While we do everything in our power to ensure safety and reduce workplace accidents, there are times when incidents still occur. A thorough investigation process helps us identify the factors that led to an incident, allowing companies to develop proactive safety measures that put an end to future injuries.
But how can this be done to the best of our ability and in a timely fashion? in this post, we will outline what the ICAM process is, the benefits of incident investigation and why you should be certified.
What Is ICAM Incident Investigation?
ICAM Investigations, shortened from the Incident Cause Analysis Method or Incident Cause Assessment Method is an industrial safety process that helps companies assess the causes of safety incidents so that they can take action and improve on current safety measures.
It is a standardized process that allows companies to analyse incidents, identify root causes and implement corrective actions that will reduce the chance of similar incidents occurring again in the future. This process is most often used in:
- Aviation
- Construction
- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Infrastructure
The Importance Of ICAM Investigations
The adoption of ICAM investigations has seen a move away from the intentional vs intentional human error to a more comprehensive analysis of all contributing factors. While this approach provides a superficial explanation of the incident, it does not consider the underlying factors that contributed to the actions, or the context in which they occurred.
For example, if a worker falls into a pit, the obvious conclusion is that someone is at fault for not erecting a barrier. However, ICAM investigation goes further and discovers that a request was sent in for a barrier, but was not received to a technical error.
As such, ICAM looks past the blame and brings into context all the contributing factors when an incident occurs.
Why Training Is Required
ICAM investigations have proved to be a successful procedure for many companies and projects who have uncovered underlying issues through these types of investigations. However, to ensure that this process returns the best results, it is necessary that investigators are fully trained and competent.
Course Content
The ICAM Incident Investigation method has quickly become the preferred method for investigating incidents on many projects and operations across Queensland.
This course covers the skills and knowledge required for the thorough and methodical investigation of various workplace incidents. This course covers various concepts such as:
- The six-step incident investigation procedure
- 5 ‘Whys’
- Timeline (Work as Intended Work as Done)
- PEEPO Data Collection Matrix (People, Equipment, Environment, Procedures and Organisation)
- The four occurrence causal factor elements including, Absent/Failed Defences, Individual/Team Actions, Task/Environment Factors and Organisational Factors.
Get The Professional Trianing You Need
Any worker involved in an incident investigation must be trained to a certain level of competency, ensuring the process is followed properly and complying with best practices.
Education is key to ensuring workplace safety. HOST Safety and Training can provide you with the training, coaching and assessment required for ICAM incident investigation. Each trainer is industry-relevant and has many years of experience.
For more information on ICAM Incident Investigation training in Queensland, get in touch with HOST Safety and Training today.
