Why must an incident be investigated?

• A. To document the incident for records only
• B. To identify the reasons for the accident and what can be avoided in the future
• C. To assign blame to responsible individuals
• D. To determine the exact number of people involved

Answer: (B)

The purpose of investigating an incident is to identify the reasons it happened and what can be changed to prevent it from happening again. By looking at both immediate causes and deeper, system-related factors—such as gaps in training, unsafe procedures, equipment issues, or management practices—you uncover root causes and contributing factors. The aim is to implement corrective actions that reduce risk, like updating procedures, adding safeguards, improving maintenance, or changing work conditions. Documentation and data collection support learning and accountability, but the focus should be on prevention, not assigning blame. While noting who was involved may be part of the record, it doesn’t drive future safety improvements. So the best answer emphasizes discovering why it happened and what can be done to avoid recurrence.