What is the primary goal of incident investigation?

The primary goal of incident investigation is to identify and eliminate hazards. This process involves a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding an incident in order to understand what went wrong and what can be done to prevent similar occurrences in the future. By focusing on the underlying causes of incidents, organizations can take proactive steps to enhance safety measures, modify processes, implement training, or make necessary changes to the work environment.

This approach emphasizes the prevention of future incidents rather than attributing fault or assigning blame. It promotes a culture of safety where the aim is to learn from mistakes and improve overall safety performance, rather than to penalize individuals. Identifying and eliminating hazards helps to create a safer workplace for all employees, reducing the likelihood of future incidents and enhancing overall organizational safety.

Other options, while relevant in certain contexts, do not encapsulate the primary aim of an incident investigation. Assigning blame can lead to a defensive environment, determining employee performance focuses on individual accountability rather than systemic issues, and ensuring compliance with safety laws is a regulatory requirement, but not the fundamental purpose of investigating incidents.