Workplace investigations help determine the root cause and hazards of an incident. Whether it’s an incident (such as an injury, illness, property or equipment damage), near-miss, psychological or workplace violence incident, unsafe work condition, or health and safety concerns, a workplace investigation helps us understand what happened, why it happened, and what we can do to prevent it from happening again.  

Why do workplace investigations matter? 

Workplace investigations help to:

• Identify root causes and uncover workplace hazards
• Prevent similar incidents from happening again
• Promote a healthy and safe work environment
• Meet regulatory requirements
• Build trust with workers through accountability and transparency

What is a workplace investigation?  

A workplace investigation is a:

• Fact-finding process to uncover the cause of a particular incident
• Critical, objective, and systematic examination of all aspects of an incident
• Tool for identifying workplace acts, conditions, or procedures that need improvement
• Key component of the incident reporting process
• Preventive measure to help avoid similar events in the future
• Reactive element of an overall injury prevention program

What do we investigate?

Workplace investigations may be conducted for:

• Incidents, near misses, injuries, and time-loss claims
• Equipment or machinery failures
• Structural or property damage
• Releases of hazardous substances
• Health and safety concerns raised by workers
• Concerns identified by regulatory bodies

Who is involved in the investigation?

Investigations must involve people who are knowledgeable about the work being performed. An employer representative leads the investigation, and a worker representative must also participate.

Depending on the size of the organization, the worker representative may be:

• A member of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) Committee, or
• A worker selected by their peers.

Depending on the nature of the incident, others who may be involved include:

• Health and safety personnel
• WorkSafeBC representatives
• Union representatives
• Human Resources

This joint approach promotes fairness, transparency, and meaningful safety improvements in the workplace.

Roles and responsibilities for investigations

While the employer holds the overall responsibility for workplace health and safety, the Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) Committee plays a vital supporting role by:

• Ensuring investigations are carried out as required
• Actively participating in the investigation process
• Reviewing Employer Incident Investigation Reports (EIIRs)
• Advising the employer on safety improvements or health and safety concerns
• Supporting corrective actions and monitoring their completion
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the committee’s work