NEBOSH Incident Investigation case studies
NEBOSH Incident Investigation · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation is a short, entry-level qualification aimed at people who may be called on to take part in workplace incident investigations - supervisors, line managers, safety representatives, and small-business owners without a dedicated HSE function. It is also a common first step for those considering a longer NEBOSH health and safety award. The NEBOSH Incident Investigation case studies are 5 cases and about 5,703 words.
1Pallet racking collapse: separating a manager's theory from evidence
At 06:40 on a Tuesday, a two-bay section of adjustable pallet racking collapsed in a distribution warehouse, spilling 14 pallets of canned goods into the main aisle. No one was hurt, but a forklift was struck by a falling pallet and its overhead guard was dented.
1,065 words, about 5 min2Retrospective solvent exposure: is this an incident worth investigating?
A small printing and signage company employs 19 people in a converted unit with a floor area of 300 m² and no mechanical ventilation. For the past eight weeks, two workers have spent most of each shift using a dichloromethane-based paint stripper to clean metal frames, dipping brushes into a 25-litre open drum and working at benches about 2 m from the drum.
1,119 words, about 6 min3Night-shift stair fall: two witnesses, one light fitting
At 22:15 a production operative fell on the bottom two steps of a steel stairway connecting the packing hall to the staff corridor, spraining her right ankle. She finished her shift but reported the injury at 07:00 the next morning and was placed on restricted duties for nine days.
1,179 words, about 6 min4Arc flash near miss: a permit that nobody verified
During planned maintenance, a contractor's electrician opened a 400 V low-voltage distribution panel to investigate a tripped breaker. The permit to work listed the panel as 'isolated and locked off', but the electrician had not applied a personal padlock; no site padlocks were available in the switch room.
1,166 words, about 6 min5Fourteen hand lacerations: investigating a trend, not an event
A ready-meal factory has recorded 14 hand lacerations in 18 months, all treated on site as first aid, with no lost time. Nine of the 14 entries in the incident register are coded 'carelessness' and none was investigated.
1,174 words, about 6 min