accepted working procedures/standards prior
to the incident should be determined, if possible confirmed
by an employee safety representative;
- where someone has been injured, make all
reasonable efforts, to contact the bereaved family and/or
interview injured persons. Reasonable efforts include as a
minimum: verifying or obtaining current contact details,
making one phone call and sending one letter
- sufficient information should be obtained by
the investigation to enable a decision on regulatory action
to be made; and
- where identified as necessary, confirm steps
have been or will be taken to prevent a recurrence of the
incident.
If the site is visited, record this on COIN. If the line
manager agrees exceptional circumstances apply, record this
on COIN. If the line manager decides that the exceptional
circumstances criteria have not been met, record details of
the action taken on COIN.
