BOSSES TO INVESTIGATE INCIDENTS

Companies and organisations would have to investigate all reportable work-related accidents, ill health or "near misses" that could have resulted in serious injury under proposals from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC).

The proposals, which are currently out for consultation, would require employers to:

* investigate all reportable incidents to find out how they happened and how they might be prevented in future; and

* keep a record that an investigation has been carried out and that its conclusions have been taken into account in revising the workplace risk assessment. Records would be subject to scrutiny by HSE inspectors.

The closing date for comments is 3 September 2001. Copies of the proposals available free from HSE Books, tel: 01787 881165, fax: 01787 313995 or www.hse.gov.uk/condocs