ICAM Lead Investigator
The Safety Wise Online, Self-Paced ICAM Lead Investigator Course equips you with the skills and knowledge to conduct effective workplace incident investigations. Designed for flexibility, the course allows you to learn at your own pace while ensuring a thorough understanding of the ICAM methodology.
Here's what you'll learn:
Enroll in this learning track and begin your journey to improving your skills.
Lead Investigator Course Enrolment
Kicks off your ICAM Lead Investigator journey - access your course instructions and further reading, then pop in your postal address so we can send you your investigator tin, including your Pocket Investigation Guide (PIG) for course and fieldwork.
Lead Investigator Module 1 - Course Overview
Get your bearings before diving in - learn to navigate the course, grab extra downloadable resources, work through a glossary of safety terms, and get a proper introduction to the ICAM Lead Investigator course ahead.
Lead Investigator Module 2 - Introduction to ICAM
Lays the foundation for everything that follows - covering incident investigations in general, the ICAM investigation process, the core methodology, and how to apply the ICAM framework in the real world.
Lead Investigator Module 3 - Human Error and ICAM
Explores the role human error plays in incidents, including what shapes individual and team actions on the day, how errors differ from violations, and the workplace conditions and factors that help prevent both from happening.
Lead Investigator Module 4 - Immediate Actions
Covers what's needed to respond effectively when an incident happens - securing the scene, preserving evidence, using a Go Kit, scoping the investigation by risk, assembling the right team, and running a proper site inspection.
Lead Investigator Case Study - Tanker Rollover
Watch a dramatised recreation of a real-world tanker rollover and take note of everything you observe along the way — these details will prove essential as you move through each phase of the investigation.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 1
Using the template provided, you'll develop an initial response record based on the Tanker Rollover case study, drawing on Chapter 1 of your Pocket Investigation Guide and aligning with the Emergency Management Plan and Critical Incident Report.
Lead Investigator Module 5 - Investigation Planning
Covers how to plan an investigation properly — setting up an Investigation Centre, allocating resources, analysing briefings from Site Management, building solid Investigation Action Plans, and keeping documents controlled throughout.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 2
Covers two assessments - first, build an investigation plan for the Tanker Rollover case study using the provided template, then create a team briefing covering scope, methodology, evidence, roles, risks and timeline.
Lead Investigator Module 6 - Data Gathering
Covers the fundamentals of gathering data — how to plan for it, why timing and effectiveness matter, telling contributing factors apart from non-contributing ones, and how PEEPO sets the investigation up for a quality outcome.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 3
Using the template provided in the prerequisites, you'll develop a PEEPO Mark #1 via the spreadsheet's PEEPO Mark #1 tab. Refer to Chapter 3 of the PIG — note the template also holds resources for later in the course.
Lead Investigator Module 7 - Data Gathering | Data Sources
Digs into the five PEEPO data categories and their role in an investigation, plus other data sources worth tapping into, how to gather data systematically from each category, and how to apply PEEPO to gather incident data effectively.
Lead Investigator Module 8 - Data Gathering | Witness Interviewing
Covers the general principles of witness interviewing, what can limit the accuracy of testimony, the value of speaking with people involved in an incident, and how to apply basic interviewing skills to gather relevant data.
Lead Investigator Knowledge Check - Witness Interviewing
A quick quiz to test your knowledge of witness interviewing, answered in the context of the Tanker Rollover case study — rewatch the case study video anytime you need to refresh your memory before diving in.
Lead Investigator Module 9 - Data Gathering in Practice
Brings data gathering to life — the three dimensions of work, gathering and documenting evidence properly, the right sources for a PEEPO chart, entering data accurately, telling contributing factors apart, and setting up for what's next.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 4
Using the same template from Assessment Activity 3, you'll review your PEEPO Mark #1 and identify contributing (yellow) and non-contributing (blue) factors on the PEEPO Mark #2 tab, referring to Chapter 3 of the PIG.
Lead Investigator Module 10 - Data Organisation
Covers why timelines matter, the types you can use, how to organise info through the timeline process, what a solid timeline needs, how it pairs with a PEEPO chart, and the difference between the loss of control point and the outcome.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 5
Using the same template as before, you'll review previous activities and data to build a timeline of the incident. Refer to Chapter 4 of the PIG — show a clear, logical sequence of events, identify the loss of control point, and label correctly.
Lead Investigator Module 11 - Data Analysis | Introduction to ICAM Analysis
Introduces the basics of data analysis and how it links to incident causes, how identified deficiencies contribute to incidents, and the key steps involved in transferring your data across for analysis.
Lead Investigator Module 12 - Data Analysis | ICAM Analysis Process
Covers building an ICAM contributing factors pathway — latent conditions, active failures and failed defences — transferring factors from PEEPO Mark 2 to the ICAM Analysis Chart, classifying findings, and coding contributing factors.
Lead Investigator Module 13 - Data Analysis | ICAM Analysis in Practice
Applies the ICAM analysis process hands-on - building the contributing factors pathway, transferring factors from PEEPO Mark 2 to the ICAM Analysis Chart, classifying findings, and coding contributing factors.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 6
Using the same template as before, analyse the collected data and enter it into your ICAM chart. Refer to Chapter 5 of the PIG, capturing every Absent/Failed Defence, Individual/Team Action, Task/Environmental Condition and Organisational Factor.
Lead Investigator Module 14 - Recommendations for Corrective Actions
Covers how to write corrective action recommendations that link directly to Organisational Factors and Absent/Failed Defences, applying the Hierarchy of Controls and SMARTER principles, and developing key learnings you can share.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 7
Using the same template as before, develop corrective actions and key learnings to prevent this incident recurring. Refer to Chapter 6 of the PIG — actions should suit the incident's nature and severity, with learnings following SMARTER.
Lead Investigator Module 15 - Report Writing
Covers the principles of report writing — structuring an investigation report, choosing the right report type for your audience, presenting information clearly and concisely, using appropriate terminology, and delivering a quality report overall.
Lead Investigator Assessment Activity 8
Using the ICAM Investigation Report Template, record and report the WHS incident investigation as you would a real report. Refer to Chapter 7 of the PIG — complete every table, and snip previous approved work like your timeline to save time.
ICAM Lead Investigator
Congratulations, you've made it! Complete the short learner survey below to wrap things up, and your certificate will be issued straight after - well done on finishing the ICAM Lead Investigator course.