March 30, 2023
Incidents can happen; even in the safest, most well-run workplaces. The good news? Every incident is an opportunity to strengthen your safety practices and prevent future injury.
In the tourism and hospitality industry, where environments are often fast-paced and public-facing, having a clear and confident approach to workplace investigations helps your team feel supported and your business stay compliant.
Workplace investigations aren’t about blame—they’re about understanding what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it from happening again. Employers are responsible for leading a respectful, thorough process that meets WorkSafeBC’s required timelines.
Generally speaking, an investigation must begin immediately after any incident that results in serious injury or death, requires medical treatment, had the potential for serious harm, or involves major structural failure, hazardous materials, diving, blasting, or explosives.
Workplace investigations are a shared responsibility. Like other parts of your Health and Safety Program, they rely on collaboration. It’s helpful to identify in advance who will take the lead to avoid delays when an incident occurs.
WorkSafeBC outlines four key stages of a workplace investigation. These steps help you act quickly and thoughtfully to protect your workers and meet regulatory requirements. Be sure to document all investigation activities. For serious incidents, WorkSafeBC may request copies of your reports at any point.
Stage 1: Preliminary Investigation (Within 48 hours)
This is your first response following an incident or near miss. The goal is to identify and correct any immediate hazards so work can resume safely while the full investigation is underway. This involves assessing the scene, gathering key facts, identifying unsafe conditions or behaviours, and taking short-term actions to eliminate or reduce risks.
Stage 2: Interim Corrective Actions (Ongoing until the Full Investigation is Complete)
This stage focuses on maintaining a safe workplace while the root causes are still being investigated. If only some contributing factors are known, take reasonable steps to prevent a similar incident from happening again. This may involve removing or securing equipment, reassigning staff, or temporarily adjusting procedures.
Stage 3: Full Investigation (Within 30 Days)
This is the most in-depth stage. You’ll review evidence, conduct interviews, and identify both immediate and root causes. For serious incidents or when a WorkSafeBC claim has been filed, the full investigation report must be submitted to WorkSafeBC within 30 days. This includes examining whether gaps in training, supervision, procedures, or other aspects of your Health and Safety Program contributed to the incident.
Stage 4: Final Corrective Actions (ASAP After Full Investigation)
Now that you’ve identified the causes, it’s time to correct them. This stage focuses on implementing solutions and ensuring they’re followed through. Your investigation and corrective action report should list unsafe conditions or deficiencies, describe specific corrective actions, and include who is responsible and when each action is due.
Within Your Team: Investigation reports must be shared with your Joint Health and Safety Committee, or posted for all workers if no committee exists, while omitting personal details to protect privacy. Reports should remain accessible for follow-up and monitoring, often in staff rooms or back-of-house areas in hospitality settings.
With WorkSafeBC: For certain incidents—such as serious injuries or when a WorkSafeBC claim has been initiated—investigation reports must be submitted to WorkSafeBC. You can submit online using their investigation tool, upload a completed PDF form, or send it by fax or mail. For full details, including required timelines, visit WorkSafeBC’s Incident Investigation Reporting page.
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We’re here to support you at any stage of the process. Contact us for guidance, templates, or one-on-one support tailored to your business.
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