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100+ Free ZA Incident Investigation Practice Questions

Prepare for the South Africa Workplace Incident Investigation (SAQA US 259617 & OHS Act Sec 24) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ZA Incident Investigation Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep question bank

Section 24

OHS Act Statutory Duty

OHS Act 85 of 1993

7 Days

Annexure 1 Deadline

General Administrative Regs

US 259617

SAQA Unit Standard

SAQA Framework

70%

Competency Threshold

Assessment Standard

This comprehensive exam prep resource covers South African incident investigation legislation and methodology, including OHS Act Section 24 statutory reporting, General Administrative Regulations Annexure 1, scene preservation under Section 24(2), witness interviewing using the PEACE framework, and root cause analysis (5-Why, Fishbone). Disclosures: Our 100 MCQs serve as an English-language MCQ study adaptation for exam prep and competency verification.

Sample ZA Incident Investigation Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ZA Incident Investigation exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Section 24(1)(a) of the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act 85 of 1993), what is the mandatory condition requiring immediate statutory reporting to an inspector?
A.Any incident resulting in the death of a person
B.Any incident resulting in minor first-aid treatment
C.Any property damage exceeding ZAR 10,000
D.Any employee absence of more than 1 working day
Explanation: Section 24(1)(a) of the OHS Act 85 of 1993 specifies that any incident occurring at work or arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work in which any person dies must be reported immediately to an inspector of the Department of Employment and Labour by the quickest means available. Immediate notification ensures that official inspectors can initiate statutory inquiries if required. Minor injuries and minor property damage do not trigger Section 24 statutory reporting.
2Under the General Administrative Regulations of the OHS Act, within how many days must an employer formally submit a completed Annexure 1 written report following a reportable Section 24 incident?
A.24 hours
B.7 days
C.14 days
D.30 days
Explanation: Regulation 9 of the General Administrative Regulations (GAR) prescribes that an employer or user must within 7 days give notice of a Section 24 reportable incident by completing and submitting Annexure 1 to the Provincial Director of the Department of Employment and Labour. Initial notification must be given immediately by telephone or fast communication, but the formal written Annexure 1 document must be delivered within 7 days.
3Which specific physical injury outcome is explicitly listed under Section 24(1)(b) of the OHS Act as a trigger for mandatory incident notification?
A.A superficial scratch or mild strain
B.A temporary headache caused by room temperature
C.An injury resulting in the loss of a limb or part of a limb
D.A non-work-related illness occurring at home
Explanation: Section 24(1)(b) explicitly states that any incident resulting in a person losing a limb or part of a limb, or becoming unconscious, or suffering an injury that is likely to cause death or permanent disability must be reported to the Department of Employment and Labour. This statutory definition focuses on severe anatomical and physiological outcomes.
4What official statutory form is prescribed under the General Administrative Regulations (GAR) for recording and notifying workplace incidents in South Africa?
A.SABS 0228
B.Form WCL 5
C.Annexure 4
D.Annexure 1
Explanation: Annexure 1 (Recording and Investigation of Incidents) under Regulation 9 of the General Administrative Regulations is the official prescribed form used to document incident details, preliminary investigation findings, and submit notice to the Department of Employment and Labour. Employers must maintain Annexure 1 records on site.
5Under OHS Act Section 24(1)(c), an incident causing a person to become unconscious must be reported if it is attributable to which factor?
A.Exposure to a hazardous chemical substance or machinery malfunction
B.Natural sleep during rest breaks
C.Pre-existing non-occupational medical conditions off-site
D.Voluntary participation in workplace sports
Explanation: Section 24(1)(c) mandates reporting when a person becomes unconscious, suffers a heat stroke or heat exhaustion, or is affected by hazardous chemicals or asphyxiating gases arising from work activities or machinery operation. Loss of consciousness due to workplace exposures is a critical indicator of atmospheric or chemical hazards.
6What is the threshold period of employee work incapacitation that makes an occupational injury reportable under OHS Act Section 24(1)(b)?
A.24 hours
B.14 consecutive days or more
C.7 consecutive days
D.3 consecutive days
Explanation: Section 24(1)(b)(iii) specifies that an injury which results in a person being unable to perform their normal activity for a period of at least 14 consecutive days (or being unable to work) is a reportable incident requiring notification to the Department of Employment and Labour.
7In South Africa, which government authority is legally responsible for receiving and investigating Section 24 statutory workplace incident notifications?
A.Department of Home Affairs
B.South African Revenue Service (SARS)
C.Department of Employment and Labour (DEL)
D.National Treasury
Explanation: The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), through its Occupational Health and Safety Inspectorate and Provincial Directors, is the statutory authority empowered by the OHS Act 85 of 1993 to receive Section 24 notifications and conduct formal inquiries.
8Which statutory document must be submitted to the Compensation Commissioner under COIDA (Act 130 of 1993) to initiate a claim for an occupational injury?
A.DEL Annexure 3
B.Form SARS EMP201
C.SABS ISO 9001 Certificate
D.Form WCL 2 (Employer's Report of an Accident)
Explanation: Form WCL 2 (Employer's Report of an Accident) is the statutory form required by the Compensation Fund under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) to report an accident resulting in personal injury or medical expenses.
9Under OHS Act Section 24(1)(d), an incident involving a dangerous chemical spill must be reported to the Department of Employment and Labour under which circumstance?
A.If a dangerous substance was spilled and may threaten the health or safety of any person
B.Only if at least five workers are hospitalized immediately
C.Only if the chemical spill results in direct fire damage exceeding ZAR 100,000
D.If the spill is cleaned up within 5 minutes using water
Explanation: Section 24(1)(d) stipulates that any incident where a dangerous substance was spilled or released in an uncontrolled manner, and where the health or safety of any person was or could have been threatened, must be reported. The key criterion is potential or actual threat to human health/safety, regardless of financial loss.
10What is the statutory role of a Health and Safety Representative (SHE rep) during an incident investigation under Section 18 of the OHS Act?
A.The SHE rep has no right to attend investigations or review evidence
B.The SHE rep is entitled to inspect the incident site, attend the investigation, and submit representations to inspectors
C.The SHE rep must act as the primary legal defense lawyer for top management
D.The SHE rep must personally pay for all forensic testing expenses
Explanation: Under Section 18(1)(e) and (f) of the OHS Act, Health and Safety Representatives are statutory worker representatives empowered to inspect incident scenes, participate in internal investigations, accompany inspectors, and make recommendations to the Health and Safety Committee and employers.

About the ZA Incident Investigation Exam

The South Africa Workplace Incident Investigation practice exam is tailored to the standards established under SAQA Unit Standard 259617 ('Conduct an investigation into workplace safety, health and environmental incidents') and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHS Act) Section 24 statutory reporting framework. Safety officers, Health and Safety Representatives (SHE reps), and risk managers are required to understand mandatory incident notification to the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), scene preservation protocols, evidence gathering, witness interviewing methodologies, and root cause analysis techniques. Disclosures: This question bank consists of 100 English-language multiple-choice questions structured as an online study adaptation for exam prep, self-assessment, and professional skill enhancement.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice questions assessing SAQA US 259617 unit standard outcomes and OHS Act Section 24 compliance.

Time Limit

Untimed practice (official training assessments vary, typically 2 hours)

Passing Score

70% (Competent benchmark)

Exam Fee

Varies by provider (ZAR 1,500 - ZAR 3,500) (SAQA Accredited Training Providers / Department of Employment and Labour)

ZA Incident Investigation Exam Content Outline

25%

OHS Act Section 24 Statutory Reporting & DEL Annexure 1

Legal duties under OHS Act Section 24, mandatory reporting criteria (fatalities, loss of limb, unconsciousness, 14-day incapacitation, dangerous spillage, runaway machinery), DEL Annexure 1 reporting timelines (7 days), WCL1/WCL2 claims, and inspector powers.

25%

Initial Response, Scene Preservation & Evidence Collection

Immediate emergency response, securing the incident site under OHS Act Section 24(2), avoiding scene tampering, chain of custody logging, physical evidence sampling, photographic records, and environmental measurement.

25%

Witness Interviewing Techniques & Statement Analysis

Application of the PEACE interviewing framework (Preparation, Engage, Account, Closure, Evaluation), open questioning techniques, avoiding leading questions, witness statement verification, handling traumatic shock, and bias elimination.

25%

Root Cause Analysis Methods & Corrective Action Implementation

Root cause analysis methodologies including 5-Why analysis, Fishbone (Ishikawa) cause-and-effect diagrams, Barrier Analysis, developing SMART corrective action plans, applying the Hierarchy of Controls, and conducting follow-up effectiveness audits.

How to Pass the ZA Incident Investigation Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% (Competent benchmark)
  • Assessment: 100 multiple-choice questions assessing SAQA US 259617 unit standard outcomes and OHS Act Section 24 compliance.
  • Time limit: Untimed practice (official training assessments vary, typically 2 hours)
  • Exam fee: Varies by provider (ZAR 1,500 - ZAR 3,500)

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ZA Incident Investigation Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the mandatory Section 24 reportable criteria: death, loss of limb/part of limb, unconsciousness, injury leading to permanent disability or 14+ days incapacitation, dangerous spillage, pressure vessel failure, and runaway machinery.
2Understand the statutory timeframes: immediate notification by telephone/fastest means to the Provincial Director, followed by formal written submission on DEL Annexure 1 within 7 days.
3Remember Section 24(2) scene freeze exceptions: the incident scene must remain untouched UNLESS action is strictly necessary to rescue victims or prevent immediate further injury/disaster.
4Master the distinction between WCL1/WCL2 (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act forms submitted to the Compensation Commissioner) and Annexure 1 (OHS Act Section 24 statutory report to DEL).
5In witness interviewing, always favor open-ended questions (Who, What, Where, When, How, Why) and avoid leading questions that bias the witness's memory.
6In root cause analysis, trace beyond human error to latent organizational flaws using the 5-Why method and Fishbone diagram categories (People, Process, Equipment, Environment, Management).
7Apply the Hierarchy of Controls when recommending corrective actions: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering Controls → Administrative Controls → PPE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SAQA Unit Standard 259617?

SAQA Unit Standard 259617 is titled 'Conduct an investigation into workplace safety, health and environmental incidents'. It sets the national competency standard in South Africa for planning, gathering evidence, determining root causes, and reporting on workplace incidents.

When must an incident be reported to the Department of Employment and Labour under OHS Act Section 24?

Under Section 24 of the OHS Act 85 of 1993, incidents must be reported immediately by the quickest means possible (and followed up within 7 days using DEL Annexure 1) if they result in death, unconsciousness, loss of limb or part of a limb, 14 days or more of incapacitation, a major incident, a dangerous spill of toxic substances, or uncontrolled machinery running.

What is the rule regarding scene preservation under OHS Act Section 24(2)?

Section 24(2) mandates that no person shall disturb the site where a reportable incident occurred or remove any object involved until authorized by an inspector from the Department of Employment and Labour, except to prevent further incidents or rescue injured persons.

What is the difference between direct causes and root causes?

Direct causes are immediate events or conditions that triggered the harm (e.g., slipping on an oil spill or a falling tool). Root causes are underlying systemic weaknesses, such as lack of preventive maintenance schedules, inadequate training, or flawed risk assessment procedures.

How are these practice questions structured?

This practice bank contains 100 English-language multiple-choice questions designed as an interactive study adaptation covering South African legislation (OHS Act, GAR, COIDA) and practical investigation techniques (scene freeze, witness interviews, 5-Why, Fishbone).