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HSE’s HSG245 sets out a four-stage way to investigate workplace accidents, near misses and unsafe circumstances: gather information, analyse causes, identify risk controls, and implement an action plan. The official HSE workbook was published in 2004—not 2011—and is available free as a PDF. Its aim is to help employers learn what failed and prevent recurrence, not simply assign blame.
What HSG245 is—and when to use it
Investigating accidents and incidents: A workbook for employers, unions, safety representatives and safety professionals is HSE’s practical guidance for organizations conducting their own health and safety investigations, particularly smaller businesses. It offers a framework rather than a rule that every event needs the same depth of inquiry.
Investigate near misses and unsafe circumstances as well as events that cause injury or loss. They can reveal weaknesses in controls before someone is harmed. HSE’s current guidance also includes accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences among the incidents employers should investigate: How to manage health and safety.
Choose the investigation’s depth in light of potential severity and risk, the complexity of possible causes, whether similar events or hazards recur, and whether your organization has the competence and authority to investigate and act. HSG245 is not a substitute for emergency response, specialist forensic investigation, legal advice or jurisdiction-specific reporting duties.
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How to investigate an accident or near miss
1. Gather information
Establish what happened and preserve relevant evidence. HSG245’s forms prompt investigators to record the event and outcome, work organization, people and competence, workplace layout, materials, plant and equipment, maintenance, safety equipment and other conditions that may have influenced events. Ask whether the risk was known and why it was or was not controlled.
Record observations and accounts systematically. Separate confirmed facts from assumptions or early explanations; an initial account is evidence to assess, not automatically a proven cause.
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2. Analyse immediate, underlying and root causes
Work out how the circumstances combined to produce the event. An immediate cause may be the final action or condition, but stopping there can miss the underlying conditions and management arrangements that allowed it. Examine relevant work organization, competence, equipment, maintenance and controls, and consider whether similar risks or previous events exist elsewhere.
Use “root cause” carefully: an event may have several contributing causes rather than one isolated answer. An investigation that blames an individual alone may overlook preventable weaknesses in the work system.
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3. Identify risk-control measures
Connect each proposed measure to a risk or control failure identified in the investigation. HSG245 describes a hierarchy of reliability: eliminating a risk or controlling it at source is generally more reliable than relying on people to follow procedures or wear personal protective equipment. Choose controls for the actual risk and work context; a completed form is not a substitute for judgement.
4. Make the action plan accountable
HSG245 says the desired outcome of a thorough investigation is an action plan to implement additional risk controls. Set SMART objectives—Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and with Timescales—and involve senior management with authority to act.
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- Prioritise actions according to the magnitude of risk; address high and immediate risks immediately.
- For each action, name a responsible person and set a timescale.
- Give a senior person responsibility for monitoring the plan as a whole.
- Review progress regularly and communicate it to employees and their representatives.
5. Close the learning loop
Use findings to review related risk assessments and safe working procedures, updating them where needed. Check whether the same risk exists at other sites or activities. HSE’s current management guidance places investigation within ongoing safety management: learn from incidents, improve controls and revisit arrangements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What an investigation report should make clear
HSG245 structures its forms around the information needed to understand an event and decide what to change. A useful report should leave a reader able to follow the evidence, reasoning and actions without confusing a hypothesis with a fact.
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- What happened, where and when, and what injury, ill health or loss resulted—or could have resulted.
- What evidence and accounts were considered, including relevant people, tasks, equipment, materials, workplace conditions and existing controls.
- Which immediate, underlying and wider organizational factors contributed, and how the evidence supports those findings.
- Which risks or control weaknesses require action, who owns each action, its deadline and how progress will be checked.
- Whether related assessments, procedures, sites or activities need review.
Reporting duties are separate from the investigation
Do not use HSG245 alone to decide whether an incident must be reported. HSE says certain incidents must be reported under RIDDOR; check the current official HSE guidance for the applicable duties. An internal investigation and any required statutory report serve different purposes.
Other HSE resources for incident investigation
The free HSG245 workbook is the guidance resource. Organizations handling many reports or seeking formal investigator training may also consider these separate options; neither replaces the workbook’s investigation framework.
Quick Recap
| Resource | What it offers | Published terms |
|---|---|---|
| HSE Accident and Near-miss Tool | Browser-based collection and filtering of accident and near-miss records, potential RIDDOR-reportable incident flags, alerts, a searchable database and trend dashboard. | HSE Books’ page, published 4 June 2026, lists £99 plus VAT per year for one administrator account and unlimited reports. Additional administrator accounts may be needed for multiple people in those roles; check the page for current price and terms. |
| NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation | Course covering evidence gathering, interviews, human and organizational factors, and action planning, with a practical assessment. | The course page lists one day face-to-face or two live-online part-days and £595 per person. Check the page for current dates and price. |
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