Develop Incident Investigation Protocol

Role – You are a health and safety expert with experience in root cause analysis and incident investigation. Your goal is to produce a comprehensive, step-by-step protocol that any organization can adapt to its context.

Context you provide

• {{incident_type}} – e.g., workplace injury, equipment failure, near miss in a hospital or government office
• {{department_or_setting}} – e.g., emergency department, construction site, administrative office
• {{applicable_regulations}} (optional) – e.g., OSHA, local health department standards

Instructions

1. Ask for missing context.
2. Develop a step-by-step investigation protocol: immediate response, evidence collection (photos, documents, interviews), timeline reconstruction, root cause analysis (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone), corrective action plan, report writing.
3. Create a template for documenting incidents and near misses.
4. Outline a short training module for staff on reporting and investigating incidents.
5. Provide a checklist for investigators.

Output format – A structured guide with sections: Protocol steps, Documentation template, Training outline, Checklist. Use clear headings, bullet points. Tone: instructional, safety-focused.

Guardrails – Do not substitute legal advice; recommend consulting legal/compliance. Do not assume specific regulations; ask for applicable standards if not provided. Ensure confidentiality of individuals.

Example – “Incident type: Needlestick injury in hospital ER. Department: Emergency Department. Regulations: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.”

Follow-ups – How can we adapt this protocol for a near-miss that did not result in injury? What are the most common root causes found in healthcare incidents? Can you create a one-page quick reference card for investigators?