Event Learning Review

From investigating to learning. Embedding HOP principles into our processes.

How much do we learn from traditional investigations?

Often, we find that investigations identify the same root causes, time and time again. Yet similar types of events keep happening. Many organisations tell us their investigation tools are designed more for achieving consistency of approach or classification rather than facilitating genuine learning.

What is Event Learning Review?

Event Learning Review provides an alternative solution to the traditional investigation. Event Learning allows for greater flexibility, whilst still providing a framework, to learn from incidents or accidents in a way that brings the impacted workers into the conversation in an empowering way. Using a set of techniques and showcasing the HOP principles, event learning review allows organisations to take a collaborative approach to safety improvement post-event.

Unlike traditional investigations, Event Learning Review is not focused on identifying one or a set of root causes but focuses on learning about the reality of everyday normal work to try and improve workplace conditions. Event Learning takes an approach that builds relationships with the workforce and those involved directly with the event. Through Event Learning Review, the front-line workers become part of the solution, contributing to sustainable and practical solutions.

A traditional investigation can be replaced with Event Learning Review to improve how organisations learn and improve following safety events

What does it feel like to be investigated?

Ask yourself, do workers enjoy being investigated? It’s not very often something happens, and workers ask to be part of an investigation. For many, the thought of an investigation generates a negative and even cynical response.

Unfortunately, many of our traditional investigation tools and models focus on documentation and the actions of those most proximal to the event. Traditional methods of investigation often utilise specific accident models that unintentionally narrow the focus of learning, leading to tunnel vision.

What does it feel like to be investigated?

Ask yourself, do workers enjoy being investigated? It’s not very often something happens, and workers ask to be part of an investigation. For many, the thought of an investigation generates a negative and even cynical response.

Unfortunately, many of our traditional investigation tools and models focus on documentation and the actions of those most proximal to the event. Traditional methods of investigation often utilise specific accident models that unintentionally narrow the focus of learning, leading to tunnel vision.

Event Learning Review works with complexity. As we all know, in complex organisations, there are no simple answers and rarely ever the alluring root cause. Event Learning Review utilises a wide angle lens, building a picture of the messy intricacies and nuances of work.

In the past we would ask “How did this event happen?”, as if this event was some impossible aberration. When we truly understand the challenges of work we begin to ask, “How has this not happened more frequently?”

By collaborating with our people post-event, we demonstrate that we are all one team, one organisation, with the same goals. This is how we build high-performing learning organisations.

Following an event, the focus should be on learning and improving – not on filling each box of a model, or creating perfect documentation. The weeks following an event are the perfect time to demonstrate the power of HOP principles, working closely with people on the front line and those directly involved, to build relationships and learn from those who know and best understand the work.

NEW COURSE

Event Learning Review

Our new course will help your organisation to reshape the way you learn from incidents and accidents. Introducing a flexible yet structured approach as an alternative to traditional investigations, Event Learning Review shifts the focus from rigid documentation to practical learning.

VIEW COURSE →

Curious to find an alternative to traditional investigations to introduce in your organisation?

Talk to us about incorporating Event Learning Review into your post-event processes.