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 (ie 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, eg because the scene no longer exists or it has been significantly disturbed
- the scene has no material bearing on the incident, eg 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.