Investigating Workplace Accidents and Near Misses

Our Service Areas​

Environment, Health & Safety (EHS)

From understanding what happened to improving safety

Systematic analysis and investigation of workplace accidents, near misses and other safety incidents can provide valuable insight into the working environment, operational practices and the effectiveness of safety management. When investigating serious accidents and near misses in particular, it is important to look beyond the sequence of events, identify the contributing factors and assess how safety arrangements can be improved to prevent similar incidents.

Even a seemingly routine slip can involve a range of underlying shortcomings and contributing factors that are not apparent from the sequence of events alone. An investigation may reveal, for example, that a walkway is unsuitable for winter or wet conditions, that route markings are inadequate, or that several slip hazards have previously been reported in the same area without corrective action being taken.

The conclusion can then go beyond simply stating that an employee slipped because the walkway was slippery. The investigation may also identify shortcomings in workplace design, maintenance and the response to known risks.

A systematic approach in challenging circumstances

A fatal or serious workplace accident must be reported immediately to the police and the occupational safety and health authority. The accident also involves notifying the insurance company and handling the compensation claim. In serious cases, the police carry out an investigation at the scene, and the occupational safety and health authority may also take enforcement action. These processes can place considerable additional demands and pressure on the workplace.

The organisation must meet the information needs of employees, management, the authorities, the insurance company and potentially the wider public, while keeping the business running. These parties may also have different perspectives and expectations.

This makes it essential for the organisation to conduct its own safety investigation carefully and systematically. A thorough internal investigation can support other enquiries, but its primary purpose should be to inform improvements in risk management and preventive measures.

Incidents involving personal injury can give rise to strong emotions, conflicting views and uncertainty. The investigation must distinguish between observations, interpretations and conclusions that can be supported by the available evidence. The aim is to build as complete a picture as possible without unnecessarily blaming individual employees or supervisors. Involving people in the process and taking a blame-free approach can also improve the quality of the information gathered and make it easier for the organisation to address the areas for improvement identified.

Investigation support from DGE Finland

Finnish legislation does not prescribe in detail how an organisation should conduct its own investigation into an accident or near miss. However, the need to establish what happened is closely linked to the employer’s duty to identify and assess workplace hazards and to take previous accidents and near misses into account in risk management. At DGE Finland, we help our clients investigate accidents, near misses and other safety incidents. Our expertise in the chemical industry, risk assessment, occupational safety and Finnish safety legislation enables us to examine incidents from several perspectives. The scope and content of our services are agreed on a case-by-case basis, according to the client’s needs and the nature of the incident.  

Our work may include:

  • Establishing and documenting the facts and relevant background information
  • Conducting interviews and reconstructing the sequence of events
  • Assessing technical, organisational and human factors
  • Reviewing risk management and existing control measures
  • Analysing root causes and contributing factors
  • Helping to define corrective and preventive measures
  • Supporting documentation and reporting, including consideration of regulatory requirements

Our work supports the organisation’s own efforts to improve safety and does not replace investigations by the authorities or other statutory procedures.

Interested in our services?

Please contact us to learn more about how we can support your organisation.