OSHA does not have general requirements for employers to investigate incidents, however, specific regulations such as the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard may require them. Regardless of regulations, however, employers are expected to identify and address hazards in the workplace. Investigating incidents and near misses is a prime way to do that.
NOTE: OSHA recognizes that, in the past, the term “accident” has been used to refer to unplanned or unwanted events. Because “accidents” suggest an unpreventable, random event, OSHA recommends employers use the term “incident” to indicate workplace events that are preventable.
Management commitment to safety is crucial and requires the investigation of incidents and near misses (workers could have been injured). Employers and employees should collaborate to identify and implement corrective actions aimed at preventing future incidents. Effective incident and near miss investigations rely on a focus on root causes rather than blaming individuals.
OSHA requires employers to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards. This requires a commitment of management performing investigations of incidents and near misses. Investigations uncover hazards that can be implemented to avoid recurrence in the future.