In Serenity, closing an incident signals the completion of the response, documentation, and review process. While the platform provides guardrails to ensure compliance and completeness, each organization defines its own policies for when an incident can be formally closed.
When Should an Incident Be Closed?
This decision is typically guided by your internal EHS policy or SOPs. Here are some common approaches:
Closure Trigger | Description |
After Reports are finalized | Some teams close the incident once injury, release, or property damage reports are finalized |
Post-Investigation | Others wait until formal investigations and root cause analysis are completed and findings are identified |
After All Follow-ups | Some organizations require that all findings and corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are completed |
Tip: Serenity supports any of these workflows. The only enforced system rule is that all associated detailed reports must be finalized before closure.
System Requirements for Closure
To close an incident, the following must be true:
All injury and illness reports are finalized
All release reports are finalized
All property damage and vehicle damage reports are finalized
If any of these reports are still open, selecting Close incident displays a message listing the open reports. Complete them before closing the incident.
How to Close an Incident
Open the incident record
Select the Close incident button (top right of the screen)
In the Close Task window, enter Close notes and, if the closure needs approval, select Request review. When you request a review, select one or more Reviewers (required)
Select Continue to proceed to the certification step
Read the certification statement: "I certify that I have examined this document and that to the best of my knowledge the entries are true, accurate, and complete."
Type your signature or draw it, using the Type signature or Draw signature tab
Select Sign and submit
What Happens Next?
Without Review:
The incident moves directly to the Complete stage
It becomes read-only. A Reopen incident button appears, and only users with the Admin role in the Environmental, Health, & Safety category can reopen it
With Review:
The incident enters the Closure stage
The selected Reviewers are notified by email
Reviewers can:
Approve the incident for closure
Request changes, which sends a notification back to the assignee to revise and re-submit the record
Note: This ensures that your team can apply a review and approval workflow only when needed, without delaying more routine incident closures.
Best Practices
Define closure criteria in your organization’s EHS policy or training guide
Use Close Notes to summarize final observations, especially if review is required