Why Most Incident Investigations Stop Too Soon

"The best investigations are the ones you have to run less often because a strong pre-incident risk assessment already caught the problem first."

This week Dr. Logan F. Martin and James Junkin discuss Dr. Martin's July 4, 2026 article "Untangling Direct, Underlying, and Root Causes After a Workplace Incident" and why stopping at the direct cause is why incidents repeat. Most investigations close the file on the proximate cause because it is easy. The real work, and the real prevention, happens in the underlying causes underneath it.

RESOURCESUntangling Direct, Underlying, and Root Causes After a Workplace Incident by Dr. Logan F. Martin (July 4, 2026)

ABOUT THE RISK MATRIX PODCAST

Buckle up, safety pros! The Risk Matrix brings you a weekly podcast masterclass in risk management, hosted by two industry titans:

Dr. L.F. Martin: 32-year veteran, Board of Global EHS Credentialing Impact Award winner
James Junkin: Trainer of 40,000+ safety pros, ASSP's 2024 Safety Professional of the Year

They're tackling the topics that keep safety managers up at night featuring guests from regulatory bodies to safety directors and everything in between.

Every Tuesday: The tough conversations safety managers need to have. Critical insights from safety experts. Real-world strategies. Actionable solutions.

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