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Preventing Workplace Incidents: The Power of Investigations

Incidents have deeper roots than surface-level causes. A wet floor may cause a fall, but why was it wet and unaddressed? Effective investigations dig into underlying factors—because stopping at the obvious won’t prevent future injuries.

September 3, 2025

2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT / 11:00 AM PT / 7:00 PM GMT

Duration: 60 minutes

Sponsor: J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. 

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Summary

Incidents don’t just happen. Something causes them, and usually more than one thing. An investigation should identify those causes, but the cause of an incident isn’t the same as the cause of an injury. Injuries may be caused by overexertion, falls, or being struck by objects. Factors that caused the incident, however, are more complex. For example, a wet floor may cause a fall but determining why the floor was wet and why the hazard wasn’t addressed gets at the root causes. 

An incident or near-miss investigation shouldn’t stop upon finding an obvious cause; it should continue until all underlying factors are identified. If those root causes aren’t identified and addressed, they’ll continue to generate incidents. Effectively addressing the root causes should help prevent recurrence, which translates to fewer injuries.

Among other topics, this webcast will cover:

  • Preparing and training to conduct effective investigations.
  • Tips for conducting interviews and watching for blame-shifting.
  • Selecting and presenting corrective actions to decision-makers.
  • Addressing behavioral causes such as complacency, resistance to change, and pressure to take safety shortcuts.

This free event will also include a live Q&A session!

 

Speakers

Ed Zalewski | Sr. Editor - EHS | J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. 

Edwin (Ed) Zalewski is a Senior Editor on the EHS Content Team at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. He researches and creates content for a variety of safety-related topics and contributes to several products.

Ed specializes in issues such as walking working surfaces, powered industrial trucks, and injury/illness recordkeeping. 

 

Joe Proulx, MS, CSP | Editor - EHS | J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. 

Joe Proulx has extensive experience in manufacturing and higher education, making him a valuable asset to J. J. Keller and its clients. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a Six Sigma Black Belt. Additionally, he holds degrees in laser technology and industrial management, as well as a master's degree in environmental safety and health.

Joe's areas of specialization include emergency preparedness, ergonomics, material handling, and incident investigations.

 

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