Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis

Programme Summary

Improve investigation quality by turning incident information into defensible findings and practical prevention measures. Participants practise planning an investigation, preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses and reconstructing events. Structured analysis examines immediate conditions, human factors and organisational contributors, leading to an action plan that assigns ownership and defines how the effectiveness of corrective measures will be checked.

Training Objectives

1 Strengthen systematic investigation planning and evidence collection; 2 Improve fair and purposeful witness interviewing; 3 Develop understanding of interacting incident causal factors; 4 Promote corrective actions addressing underlying control weaknesses; 5 Support credible reporting and organisational learning.

Learning Outcomes

1 Prepare an investigation plan for a scenario; 2 Construct an evidence referenced sequence of events; 3 Separate established facts from assumptions and gaps; 4 Analyse immediate underlying and organisational causal factors; 5 Recommend corrective actions with effectiveness verification measures.

Target Audience

HSE officers; Operations supervisors; Incident investigation team members; Maintenance supervisors; Quality managers; Employee safety representatives.

Target Industries

Manufacturing; Construction; Oil and gas operations; Warehousing and distribution; Utilities; Transport operations.

Course Contents

• Module 1 Investigation Purpose and Initial Response: Learning objectives and investigation proportionality; Immediate safety and medical response priorities; Notification escalation and evidence preservation.
• Module 2 Planning the Investigation: Defining scope terms and team responsibilities; Investigation competence independence and confidentiality; Evidence collection sequence and resource planning.
• Module 3 Evidence Collection and Evaluation: Physical documentary and digital evidence; Source reliability and information gaps; Record integrity and chain of custody.
• Module 4 Witness Interviews and Human Factors: Open questions and nonleading interview techniques; Accounts memory limitations and respectful treatment; Work conditions workload and task design.
• Module 5 Event Reconstruction: Timelines and sequence of events; Comparing accounts with available records; Distinguishing facts assumptions and hypotheses.
• Module 6 Causal and Barrier Analysis: Immediate underlying and organisational contributors; Failed absent and effective barriers; Testing causal explanations against evidence.
• Module 7 Corrective Action Development: Control hierarchy and prevention priorities; Action ownership timescales and interim safeguards; Verification measures for sustainable risk reduction.
• Module 8 Reporting and Organisational Learning: Clear findings evidence and uncertainty; Communicating lessons without unsupported blame; Follow up review and action effectiveness.

Assessment

• 40 single best answer questions, including applied scenarios; one mark per question.
• 60 minute invigilated digital examination with identity verification. Approved accessibility adjustments preserve the assessed competence.
• Supplied case evidence and analysis templates allowed; internet, AI and personal notes prohibited.
• Individual applied assessment (30 minutes): Analyse a fictional incident evidence pack. Produce a concise event timeline, distinguish supported findings from uncertainties, identify causal and barrier weaknesses, and propose prioritised corrective actions with owners and effectiveness checks.
• Assessment criteria: Evidence-supported timeline and causal findings; Appropriate corrective actions addressing control weaknesses; Clear reporting of uncertainty and verification.
• Pass each component separately: 30/40 written marks (75%) and at least 70% on the applied task.
• All mandatory criteria must pass: Prioritise immediate protection before evidence gathering; Do not fabricate evidence or attribute blame without support.
• Individual results and feedback are provided. One reassessment may follow coaching under the published enrolment terms.

Certification

• Successful learners receive a TQCSI Arabia digital Certificate of Successful Completion.
• The certificate records the learner name, exact programme title, teaching hours, completion date and unique verification reference.
• Verified identity, full attendance and separate written and applied passes are required; all mandatory critical criteria must be met.
• Proposed issue target: within 30 calendar days of approved results and settlement of applicable fees.
• Records assessed workplace incident-investigation skills; it does not confer statutory investigation authority or qualify forensic, legal or specialist technical investigation.
• Attendance confirmation may record completed hours for unsuccessful learners; it does not certify successful completion.

Programme Profile

Number of daysNumber of daysNumber of days

222

Total teaching hoursTotal teaching hoursTotal teaching hours

12 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.12 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.12 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.

Delegates allowedDelegates allowedDelegates allowed

Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.

Training prerequisitesTraining prerequisitesTraining prerequisites

Basic workplace hazard and risk-control knowledge is required. Supervisory, safety or operational experience is recommended; previous formal investigation training is not required.Basic workplace hazard and risk-control knowledge is required. Supervisory, safety or operational experience is recommended; previous formal investigation training is not required.Basic workplace hazard and risk-control knowledge is required. Supervisory, safety or operational experience is recommended; previous formal investigation training is not required.

Pre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessment

Review a fictional incident brief for 30 minutes and list potential evidence, missing information and initial investigation questions.Review a fictional incident brief for 30 minutes and list potential evidence, missing information and initial investigation questions.Review a fictional incident brief for 30 minutes and list potential evidence, missing information and initial investigation questions.

End of course assessmentEnd of course assessmentEnd of course assessment

40 question written exam (60 minutes) and individual applied task (30 minutes).40 question written exam (60 minutes) and individual applied task (30 minutes).40 question written exam (60 minutes) and individual applied task (30 minutes).

Passing criteriaPassing criteriaPassing criteria

75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance. All mandatory criteria must pass.