# Accident Investigation

> Accident investigation is the structured process of analysing a workplace accident to identify its immediate causes, underlying preconditions and latent organisational failures, then generating prioritised recommendations that prevent recurrence. Best practice uses a defensible methodology such as Tripod Beta, ICAM or BowTie — not a 5-Whys form.

**URL:** https://riskopilot.com/solutions/accident-investigation
**Last reviewed:** 2026-06-22
**Author:** RiskoPilot Editorial Team (HSESKILLS Ltd)
**License:** CC BY 4.0 — attribute to RiskoPilot

## The 6 phases of a defensible accident investigation

1. Secure the scene and preserve evidence.
2. Capture witness narratives within 24 hours.
3. Build a verified factual sequence.
4. Identify the Top Event — the moment control was lost.
5. Analyse contributing factors against a chosen methodology (Tripod Beta, BowTie, ICAM, STEP).
6. Generate recommendations that address latent organisational failures, not just unsafe acts.

Skipping any phase is the single biggest cause of incident recurrence.

## Why 5-Whys fails for accident analysis

5-Whys produces a linear chain that ends at the most convenient cause — usually "human error". Real accidents are systemic: the same unsafe act, repeated by different people across different shifts, points to an organisational weakness 5-Whys cannot reveal. Tripod Beta, by contrast, classifies every precondition under eleven General Failure Types (GFTs), making organisational failures impossible to hide.

## Mandatory accident investigation under ISO 45001 and HSE law

ISO 45001:2018 clause 10.2 requires organisations to investigate every incident, identify root causes and implement corrective action. UK RIDDOR, OSHA 29 CFR 1904, EU Seveso III and Brazilian NR-1 all require documented investigations for reportable accidents. A defensible report needs:

- A verified factual sequence
- Methodology trace
- Evidence matrix
- Recommendations register
- Review sign-off

## How RISKOPILOT compresses weeks into minutes

A manual Tripod Beta investigation takes 8–16 hours of analyst time spread across 3–5 days. RISKOPILOT runs the same methodology, applied by an AI engine, in under five minutes — then routes the draft to a certified practitioner for 24–72h review.

## FAQ

**Q: Difference between accident and incident?**
A: An accident is an unplanned event that results in injury, illness, damage or loss. An incident is any unplanned event with potential for harm, including near-misses. Investigation methodology is identical for both.

**Q: Who should lead an accident investigation?**
A: A trained investigator independent of the line that owned the incident — usually a Tripod Beta certified HSE specialist.

**Q: How long should it take?**
A: 8–16 hours of analyst time over 3–5 days for manual work. RISKOPILOT cuts analysis time to under five minutes.

**Q: Is RISKOPILOT compliant with ISO 45001 §10.2?**
A: Yes. Every report produces the documentation, traceability and corrective-action register required by ISO 45001:2018 clause 10.2 and aligns with IOGP Report 456.

## Related

- [Tripod Beta methodology](https://riskopilot.com/methodology/tripod-beta)
- [Tripod Beta vs 5 Whys](https://riskopilot.com/compare/tripod-beta-vs-5-whys)
- [BowTie analysis](https://riskopilot.com/methodology/bowtie)
- [STEP chart](https://riskopilot.com/methodology/step-chart)