Introduction When serious incidents occur, organisations often assemble a team of investigators. The intention is noble - bring together a mix of expertise, perspectives, and authority to uncover the truth. Yet, one of the most common pitfalls in investigation planning is   overstaffing the team . At first glance, more people may seem better - more eyes, more brains, more experience. But as any seasoned investigator knows, beyond a certain point,   too many investigators can

Introduction: Why culture matters in ICAM interviews ICAM (Incident Cause Analysis Method) investigations depend heavily on interviews. They are the primary tool for uncovering   actions, conditions, and organisational factors   that contributed to an incident. Yet, interviews are more than technical data-gathering- they are   human interactions   shaped by language, emotion, and culture. In an increasingly globalised workforce, investigators regularly speak with people whose

Introduction: When Silence Speaks Loudly After a workplace incident, many people wait- not just for answers, but for acknowledgement. They wait for leaders to speak. To show they’ve heard. To signal care, responsibility, and commitment to improvement. Yet too often, what follows isn’t words- it’s silence. That silence, whether intentional or accidental, sends a powerful message. In leadership,   what you don’t say is just as important as what you do . After incidents, silence

In every ICAM investigation, we search for deeper organisational factors that shape human decisions and system performance. Among these,   "Incompatible Goals"   consistently emerge as one of the most common and revealing findings. They sit quietly beneath the surface of many incidents, influencing behaviour in subtle ways, shaping trade-offs, and creating tension between what workers are asked to do and what they are resourced or rewarded for achieving. Yet despite their pre

ICAM – the   Incident Cause Analysis Method   – has been used in thousands of investigations across industries, countries, and cultures. Yet, despite its proven track record in aviation, mining, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, myths still persist about what ICAM is, what it isn't, and how it works. Let’s cut through the noise. In this article, we’ll   bust the most common myths   about ICAM, clarify misunderstandings, and show why it remains one of the most

Why ICAM Isn’t Just for Safety The ICAM (Incident Cause Analysis Method) framework is world-renowned for investigating safety incidents and operational failures. But many organisations are realising something powerful: The same human and organisational factors that cause physical harm also cause psychosocial, HR, and IR incidents. Bullying, stress, burnout, misconduct, and workplace disputes all have system-based causes. The great strength of ICAM is that it doesn’t need to b

Introduction In every workplace - whether it's an office, a factory floor, a healthcare ward, or a project site - people are constantly influenced by subtle cues in their environment. A manager saying, "As soon as you're finished here, I’ll need you to jump on the next task," might seem like simple coordination. But underneath, that message can shape behaviour in powerful and often unintended ways. This is the concept of   priming   - the unconscious influence that words, ton

Introduction Workplace safety is not just about preventing accidents—it’s about shaping a culture where learning, improvement, and accountability are constant. The powerful words of C.S. Lewis remind us that while we cannot undo the past, we hold the ability—and responsibility—to change what happens next. Every workplace, regardless of industry or history, carries its own story. Some stories are filled with close calls, injuries, or missed opportunities. Others show progress

Introduction: Lessons from Safety Investigations for Sport In elite sports, losing a game is often followed by intense debriefs—videos, stats, emotional reflections, and tactical reviews. Coaches and analysts pour over what went wrong: missed opportunities, poor execution, low morale, or questionable decisions. Yet, many post-match reviews stop at the surface level—what happened and who made the mistake—without deeply exploring why it happened or the latent conditions that

Introduction Imagine standing at the open door of an aircraft, parachute in hand. The instructor yells,  “Banzai!”  and throws your...

Introduction: More Than a Technical Process ICAM investigations are often presented as highly structured, almost clinical processes. We...

Introduction: Why Technical Safety Requires a New Approach In an era where complexity, automation, and high-consequence operations...

1. Introduction In today's complex workplaces, especially in high-risk industries like mining, aviation, healthcare, and manufacturing,...

Introduction: Confined Spaces- Invisible Killers in Industrial Design Confined spaces- pits, tanks, vessels, ducts, silos, and tunnels-...

I. Introduction: The Respect Deficit Across industries, from mining to manufacturing, logistics to healthcare, one recurring sentiment...

Introduction In high-risk industrial environments, mines, chemical plants, refineries, energy facilities, and construction sites,...

Introduction In the world of workplace investigations, neutrality is everything. An ICAM facilitator’s job is not to play judge, jury, or...

Introduction Falls are one of the most serious hazards in industries such as construction, maintenance, utilities, and warehousing....

Introduction In the aftermath of a workplace incident, one of the most common questions asked by managers, regulators, and the public is:...

This is a fascinating video (and hard to watch for the car enthusiast!). Watch it before reading this article-...