Incident Investigation Defintions

Accident: The occurrence in a sequence of events that produces unintended injury, death, or property damage (refers to the event, not the result of the event). Note: “Accident” and “incident” are used interchangeably in this program.

Causal factors: All of the events or conditions that contributed to the occurrence of the accident. Also see “contributing cause(s).”

Contributing cause(s): All of the events or conditions that contributed to the occurrence of the accident. Also see “causal factors.”

Corrective action: that action which would have prevented the accident from occurring.

Incident: An undesired event that may cause personal harm or other damage. Note: “Accident” and “incident” are used interchangeably in this program.

Near miss incident: An injury requiring first aid; the newly discovered unsafe condition; fires of any size, or nontrivial incidents of damage to equipment, building, property, or product.

Preventative action: That action which will prevent the accident from occurring to other personnel in the same or similar situation.

Root cause: The event, that had it not occurred, would have prevented the incident.