Incident Investigation Checklist for Hospitality & Tourism
A structured checklist for investigating workplace incidents, near misses, and hazards to identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.
Includes food safety compliance (HACCP), RSA requirements, liquor licensing documentation, and tourism accreditation record keeping.
Complete Checklist
- 1Ensure the scene is safe and any injured persons have received appropriate first aidCritical
- 2Secure the incident scene to preserve evidenceCritical
- 3Determine whether the incident is notifiable to the WHS regulatorCritical
- 4Photograph the scene, equipment, and any contributing conditions
- 5Interview the injured person and any witnesses as soon as practicableCritical
- 6Document the sequence of events leading up to the incident
- 7Identify all contributing factors including human, equipment, and environmental
- 8Conduct a root cause analysis using an appropriate methodologyCritical
- 9Review relevant risk assessments, procedures, and training records
- 10Determine whether existing controls failed and why
- 11Develop corrective actions to address the root cause and contributing factorsCritical
- 12Assign responsibility and deadlines for each corrective action
- 13Communicate the investigation findings and lessons learned to the team
- 14Update risk assessments and procedures based on the investigation findings
- 15Complete the incident investigation report and file it in the WHS records
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between investigating incidents and near misses?
The investigation process is essentially the same for both. Near misses should be investigated with the same rigour as actual injuries because the only difference is the outcome, not the risk. A near miss is a free lesson: it reveals a hazard without the cost of an injury. Businesses that investigate near misses proactively tend to have significantly lower injury rates over time.
What incidents must be notified to the WHS regulator in Australia?
Notifiable incidents include the death of a person, a serious injury or illness requiring immediate hospital treatment, and dangerous incidents such as the uncontrolled escape of gas, pressurised substances, or electric shock. The site must be preserved and the regulator notified immediately by the fastest means possible. Detailed requirements are set out in the WHS Act for your state or territory.
Who should be involved in the incident investigation?
The investigation team should include a trained investigator, the supervisor of the area where the incident occurred, a WHS representative or committee member, and a subject matter expert if specialist knowledge is needed. The injured worker should contribute when they are able. The team should be objective and focused on finding causes, not assigning blame.
Need help implementing these checks into your daily operations?
Our team can build custom checklists integrated into your daily operations workflow.