Incident Investigation Flashcards
6 cards from real NEBOSH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Incident Investigation flashcards as text
Under RIDDOR 2013, within what timeframe must an over-7-day incapacitation be reported?
Answer: Within 15 days of the accident
Over-7-day incapacitations must be reported within 15 days of the accident (not 15 days after the 7th day of incapacity). The report is made online via the HSE's reporting website. This is less urgent than the 'without delay' requirement for deaths and specified injuries, reflecting the lower immediate severity.
A major chemical spill occurs at a factory. Using the bow-tie model, which of the following would be a 'mitigation barrier' on the right side of the bow-tie?
Answer: Secondary containment, emergency shutdown procedures, and evacuation plans that limit the consequences after the spill has occurred
Mitigation barriers sit on the right side of the bow-tie, after the hazardous event (the spill) has occurred. They limit the consequences — secondary containment catches spilled material, emergency shutdowns prevent further release, and evacuation plans protect people. Prevention barriers (inspections, safe handling training) sit on the left side, before the event.
What role does organisational culture play in accident causation according to modern models?
Answer: A poor safety culture creates latent conditions — such as normalisation of deviance, production pressure, inadequate resources, and poor communication — that weaken defensive barriers and increase the likelihood of incidents
Modern accident causation models, particularly Reason's work, emphasise that organisational culture creates the conditions in which accidents become more or less likely. A poor safety culture normalises shortcuts, prioritises production over safety, under-resources safety measures, and discourages reporting — all of which create latent weaknesses in defensive barriers.
When conducting a fishbone analysis for a warehouse worker struck by a forklift, which category would 'inadequate pedestrian segregation markings' fall under?
Answer: Environment or Methods/Procedures
Inadequate pedestrian segregation markings relate to the work environment (physical layout and conditions of the workplace) or to methods/procedures (the systems and procedures for managing traffic in the warehouse). Either categorisation is valid — the fishbone diagram is a tool for systematic thinking, and the exact category matters less than ensuring the factor is captured and investigated.
What is the legal requirement for keeping records of RIDDOR reports?
Answer: The responsible person must keep a record of any reportable incident for at least 3 years from the date it was made
RIDDOR 2013 Regulation 12 requires the responsible person to keep a record of any event that is reportable under the regulations. These records must be retained for at least 3 years from the date the record was made. Records can be kept in any form, including the copy of the online report submitted to the HSE.
Why is it important to investigate near-misses with the same rigour as actual accidents?
Answer: Because near-misses and actual accidents share the same causal mechanisms — the only difference is the outcome — so rigorous investigation identifies the same systemic weaknesses before they result in actual harm
Near-misses and actual injuries typically have identical causal pathways — the same unsafe conditions, same system failures, same human factors. The difference in outcome is often pure chance (someone stepped left instead of right). Investigating near-misses with full rigour captures the same learning at no human cost, providing a powerful preventive opportunity.