NEBOSH Incident Investigation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'responsible person' for RIDDOR reporting purposes?
- The injured worker themselves
- The employer, self-employed person, or person in control of the premises where the work-related incident occurred (Correct answer)
- The health and safety consultant
- The first aider who treated the injured person
Correct answer: The employer, self-employed person, or person in control of the premises where the work-related incident occurred
Under RIDDOR 2013, the 'responsible person' who must make the report is typically the employer of the injured person, a self-employed person if they are injured by their own work, or the person in control of the premises where the incident occurred. This ensures that the person with the duty to manage safety is also the one who reports failures.
Question 2: How does the domino theory differ from the Swiss cheese model in explaining accident causation?
- They are essentially the same model with different names
- The domino theory presents causation as a linear chain of sequential events, while the Swiss cheese model shows it as a failure of multiple independent defensive layers that normally prevent hazards from reaching people (Correct answer)
- The domino theory is more modern than the Swiss cheese model
- The Swiss cheese model only applies to aviation accidents
Correct answer: The domino theory presents causation as a linear chain of sequential events, while the Swiss cheese model shows it as a failure of multiple independent defensive layers that normally prevent hazards from reaching people
Heinrich's domino theory (1931) presents a linear, sequential chain where one factor leads to the next. Reason's Swiss cheese model (1990) is more sophisticated, showing multiple independent layers of defence with latent weaknesses, where an accident requires the simultaneous failure of several layers. The Swiss cheese model better reflects complex modern organisations.
Question 3: When investigating an incident, why is it important to interview witnesses as soon as practicable?
- To ensure they cannot coordinate their stories
- Because memory of events deteriorates rapidly over time, and early interviews capture the most accurate and detailed recollections before they are influenced by subsequent discussions, media, or rationalisation (Correct answer)
- Because witnesses may leave the country
- Because the HSE requires all interviews within one hour
Correct answer: Because memory of events deteriorates rapidly over time, and early interviews capture the most accurate and detailed recollections before they are influenced by subsequent discussions, media, or rationalisation
Human memory is most accurate shortly after an event and deteriorates significantly with time. Witnesses may also be influenced by conversations with others, media reports, or unconscious rationalisation. Early interviews capture the freshest and most reliable accounts. However, interviews should still be conducted sensitively, as witnesses may be distressed.
Question 4: Which of the following is a reportable occupational disease under RIDDOR 2013?
- The common cold
- Occupational dermatitis where the worker's work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitiser or irritant (Correct answer)
- A sprained ankle from playing football at the weekend
- Stress-related headaches
Correct answer: Occupational dermatitis where the worker's work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitiser or irritant
RIDDOR 2013 Schedule 3 lists specific reportable occupational diseases linked to specified work activities. Occupational dermatitis is reportable when associated with work involving exposure to known skin sensitisers or irritants. Other reportable diseases include carpal tunnel syndrome (from vibrating tools), occupational asthma, and hand-arm vibration syndrome.
Question 5: In a bow-tie analysis, what are 'escalation factors'?
- Factors that increase the salary of safety officers
- Conditions or events that can cause a prevention or mitigation barrier to fail or be less effective, potentially allowing threats to lead to the hazardous event or consequences to escalate (Correct answer)
- Steps in the career ladder of safety professionals
- Factors that increase production output
Correct answer: Conditions or events that can cause a prevention or mitigation barrier to fail or be less effective, potentially allowing threats to lead to the hazardous event or consequences to escalate
Escalation factors are conditions that can degrade or defeat the barriers in a bow-tie. For example, lack of maintenance could cause a physical barrier to fail, or inadequate training could cause a procedural barrier to be ineffective. Identifying escalation factors is crucial because it reveals what could undermine the controls that are supposed to prevent or mitigate the event.
Question 6: What is the significance of distinguishing between 'immediate causes' and 'root causes' in an investigation?
- There is no practical difference between them
- Immediate causes explain what happened directly at the point of the incident, while root causes reveal the underlying management and systemic failures — addressing only immediate causes treats symptoms, while addressing root causes prevents recurrence (Correct answer)
- Immediate causes are more important than root causes
- Root causes are always easier to identify than immediate causes
Correct answer: Immediate causes explain what happened directly at the point of the incident, while root causes reveal the underlying management and systemic failures — addressing only immediate causes treats symptoms, while addressing root causes prevents recurrence
Immediate causes (broken equipment, unsafe act) are the direct factors at the point of the incident. Root causes are the deeper organisational and management failures (inadequate procedures, poor safety culture, resource constraints) that allowed the immediate causes to exist. Fixing only immediate causes is like treating symptoms — the underlying condition remains and will produce further incidents.
NEBOSH Incident Investigation 4
What is a 'responsible person' for RIDDOR reporting purposes?