• Taking good notes is vital to assembling the final accident report.

Accident investigation notes are a record of the facts surrounding an accident that contain information about what people have witnessed. Writing good notes helps develop the final accident investigation report.

Investigation notes should focus on the who, what, when, where, how, and why facts of the accident. Some example questions to ask during an investigation that could be used in the investigation report include:

Who:

• Was involved in the accident?
• Was injured?
• Witnessed the accident?
• Reported the accident?
• Notified emergency medical services personnel?

What:

• Happened?
• Company property was damaged?
• Evidence was found?
• Was done to secure the accident scene?
• Was done to prevent a recurrence of the accident?
• Level of medical care did the victims require?
• Was being done at the time of the accident?
• Tools were being used?
• Was the employee told to do?
• Machine was involved?
• Operation was being performed?
• Instructions had been given?
• Precautions were necessary?
• Protective equipment should have been used?
• Did others do to contribute to the accident?
• Did witnesses see?
• Safety rules were violated?
• Safety rules were lacking?
• New safety rules or procedures are needed?

When:

• Did the accident happen?
• Was it discovered?
• Was the accident reported?
• Did the employee begin the task?
• Were hazards pointed out to the employee?
• Did the supervisor last check the employee’s progress?

Where:

• Did the accident happen?
• Was the employee’s supervisor when the accident occurred?
• Were coworkers when the accident occurred?
• Were witnesses when the accident occurred?
• Does this condition exist elsewhere in the facility?
• Is the evidence of the investigation going to be kept?

How:

• Did the accident happen?
• Was the accident discovered?
• Were employees injured?
• Was equipment damaged?
• Could the accident have been avoided?
• Could the supervisor have prevented the accident from happening?
• Could coworkers avoid similar accidents?

Why:

• Did the accident happen?
• Were employees injured?
• Did the employee behave that way?
• Wasn’t protective equipment used?
• Weren’t specific instructions given to the employee?
• Was the employee in that specific position or place?
• Was the employee using that machine or those tools?
• Didn’t the employee check with the supervisor?
• Wasn’t the supervisor there at the time?