What are the best practices for developing a process safety incident investigation team?

1 Define the scope and objectives

The first step in developing a process safety incident investigation team is to define the scope and objectives of the investigation. The scope should specify the boundaries, limitations, and expectations of the investigation, such as the time frame, the level of detail, the resources available, and the reporting requirements. The objectives should state the purpose and the desired outcomes of the investigation, such as the identification of the root causes, the recommendations for corrective actions, and the lessons learned for improvement. The scope and objectives should be clear, realistic, and aligned with the organization's policies and goals.

2 Select the team members

The next step is to select the team members who will conduct the investigation. The team should consist of a leader and several members with different roles and responsibilities. The leader should have the authority, experience, and skills to manage the investigation process, communicate with the stakeholders, and ensure the quality and integrity of the results. The members should have the relevant technical, operational, and analytical expertise to collect and analyze the data, identify the causes, and propose the solutions. The team should also have a diverse and balanced composition in terms of background, perspective, and seniority.

3 Train the team members

The third step is to train the team members on the investigation methodology, tools, and techniques. The team should be familiar with the standards, guidelines, and best practices for conducting process safety incident investigations, such as the CCPS Guidelines for Investigating Process Safety Incidents or the OSHA Incident Investigation Manual. The team should also learn how to use the appropriate tools and techniques for data collection, such as interviews, site visits, document reviews, and photographs. Additionally, the team should learn how to use the suitable tools and techniques for data analysis, such as fault trees, event trees, bow-ties, and fishbone diagrams.

4 Coordinate the team activities

The fourth step is to coordinate the team activities during the investigation. The team should have a clear and detailed plan of action that outlines the tasks, timelines, deliverables, and roles of each team member. The team should also have regular meetings and updates to monitor the progress, share the findings, resolve the issues, and adjust the plan as needed. Moreover, the team should have effective communication and collaboration with the other stakeholders involved in the incident, such as the management, the employees, the regulators, and the customers.

5 Report the results and recommendations

The final step is to report the results and recommendations of the investigation. The team should prepare a comprehensive and concise report that summarizes the key information, such as the incident description, the investigation methodology, the data sources, the root causes, the corrective actions, and the lessons learned. The report should also include the evidence, the analysis, and the rationale that support the conclusions and recommendations. Furthermore, the team should present and disseminate the report to the relevant stakeholders and solicit their feedback and approval.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?