ICAM Investigations | Critical Risk Management

When an incident or serious near miss occurs, the most useful question is not who made the mistake but why the conditions allowed it to happen. Investigations that stop at individual error often leave the underlying causes in place.

Critical Risk Management conducts independent investigations using the Incident Cause Analysis Method (ICAM), a structured approach widely used across energy, mining, construction and transport. It examines the full picture surrounding an event and leads to recommendations your organisation can act on.

Discuss an Investigation

Understanding every factor that contributed

ICAM works through four layers of contributing factors, helping move the focus from blame to meaningful improvement.

Absent or failed defences

The controls and barriers that should have prevented the incident or reduced its impact, and why they did not work as intended.

Individual and team actions

The decisions and actions of the people involved in the lead-up to the event, considered in the context they were working in.

Task and environmental conditions

The circumstances on the day, including workload, equipment, site layout, time pressure and weather.

Organisational factors

The systems, planning, training, resourcing and culture that shaped the conditions in which the incident occurred.

An objective view your people can trust

An independent investigator brings objectivity that can be difficult to achieve internally, particularly after a serious event. Workers are often more open with someone outside their reporting line, and leadership can have confidence that findings have not been shaped by internal pressures.

Electricity network experience is especially valuable where an incident involves overhead powerlines, underground cables or third-party electrical assets, as it brings a clear understanding of how these incidents occur and how they are managed.

THE PROCESS

How an investigation is carried out

1. Initial discussion and scope. The terms of reference, timeframes and people involved are agreed with your organisation.

2. Evidence gathering. Site inspection, interviews with those involved, and a review of documents, records and procedures.

3. Analysis. Evidence is worked through the ICAM framework to identify contributing factors at every level.

4. Findings and recommendations. A clear, structured report with practical, prioritised actions that address the underlying causes.

5. Presentation of findings. Results are shared with your leadership team, with support available to help put corrective actions in place.

Learn from an incident and strengthen what comes next

If your organisation has experienced an incident or significant near miss, get in touch to talk through the scope and timing of an independent investigation.