All accidents, incidents, and near misses should be investigated. The focus of the investigation should be to identify the root cause. While there are many reasons for investigating accidents, the main reason is to keep similar accidents from happening again. Effective and thorough accident investigations show employees that their employer is concerned for their safety and well-being.

Except in relation to Process Safety Management (PSM), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not require employers to perform accident investigations. However, some states do require them, so be sure to understand any state laws and regulations. In addition, many insurance companies require accident investigations as a condition of coverage.