Work-related deaths and inquests

Investigation of fatal incidents

This section, which concerns work-related deaths, liaison with other agencies, inquests and Coroners, gives guidance on the most sensitive investigations that HSE carries out. The circumstances and considerations that surround such investigations differ in a number of ways from other HSE investigations. These differences are outlined and explained in this section.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Enforcementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/index.htm
  2. Enforcement guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/index.htm
  3. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/intro.htm
  4. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/index.htm
  5. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-intro.htm
  6. Order of collecting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-order.htm
  7. Witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-witness.htm
  8. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-questioning.htm
  9. Admissibility of confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-admissibility.htm
  10. Inferences from silencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-inferences.htm
  11. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-intro.htm
  12. Evidence that may assist your investigationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-evidence.htm
  13. Obtaining evidence using section 20 powershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-obtaining.htm
  14. Preparing evidence for courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-preparing.htm
  15. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-intro.htm
  16. The experthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-role.htm
  17. Site visitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-sitevisits.htm
  18. The reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-report.htm
  19. At courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-court.htm
  20. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-intro.htm
  21. Contract of employmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-contract.htm
  22. Specific categories of workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-specific.htm
  23. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-intro.htm
  24. Partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-partner.htm
  25. Companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-companies.htm
  26. Joint ventureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-ventures.htm
  27. Limited liability partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-liability.htm
  28. Other defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-defendants.htm
  29. Prosecution of foreign defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-foreign.htm
  30. Insolvencyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-insolvency.htm
  31. Prosecution of individualshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-individual.htm
  32. Proceeding against employees HSWA s7https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-employees.htm
  33. Proceeding against Crown employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-crown.htm
  34. Proceedings against director, manager, secretary or other similar officerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-directors.htm
  35. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-intro.htm
  36. The prosecution reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-report.htm
  37. Approval of a proposed prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-approval.htm
  38. Evidential stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-evidential.htm
  39. Public interest stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-public.htm
  40. Selection of charges and mode of trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-charges.htm
  41. Cautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-cautions.htm
  42. Enforcement against Crown bodieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-enforcement.htm
  43. Recording reasonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-recording.htm
  44. Pre-trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/index.htm
  45. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-intro.htm
  46. Drafting informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-drafting.htm
  47. Legal referenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-legal.htm
  48. Sample informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-informations.htm
  49. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-intro.htm
  50. Criminal procedure ruleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-criminal.htm
  51. Jurisdictionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-jurisdiction.htm
  52. Informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-information.htm
  53. Summonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-summons.htm
  54. Initial details of the prosecution casehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-advance.htm
  55. Information to assist the sentencing courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-sentencing.htm
  56. Preparation for guilty plea in the magistrates courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-preparation.htm
  57. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-intro.htm
  58. Written statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-written.htm
  59. Supplying statements to witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-witness.htm
  60. Supplying statements to the defencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defence.htm
  61. Attendance of witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-attendance.htm
  62. Formal admissionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-formal.htm
  63. Production of documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-production.htm
  64. Defendant's antecedentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defendant.htm
  65. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-intro.htm
  66. Key requirements of the CPIAhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-key.htm
  67. Investigations and relevant materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-investigations.htm
  68. Disclosure stageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-disclosure.htm
  69. Preparing the scheduleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-preparing.htm
  70. Approach to common categories of materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-approach.htm
  71. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/index.htm
  72. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-intro.htm
  73. General principleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-principles.htm
  74. Publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-publicising.htm
  75. Information which may be disclosedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-information.htm
  76. Sensitive caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-sensitive.htm
  77. Reporting committal proceedingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-committal.htm
  78. Contempt of courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-contempt.htm
  79. Reporting and Publicity - Abuse of process at common lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-abuse.htm
  80. European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) considerationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-echr.htm
  81. Reporting the trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-trial.htm
  82. Defamation: libel and slanderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-defamation.htm
  83. Breach of confidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-breach.htm
  84. Data protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-data.htm
  85. Reporting and publicity - Freedom of informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-foi.htm
  86. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-intro.htm
  87. Court procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-courtprocedure.htm
  88. Plea before venue and allocationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-mode.htm
  89. Discontinuing a prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-discontinue.htm
  90. The hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-hearing.htm
  91. Objections and adjournmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-objections.htm
  92. Contested cases - not guilty pleashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-contested.htm
  93. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-intro.htm
  94. Trial processhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-trial.htm
  95. Proving the offencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-prove.htm
  96. Key rules of evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-key.htm
  97. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-intro.htm
  98. Witnesses giving evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-witnesses.htm
  99. Exclusion of evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-exclusion.htm
  100. Use of inadmissible confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-confessions.htm
  101. Physical evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  102. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  103. Exhibiting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-exhibiting.htm
  104. Public documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-public.htm
  105. Proof of convictionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-proof.htm
  106. Sound and videotape recordingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-sound.htm
  107. Photographs, sketches and modelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-photos.htm
  108. Maps and planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-maps.htm
  109. Real evidence (material objects)https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-real.htm
  110. Computer evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-computer.htm
  111. Expert reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-expert.htm
  112. Depositionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-depositions.htm
  113. Written witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-written.htm
  114. Records required by statutory provisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-statutory.htm
  115. Continuityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-continuity.htm
  116. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-intro.htm
  117. Rule against hearsayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-rule.htm
  118. Exceptions to the hearsay rulehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-exceptions.htm
  119. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-intro.htm
  120. What is abuse of process?https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseprocess.htm
  121. Delayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-delay.htm
  122. Double jeopardyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-double.htm
  123. Breach of promisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-breach.htm
  124. Loss of evidence / failure to disclose unused materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-loss.htm
  125. Investigative improprietyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-investigative.htm
  126. Pre-trial publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-pretrial.htm
  127. In magistrates' courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusemagistrates.htm
  128. Abuse of process in the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusecrown.htm
  129. What to do if abuse is claimedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseclaimed.htm
  130. Recording decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-decisions.htm
  131. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-intro.htm
  132. Preparing for sentencing hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-preparing.htm
  133. The sentencing hearing and imposing the sentence https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-hearing.htm
  134. Penaltieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-penalties.htm
  135. Costshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-costs.htm
  136. Model exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-examples.htm
  137. Crown courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-intro.htm
  138. Allocation Procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-committal.htm
  139. At the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-court.htm
  140. Committal for sentencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-sentence.htm
  141. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-intro.htm
  142. Prosecution rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-prosecution.htm
  143. Defence rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-defence.htm
  144. Rights of appeal for both partieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-both.htm
  145. Appeals to European courtshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-european.htm
  146. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/index.htm
  147. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-intro.htm
  148. Conditions for a valid noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-conditions.htm
  149. Types of noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-types.htm
  150. Drafting noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-drafting.htm
  151. Service of noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-service.htm
  152. Failure to complyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-failure.htm
  153. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-intro.htm
  154. Employment tribunals - Jurisdiction of the tribunalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-jurisdiction.htm
  155. Notice of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-appeal.htm
  156. Preparation for the hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-preparation.htm
  157. Employment tribunal hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-employment.htm
  158. Tribunal decisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-tribunal.htm
  159. Challenging tribunal decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-challenges.htm
  160. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/index.htm
  161. Introduction to the work related deaths sectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/intro.htm
  162. Investigation of work related deathshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/investigation.htm
  163. Coroner Inquestshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/chronology.htm
  164. The coronerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/coroner.htm
  165. Enforcement guide Site maphttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/sitemap.htm
  166. Register of convictions and noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/convictions.htm
  167. Enforcement policy statementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm
  168. Enforcement management modelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/emm.pdf
  169. List of Specialist Regulatory Advocateshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/regulatory-advocates.pdf

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

CPIA
Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act

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Updated 2020-09-07