Accident and Incident Investigation Support
When an incident occurs, it is essential to understand what happened, why it happened and how to prevent it from happening again.
THSP provides prompt, professional investigation support to help you meet your legal duties and strengthen future safety performance.
Why investigations are important after an accident
Investigating incidents is a legal requirement under health and safety legislation. More importantly, it helps identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
Accident investigation is a vital part of proactive health and safety management. It allows you to gather evidence, understand contributing factors and take meaningful action.
Our investigation process
When an incident occurs, a consultant can be deployed to support you immediately. They will:
- Gather evidence from the scene
- Speak to witnesses
- Review equipment and processes involved
- Identify root causes
- Develop a clear, structured report
- Advise on RIDDOR reporting requirements
What you receive
You will receive a comprehensive report outlining:
- What happened
- Why it happened
- Contributing factors
- Practical recommendations to prevent recurrence
Get immediate incident support
If an incident has occurred, our consultants can provide fast, practical investigation support. We’ll help you understand what happened and what needs to change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accident and Incident Investigation Services
Is accident investigation a legal requirement?
Yes. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and supporting regulations, employers have a legal duty to investigate accidents and incidents in the workplace. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also require employers to review their risk assessments and safety arrangements following an incident. Beyond legal compliance, thorough investigation is the most effective way to prevent the same thing from happening again.
What is RIDDOR and when does it apply?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It requires employers to report certain workplace incidents to the HSE, including fatalities, specified injuries, incidents resulting in more than seven consecutive days off work and dangerous occurrences. Understanding whether and how to report is an important early step after an incident and THSP can advise on RIDDOR requirements as part of the investigation process.
How quickly should an accident investigation begin?
As soon as possible after an incident. Evidence deteriorates quickly, witnesses’ recollections fade and conditions on site can change. Early investigation improves the quality of the findings and demonstrates to the HSE and other parties that the matter is being taken seriously. THSP can deploy a consultant promptly to support you in the immediate aftermath of an incident.
What does a THSP accident investigation involve?
A THSP consultant will attend the scene to gather evidence, speak to witnesses, review the equipment and processes involved and identify the root causes of the incident. From this, they will produce a clear, structured report setting out what happened, why it happened, the contributing factors and practical recommendations to prevent recurrence. Where applicable, they will also advise on RIDDOR reporting requirements.
What is the difference between a root cause and a contributing factor?
A root cause is the fundamental reason an incident occurred, the underlying failure that, if addressed, would prevent recurrence. Contributing factors are the conditions or circumstances that allowed the root cause to result in an incident. Effective accident investigation identifies both, because addressing contributing factors without resolving the root cause is unlikely to prevent a similar incident in future. THSP’s investigation reports cover both in a clear, structured format.
Will an investigation report be used against us if the HSE gets involved?
A thorough, well-documented investigation report generally demonstrates that you have taken your legal duties seriously and responded responsibly to the incident. The HSE will expect to see evidence that the incident has been investigated and that action has been taken to prevent recurrence. THSP’s reports are produced to a professional standard and are designed to support your position, not undermine it.
What should we do immediately after a workplace accident?
The immediate priorities are ensuring the safety of anyone involved, seeking medical attention where needed and preserving the scene where it is safe to do so. You should also begin gathering basic information, including the names of witnesses and a record of the conditions at the time. THSP can provide guidance on the steps to take in the immediate aftermath and deploy a consultant to support the investigation process as quickly as possible.
Can THSP support us with near miss investigations as well as accidents?
Yes. Near misses, incidents where something went wrong but no one was hurt, are among the most valuable sources of safety learning available. Investigating near misses with the same rigour as accidents helps identify systemic issues before they result in injury. THSP can support near miss investigations as part of a proactive approach to health and safety management.