Incident Investigations
Boreal Safety Solutions provides professional incident investigation support to help organizations understand what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it from happening again.
We use root cause analysis to identify underlying systemic issues, not just immediate causes, and develop practical, corrective recommendations that reduce the risk of recurrence.
We support our clients throughout the required reporting processes, including WCB claims management and the notification and reporting of serious incidents to Alberta OHS, ensuring regulatory obligations are met accurately and efficiently.
What is an Incident Investigation?
An incident investigation is a structured process used to examine workplace events such as injuries, near misses, or property damage. Its purpose is to determine what happened, why it happened, and what underlying factors contributed to the incident.
Rather than focusing on blame, an incident investigation looks at elements like equipment, procedures, environment, and human factors to uncover root causes.
The goal of an incident investigation is to prevent the same or similar incidents from happening again. By identifying hazards and weaknesses in safety systems, organizations can implement corrective actions such as updating procedures, improving training, or modifying equipment.
What is a Root Cause Analysis?
A root cause analysis is a systematic method used to identify the underlying reasons why a problem or incident occurred. Instead of stopping at immediate causes, a root cause analysis digs deeper to uncover fundamental issues such as gaps in procedures, inadequate training, equipment failures, or organizational weaknesses that allowed the incident to happen.
The goal of a root cause analysis is to address the “root cause” so the problem does not recur. By implementing targeted corrective actions such as redesigning processes, strengthening safety policies, and improving communication, organizations can prevent future incidents and enhance overall workplace safety.
What Are the Regulatory Obligations When an Incident Occurs?
In Alberta, occupational health and safety legislation, primarily under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, requires that certain workplace incidents be reported and investigated promptly. Employers or prime contractors must report serious incidents (such as fatalities, hospitalizations, explosions, or structural collapses) to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) as soon as possible.
The legislation requires that a formal investigation be conducted for reportable and potentially serious incidents. A written report must be prepared outlining what happened, causes, and corrective actions. It must be shared with the organization’s health and safety committee and made available to workers.
Employers must keep this report for at least two years and provide it to an OHS Officer upon request. These requirements ensure accountability and help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Incident Investigations with Boreal Safety Solutions
Boreal Safety Solutions provides professional support to organizations by conducting thorough incident investigations and assisting management and supervisors throughout the investigation process. This includes gathering evidence, interviewing workers, identifying contributing factors, and ensuring that investigations follow best practices and meet regulatory expectations.
Boreal Safety Solutions will assist with reporting to Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and will ensure all documentation is complete and compliant. When needed, we will work directly with OHS officers to address any corrective actions or compliance orders, helping your organization navigate the process efficiently and effectively.