Not all incidents require a formal investigation, but when they do, Serenity provides tools to support a structured, thorough review process that ensures findings are well-documented and corrective actions are clearly assigned.
When is a Formal Investigation Necessary?
Serenity allows EHS users assigned to each incident to decide when a formal investigation is necessary. Typically, this is based on incident severity and type:
For High-Severity Incidents or Cases Involving:
Injury or illness
Chemical release
Property or vehicle damage
Or other critical impacts
A formal investigation is recommended to:
Perform root cause analysis (RCA)
Gather structured evidence and interviews
Identify systemic failures or gaps
Issue a formal investigation report
Document detailed findings and long-term corrective/preventive actions (CAPAs)
Launching a Formal Investigation
To launch a formal investigation:
Open the incident record
Select the Launch formal investigation button at the top right of the incident
In the form that appears, enter a Short description and an Establishment (both are required). You can also add a description, a parent task, an assignment group or assigned user, and an expected start and due date
Select Save to create the new investigation
Note: The investigation will be linked to the incident, but will exist as a separate task. This helps track progress independently and avoid cluttering the base incident record.
You can also create an investigation from the Investigations lists in the left navigation by selecting New investigation. Lists include Assigned to you, Assigned to your group, Open at your establishment, All at your establishment, and All investigations.
Why Is the Investigation a Separate Task?
This is a deliberate design choice to:
Allow dedicated tracking of investigation progress and ownership
Enable investigations to be assigned to specialists, regardless of who owns the base incident
Keep the original incident record clean and auditable
You’ll still be able to view and manage the investigation directly from the incident record, and findings or actions from the investigation will flow back into the incident record for reporting and auditability.
Benefits of Using a Formal Investigation
Drives consistency and accountability
Supports root cause methodology (e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone, etc.)
Creates a permanent record of findings and responses
Improves data for future trend analysis and audits
Reinforces a culture of continuous improvement