Workplace Incident Witness Interview Script

1. Keeps every interview friendly, polite, and neutral
2. Preserves reliable facts before memories fade or align
3. Makes clear this is fact-finding, not an interrogation

1. Please tell me, in your own words, what you saw happen.
2. Where were you at the time, and what were you doing just before the incident?
3. Who was present, and who else may have seen or heard anything?
4. What was the first thing you noticed that seemed unusual or unsafe?
5. What happened immediately before the incident?
6. What happened during the incident, step by step, as best as you remember?
7. What was the situation like at the time, including lighting, noise, weather, equipment, or work pressure?
8. Were there any instructions, warnings, procedures, or protective measures in place?
9. What happened immediately after the incident?
10. Is there anything else you think would help us understand what happened?

Opening note you can say to the witness: "Thank you for speaking with me. We want to understand what happened and prevent it from happening again. This is not about blaming you."

How to use this script: Ask the questions one by one, not all at once. Let the witness speak freely before you follow up. Use short clarifying prompts such as "What happened next?" or "Can you describe that more precisely?" Stay neutral and avoid suggesting answers. Do not debate fault during the interview.

Interview each witness individually in a quiet, private, neutral setting, and as soon as reasonably possible. Take accurate notes, read the key points back at the end, and let the witness correct anything before you close the conversation. For a full walkthrough of tone, sequence, and follow-up, see the companion guide: How to Interview Witnesses After a Workplace Incident.