Workplace accident investigation: the most common mistakes
2026. 07. 23.
Documentation gaps usually only cause problems in regulatory proceedings.
Most workplace accident investigations reach technically correct conclusions, but documentation remains incomplete. This rarely shows up in day-to-day work, yet it directly weakens the employer's position in regulatory proceedings or later litigation.
Three mistakes recur most often. First, the investigation stops at the immediate cause and does not ask why that situation arose. Second, witness interviews are oral rather than written. Third, the action plan has no owner or deadline, so it cannot be monitored.
All three can be prevented if the investigation procedure is defined in advance, rather than invented after each accident.