The 5W’s & 1H Theory During

Investigation
 Whenever there is an accident in a workplace, the need to establish an investigation is very
paramount in order to determine the causes and take a corrective steps to prevent the future
occurrence.
 While conducting an incident/accident investigation, there are three things too look out for so
that the situation or circumstance that build up the incident/accident can be exposed.
 The Immediate Cause.
 The Underlying Cause.
 The Root Cause.
 In order to write an investigation report, you will need to follow the term we called”5W’s & 1H”
theory.
 Six main questions you need to determine during your accident investigation.

1. Who
 Was injured?
 Saw the incident?
 Was working with him/her?
 Had instructed, trained, assigned the affected person/
 Else was involved?
 Can help prevent the re-occurrence?

2. What
 Was the injury/illness?
 Was being done at time of injury or incident?
 Were they told to do?
 Tools were being used?
 Machinery was involved?
 Operation was being performed?
 Instruction had been given?
 Precautions were given?
 Precautions were necessary?
 PPE was used or should have been used?
 Problems or questions was encountered?
 Did the employee and others do after the incident?
 Did witnesses see?
 Can be done to prevent re-occurrences?
 Safety rules or procedures were violated?
 Safety rules or procedures were lacking?
 Safety rules or procedures were needed?
 Additional training should be included?

3. When
 Did the injury or incident occur?
 Did the employee begin the task?
 Was the employee assigned to the task?
 Were the hazards or risk pointed out to the employee?
 Did the supervisor last check on the employee’s progress?
 Did the employee last notice that something is wrong?
 Was appropriate training provided?
 Was a risk assessment done?

4. Why
 Was the employee injured?
 Did the employee behave that way?
 Did other persons behave that way?
 Was PPE not used?
 Were specific instructions not given to the employee?
 Was the employee in that position/place?
 Did the employee continue working under the circumstance?
 Was the employee allowed to continue working?
 Wasn’t the supervisor there at the time?

5. Where
 Did the injury or incident occur?
 Was the employee at the time of the incident?
 Was the supervisor at the time of the incident?
 Were co-workers at the time of the incident?
 Were the witnesses when the incident occurred?

6. How
 Was the employee injured?
 Could the injury/illness have been avoided?
 Could co-workers avoid similar injury/illness?
 Could the supervisor have prevented the injury/illness?

 Make sure you find answer to all of the above when investigating any major or minor accident at
your workplace. This will help you to determine the causes and able to make amendment or
correction.

Always remember:-Act, Think, Work Safely and Be Safe!

-By JugalRaj
Creations