Incident Investigation & Reporting
Structured investigation, root cause analysis, and statutory reporting when dangerous goods incidents occur — with a focus on prevention.
Important: If you've had an incident involving dangerous goods, you may have statutory reporting obligations with strict time limits. Contact us immediately for guidance.
Legal Obligations
When incidents involving dangerous goods occur, organisations have specific legal obligations under the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009) and ADR. These include reporting certain incidents to the competent authority, conducting investigations, and implementing corrective actions.
Failure to meet these obligations can result in regulatory enforcement action, prosecution, and significant reputational damage. A structured and proportionate response is essential.
Our Investigation Process
We follow an established investigation methodology designed to identify root causes, not just symptoms:
- Immediate response — guidance on containment, scene preservation, and initial notification requirements
- Evidence gathering — site inspection, document review, witness interviews, and photographic records
- Root cause analysis — systematic identification of the underlying causes, not just the immediate trigger
- Regulatory reporting — preparation and submission of statutory reports to the relevant authorities on your behalf
- Corrective action plan — development of specific, measurable actions to address root causes and prevent recurrence
- Follow-up review — verification that corrective actions have been implemented and are effective
Root Cause Analysis
Understanding why an incident occurred — not just what happened — is critical to preventing recurrence. Our investigations go beyond surface-level findings to identify systemic issues in procedures, training, supervision, or management oversight that contributed to the incident.
Corrective Actions & Prevention
Every investigation concludes with a clear, prioritised corrective action plan. We work with your team to implement changes to procedures, documentation, training, or operational practices that address the root causes identified. Where appropriate, we recommend changes to management oversight and governance arrangements.
Statutory Reporting
We handle all statutory reporting obligations on your behalf, including:
- Incident reports to the Department for Transport or Health and Safety Executive
- RIDDOR reports where applicable
- Internal incident reports for your governance and assurance records
- Annual DGSA statutory reports documenting all incidents and corrective actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Under CDG 2009 and ADR, certain incidents involving dangerous goods must be reported to the competent authority — typically the Department for Transport or the Health and Safety Executive, depending on the nature and severity of the incident. Reporting obligations apply to incidents involving release, fire, explosion, or structural damage to packaging during carriage. We can advise on your specific reporting obligations immediately following any incident.
Ensure the safety of personnel and the public, contain any release if safe to do so, and preserve the scene for investigation. Contact your DGSA or DG-Express immediately for guidance on response, containment, and reporting obligations. Do not attempt to clean up or move damaged packages without appropriate guidance.
For organisations on a DGSA retainer, we provide on-call support and can provide immediate telephone guidance followed by site attendance if required. For non-retainer clients, we aim to respond to initial enquiries within the same working day.
Yes. As part of our DGSA retainer service, we prepare the annual statutory report which includes details of all incidents, near-misses, and recommendations for improvement. This can also be provided as a standalone service.
Need specialist dangerous goods support?
Speak directly with a qualified DGSA about your requirements.