Capabilities / Specialist Services
Accident and Incident Investigation in China
itmad provides independent accident and incident investigation in China: sequence of events, immediate and underlying causes, corrective actions.
Accident and incident investigation establishes what happened, why the event happened and what must change, and itmad provides independent accident and incident investigation in China. itmad investigates as an independent party, so that findings are credible to regulators, insurers and the workforce, and identifies causes with evidence rather than assigning blame. itmad has worked in China for more than 10 years.
What an accident investigation covers
An accident investigation establishes what happened, why the event happened, and what must change. An accident investigation is separate from the internal reporting that follows an incident: the purpose is to identify causes with evidence, not to assign blame.
Immediate and underlying causes
Investigations distinguish between the immediate cause, which is the unsafe act or condition at the point of the event, and 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.
Independence in accident investigation
itmad investigates as an independent party. Where an incident involves the management arrangements of the client, independence is what makes the findings credible to regulators, insurers and the workforce.
How an accident investigation is conducted
The investigator attends site as early as access allows, secures and records the scene, and preserves physical evidence before the evidence is disturbed. Witnesses are interviewed individually while recollection is fresh.
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 rather than opinion, and each conclusion is traced back to the evidence supporting the conclusion.
What itmad provides
- A verified sequence of events with supporting evidence
- Immediate and underlying causes, separately identified
- Analysis of which controls failed and why
- Corrective and preventive actions, prioritised by risk
- Photographic record and witness statements as annexes
- A report written to be usable by regulators, insurers and legal advisers
When accident investigation is used
- Lost time injuries and serious injury events
- Fatalities and incidents subject to regulatory notification
- High-potential near misses where the outcome could have been severe
- Equipment failures, fires, releases and structural incidents
- Repeat incidents where previous corrective action has not worked
- Where the organisation needs findings that are demonstrably independent
Frequently asked questions
What is an accident investigation?
An accident investigation establishes what happened, why the event happened, and what must change. The purpose of an accident investigation is to identify causes with evidence, 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, while the underlying causes lie in equipment, procedure, supervision, training or organisation and allowed the event to happen. Corrective action aimed only at the immediate cause does not prevent recurrence.
How is an accident investigation conducted?
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. Evidence is then assembled into a verified timeline, and causes are determined by structured analysis rather than opinion.
Why does independence matter in an accident investigation?
itmad investigates as an independent party. Where an incident involves the management arrangements of the client, independence is what makes the findings credible to regulators, insurers and the workforce.
What does an accident investigation report contain?
The report contains 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 accident investigation used?
An accident investigation is used after lost time injuries, serious injury events, fatalities and incidents subject to regulatory notification, and after high-potential near misses where the outcome could have been severe. Investigations are also used after equipment failures, fires, releases, structural incidents and repeat incidents where previous corrective action has not worked.