Capabilities / Specialist Services
Independent Accident and Incident Investigation
Independent accident and incident investigation: what happened, why, and what must change, with causes identified on evidence and not blame assigned.
An accident or incident investigation establishes what happened, why it happened and what must change, and itmad provides independent accident and incident investigation. itmad investigates as an independent party, so that the findings are credible to regulators, insurers and the workforce, and identifies causes with evidence instead of assigning blame. itmad operates across the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
What an investigation covers
The investigation is separate from the internal reporting that follows an incident. Its purpose is to find the causes on evidence, not to decide who to blame.
Immediate and underlying causes
An investigation separates the immediate cause, the unsafe act or condition at the point of the event, from the underlying causes in equipment, procedure, supervision, training or organisation that allowed the event to happen. Corrective action aimed only at the immediate cause does not prevent recurrence.
Why independence matters
Where an incident involves the client's own management arrangements, independence is what makes the findings credible to regulators, insurers and the workforce.
How an investigation is carried out
The investigator attends site as early as access allows, secures and records the scene, and preserves physical evidence before it is disturbed. Witnesses are interviewed one at a time while their recollection is fresh.
The evidence is then assembled into a verified timeline. Equipment, maintenance records, permits, procedures, training records and previous incident reports are examined to establish which controls were in place, which were absent and which failed. Where a technical failure is involved, component examination or laboratory analysis may be arranged.
Causes are determined by structured analysis and not by opinion, and every conclusion is traced back to the evidence that supports it.
What the report contains
The report gives a verified sequence of events with its supporting evidence, the immediate and underlying causes identified separately, an analysis of which controls failed and why, and corrective and preventive actions prioritised by risk. Photographic records and witness statements are annexed.
When an investigation is called for
Investigations follow lost time injuries and serious injury events, fatalities and incidents that must be notified to a regulator, and high-potential near misses where the outcome could have been severe. They also follow equipment failures, fires, releases and structural incidents, and repeat incidents where earlier corrective action has not worked, and they are used wherever an organisation needs findings that are demonstrably independent.
Frequently asked questions
What is an accident investigation?
An accident investigation establishes what happened, why it happened and what must change. Its purpose is to identify causes with evidence and not to assign blame.
What is the difference between immediate and underlying causes?
The immediate cause is the unsafe act or condition at the point of the event. The underlying causes lie in equipment, procedure, supervision, training or organisation and allowed the event to happen, and corrective action aimed only at the immediate cause does not prevent recurrence.
How is an investigation carried out?
The investigator attends site as early as access allows, secures and records the scene, preserves physical evidence and interviews witnesses individually while recollection is fresh. The evidence is assembled into a verified timeline, and causes are determined by structured analysis and not by opinion.
Why does independence matter?
itmad investigates as an independent party. Where an incident involves the client's management arrangements, independence is what makes the findings credible to regulators, insurers and the workforce.
What does the investigation report contain?
A verified sequence of events with supporting evidence, the immediate and underlying causes identified separately, an analysis of which controls failed and why, and corrective and preventive actions prioritised by risk. Photographic records and witness statements are annexed.
When is an investigation used?
After lost time injuries, serious injuries, fatalities and incidents subject to regulatory notification, and after high-potential near misses. It is also used after equipment failures, fires, releases, structural incidents and repeat incidents where earlier corrective action has not worked.