What action should be taken after documenting a workplace incident?

After documenting a workplace incident, conducting a follow-up investigation is crucial for several reasons. This action involves a thorough review of the events leading up to the incident to understand what occurred, identify contributing factors, and find ways to prevent similar incidents in the future. A follow-up investigation helps to enhance workplace safety by ensuring that all aspects of the incident are comprehensively analyzed, allowing for a better understanding of the risks involved.

This investigation may involve interviewing witnesses, reviewing procedures, and assessing any safety equipment that was being used at the time of the incident. The insights gained from this process can inform necessary changes or improvements to safety protocols, training, or policies to foster a safer work environment.

The other options do not address the need for a detailed inquiry and analysis of the incident. While stopping work immediately might be necessary in certain emergency situations, it is not a standard response after documentation. Firing an employee involved without thorough investigation could lead to unfair treatment and potential legal issues. Changing workplace policies may be necessary based on findings from an investigation, but it should come after a careful assessment rather than as an immediate reaction to an incident.