Practical skills for incident investigation
Over the past two years, our Health and Safety Team has been working closely with services and schools to strengthen how we report and investigate incidents.
A comprehensive audit programme was carried out across all non-education service areas, high schools, and several primary schools. These audits reviewed how well teams are following our council’s Health and Safety Management Arrangements for Incident Reporting and Investigation.
As a result, a number of actions have been identified and assigned to Service Managers and Head Teachers, alongside updates to the existing management arrangements. This work is helping to ensure a more consistent, robust approach across the organisation.
However, the audits also highlighted an important gap.
Strengthening incident investigation to improve safety
Many colleagues are allocated incidents to investigate through Sphera - our health and safety management information system, but not everyone has had formal training in how to do this effectively.
To address this, the Health and Safety Team has developed a new Incident Investigation – Practical Skills Workshop.
This short, face-to-face session is designed to give staff the confidence and practical tools they need to carry out investigations in a structured and meaningful way.
What the workshop covers
The two-hour session focuses on practical skills that can be applied immediately, including:
- understanding why incident investigation matters
- taking a structured approach to incidents and near misses
- identifying root causes and not just what went wrong on the surface
- asking the right questions and gathering useful evidence
- developing clear actions to prevent recurrence
The workshop also includes real-life examples and group discussion, giving participants the chance to learn from others and share experiences.
Importantly, no previous experience is required - making it accessible to anyone who has been, or may be, allocated incidents to investigate.
Why it matters
Good incident investigation is about more than compliance. It plays a key role in:
- improving safety across our workplaces
- supporting a positive learning culture
- ensuring we meet our legal responsibilities
- preventing similar incidents from happening again
By building confidence and consistency in how investigations are carried out, we can continue to improve safety outcomes for staff, service users and the wider community.
Judith Wood, Team Manager, Corporate Health and Safety said: "Following up on incidents that occur is essential to identify the root causes and to prevent them occurring again, particularly near misses where no one was injured but there was the potential for someone to be injured. We need to close the loop in investigating incidents and updating our risk assessments and work practices."
Book your place
The first session, part of a planned rolling programme of workshops, will take place on:
- Friday 19 June 2026
- 9:30am to 11:30am
- Garleton Rooms, Penston House
Further sessions will be scheduled throughout the year, making it easier for staff to attend at a convenient time.
If you are allocated incidents through Sphera, or may be in the future, this workshop is highly recommended.
To book a place, email: healthandsafety@eastlothian.gov.uk