Which statement about incident investigations is true?

• A. It is optional if the incident is minor
• B. It should be conducted by a trained professional to identify causes and prevention
• C. It should focus on assigning blame
• D. It should be completed within one hour

Answer: (B)

Incidents should be investigated by trained professionals who can use a systematic approach to identify causes and preventive actions. A qualified investigator gathers evidence, interviews involved people, analyzes contributing factors, and applies root cause analysis to determine why the incident happened and what steps will prevent recurrence. This focus on causes and actionable fixes supports learning and safety improvements, rather than assigning blame. Even for minor events, understanding underlying issues helps prevent similar occurrences in the future. Timeliness matters, but there isn’t a universal one-hour deadline—the investigation should be thorough and appropriate to the complexity of the incident.