Incident Investigation Template Prompt
Prompt
Create incident investigation template. Incident type: [INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, NEAR MISS]. Output: Investigation form with sections: What happened? Who was involved? When/where? Immediate treatment? Witnesses? Root cause analysis? Corrective actions? Follow-up. Signature/date.
Why it works
The 5-why root cause analysis structure is specifically more useful than a free-form 'what happened' because it forces investigation to the systemic cause rather than stopping at the immediate cause — 'technician didn't wear PPE' leads back to 'PPE wasn't available on the truck' which leads back to 'no pre-job PPE check process.' Separating immediate corrective actions from systemic corrective actions ensures the investigation produces both a short-term fix and a long-term prevention. The witness statement section creates contemporaneous documentation that's essential if the incident results in an insurance claim.
Watch out for
Incident investigation reports may be discoverable in litigation — be factual and specific, and avoid characterisations of fault or negligence in the documentation. Have your insurance carrier and legal counsel review your template before deployment to ensure it protects the company rather than creating liability. Also ensure investigations are completed promptly: memories fade and physical evidence changes quickly after an incident.
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