The Cost of Poor Incident Investigation

How to Prevent Repeated Mistakes

Does your workplace experience repeated safety incidents despite corrective actions?

Poor incident investigation is more than just a procedural gap, often it’s a window into your organisation’s safety culture. Left unchecked, it can lead to a cycle of blame, unreported incidents, and escalating costs.

In this article, we’ll uncover the hidden costs of ineffective incident investigations and provide actionable steps to improve your processes, reduce risks, and promote a safer work environment.

The Cost of Poor Incident Investigation-Dowell Solutions-Kylie Dowell

What Is Poor Incident Investigation and Why Does It Happen?

Poor incident investigation occurs when the root causes of workplace incidents are not thoroughly identified or addressed. Instead, the focus often shifts to surface-level factors or individual blame.

This happens for a variety of reasons:

  • Lack of Training: Employees responsible for investigations may not have received adequate guidance on how to identify root causes.
  • Outdated or Incomplete Procedures: Forms, checklists, and protocols may be missing, outdated, or not used effectively.
  • Blame Culture: When investigations focus on assigning fault rather than solving problems, it discourages open reporting and learning opportunities.

The Ripple Effects of Poor Incident Investigation

Blame Culture and Its Consequences
When investigations center on finding fault, it creates a blame culture where employees are reluctant to report incidents. This leads to:

  • Underreporting: Minor injuries or near-misses go unreported, missing opportunities to address hazards early.
  • Reduced Morale: Employees feel unsupported and disengaged, affecting productivity and team cohesion.


Escalating Costs and Repeated Incidents

Failing to address root causes allows the same issues to resurface, resulting in:

  • Increased Incidents: Without effective corrective actions, similar events are likely to occur again.
  • Financial Strain: Frequent incidents lead to higher workers’ compensation claims and premiums.

How to Identify and Address Gaps in Your Incident Investigation Process

Audit Your Procedures and Tools

Start by reviewing your current resources:

  • Do you have a clear incident investigation procedure?
  • Are forms, checklists, and documentation up-to-date?
  • Are these tools consistently used by your team?


Provide Adequate Training

Training is essential to improving incident investigations. Ensure your team understands:

  • How to conduct root cause analysis.
  • The importance of focusing on systems and processes, not individual blame.
  • How to use tools like the 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams to uncover underlying causes.


Analyse Incident Data for Patterns

Review past incidents to identify trends or recurring issues:

  • Are similar incidents happening repeatedly despite corrective actions?
  • Are investigation findings too focused on “operator error” without addressing systemic factors?

Use these insights to update your procedures and enhance training.

The Benefits of Proactive Incident Investigation

By improving your approach to incident investigation, you can:

  • Prevent Future Incidents: Addressing root causes reduces risks across your workplace.
  • Save Money: Fewer incidents mean fewer workers’ compensation claims and lower insurance premiums.
  • Build a Stronger Safety Culture: Employees feel valued and supported, leading to greater engagement and transparency.

Is It time to take action?

Improving your incident investigation process is about protecting your people, preventing unnecessary costs, and promoting a culture of safety and accountability.

If your organisation struggles with incident investigation or you’ve noticed repeated safety incidents, it’s time to take action.

Picture of ABOUT THE Author - Kylie Dowell

ABOUT THE Author - Kylie Dowell

Kylie Dowell is a seasoned WHS consultant, trainer, and safety advocate with over 25 years of experience helping Australian businesses create safer, compliant workplaces.

Through her partnership with TEAMS, an accredited Registered Training Organisation, Kylie delivers a wide range of training up to Advanced Diploma level, empowering businesses with the knowledge and skills to manage safety effectively.

As an approved trainer for Health and Safety Representative (HSR) courses by three Safety Regulators, Kylie has guided countless organisations in building stronger safety cultures and fostering healthier work environments.

Specialising in practical and effective safety solutions, she works closely with small and medium-sized businesses to simplify complex WHS requirements, making safety approachable and achievable.

When she’s not delivering high-quality training or conducting ISO 45001-certified audits, Kylie enjoys collaborating with her clients to design tailored workshops and strategies that suit their unique needs.

Ready to make safety simpler? Get in touch with Kylie today for personalised support.