Major incident response and investigation

Stage 5: Investigation

As the investigation gets underway:

• call and chair the meetings of the Major Incident Investigation Board
• ensure investigation is conducted in accordance with the Investigation procedure, stages 3 and 4
• ensure all key decisions and reasons for those decisions are recorded in the key decision log maintained by the Investigation Team Leader

Note: it is mandatory that a key decision log be maintained in every major incident investigation

• provide briefing for the Director of the OD concerned with the site, the Executive, the Chair and HSC and, via the Secretariat, Ministers and Parliament
• formulate and co-ordinate HSE’s media response with Press Office and GNN and the head of the Secretariat

Once the investigation has begun:

• identify any deficiencies in the procedure of transmission of the notification of the potential major incident to the Executive, and other parties
• inform the chair of the Major Incident Progress Group of any deficiencies found
• identify any improvements to ensure performance standards for stage 1 of the procedure are met in future

Performance Standard

The written notification to the head of OPSD as chair of MIPG:

• should detail the problems encountered and proposed solutions

Urgent issues

If, during the course of the investigation, a health and safety issue affecting the industry and which requires urgent action by HSE is discovered:

• ensure an interim report is prepared as soon as practical
• provide an interim report to the Executive as soon as possible for a decision regarding the timing of publication and further work on developing options to address the issue
• provide briefing for the Director of the OD concerned with the site, the Executive, the Chair and HSC and, via the Secretariat, Ministers and Parliament if relevant

Note: the interim report of an urgent health and safety issue need only detail the nature and scale of the issue, the reasons for the urgency of the action and any information that might assist in the development of options to address the issue.

Implement local arrangements to manage the investigation, to ensure:

• day-to-day investigation activity in is accordance with stages 3 and 4 of the Investigation procedure
• key decisions, and the reasons for them, are recorded in a key decision log
• the health, safety and welfare of HSE staff involved in the investigation is in accordance with HSE’s health and safety policies
• staff travel and subsistence is properly managed
• a log of time spent on investigation related matters is kept
• co-ordination with the Investigation Manager on the communication strategy, responses to the media and any need for HSE Press Office on-site assistance
• appropriate people are kept briefed on the conduct of the investigation
• all HSE staff and HSE contractor specialists on site are briefed particularly on observance of emergency service protocols on entry to scene of the incident and agreements made with other parties

As the investigation progresses:

• brief the Major Incident Investigation Board on the progress of the investigation
• keep the Investigation Manager appraised of the progress of the investigation
• respond to the continuing strategic direction of the Investigation Manager.

As the investigation progresses:

• identify any problems from following, or possible improvements to, this procedure
• raise all such issues in writing with the chair of the Major Incident Progress Group for consideration in a subsequent review of the procedure

Performance standard

Raise such issues with the chair of the MIPG:

• within 3 months of the completion of the investigation

When it gets underway:

• undertake the investigation as directed by the Investigation Team Leader
• follow the relevant steps in the Investigation procedure, stages 3 and 4
• brief the Investigation Team Leader on progress with activities
• co-ordinate with Investigation Team Leader to ensure key decisions, and the reasons for them, are entered in the investigation key decision log