Why a different method?
Most investigation methods were built for physical incidents: a fall, a vehicle collision, a dropped load. Psychosocial events are different.
- Harm builds up over time. It rarely comes from one event, so the investigation has to look at months of exposure, not one moment.
- The people involved are the evidence, and they may still work together. Safety, support and fairness come first.
- There are two questions, not one. Did the alleged conduct happen? And what in the work allowed it? An investigation that stops at the first misses the controls that failed.
- The fix is usually the work, not more training. Recommendations have to change how work is designed, resourced and managed.
The PRRR Investigation Method™ is built around those differences.
The method in eight steps
- Triage: choose the right response, from early resolution to a formal investigation or a system review.
- Scope and safety: agree the terms of reference, and put interim measures and support in place before any interview.
- Gather the evidence: interviews, plus the records that show how the work actually ran: rosters, workload, leave, earlier complaints and messages.
- Exposure timeline: map events, work conditions and the organisation's responses on one timeline, to see drift, triggers and missed chances.
- Five-level analysis: work down from the harm to the system.
- Two-track findings: a confidential findings report on the allegations, and a de-identified system report on the work.
- Rated recommendations: every recommendation rated strong, moderate or weak, so training and policy reminders cannot stand in for changing the work.
- Close out and verify: check at 3 and 6 months that the controls are in place and working.
The five levels
| Level | The question it answers |
|---|---|
| 1. Harm and exposure | Who was harmed, how, and for how long? |
| 2. Controls | Which controls were missing or failed: Prevent, Respond, Recover or Review? |
| 3. Actions and responses | What did the respondent, supervisors, bystanders and complaint handlers do? |
| 4. Work conditions | Which psychosocial hazards were present? |
| 5. System factors | What in the organisation created or allowed those conditions? |
Each level asks why the level above was possible. Because every failed control is placed at a PRRR stage, the findings go straight into your psychosocial risk register.
Training
We run the courses in-house at your workplace, anywhere in NSW and Australia, and online for the briefing. Use the form below to arrange a course.
BSBWHS515 with Allens Training
The nationally recognised unit in the Lead Investigator course is delivered and assessed by Orana Skills Centre on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd, RTO 90909. Your enrolment in the unit is with Allens Training. The student handbook sets out your rights and responsibilities, including complaints and appeals.
The PRRR Investigation Toolkit
Every template the method uses, ready to edit in Word and Excel: triage record, terms of reference and safety check, interview plans, evidence register, exposure timeline, the PRRR analysis chart, findings and system report templates, a recommendation strength rating sheet with an action and verification tracker, and an investigator wellbeing checklist. It includes a worked example.
See the PRRR™ training packages
Need an investigation done for you?
We also carry out independent psychosocial investigations using the method. About our psychosocial investigations.
Read more
Find the System Failure: Investigating Psychosocial Harm, book 4 in our Psychosocial Risk Series, explains the thinking behind the method. Available on Amazon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PRRR Investigation Method?
The PRRR Investigation Method™ is Orana Skills Centre's method for investigating psychosocial harm, such as bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, violence and aggression, and psychological injury. It answers two questions every time: what happened, and why the work allowed it to happen. It was developed by Jessica Urquhart and is built on the PRRR™ Control Model: Prevent, Respond, Recover, Review.
How is it different from an HR investigation?
A typical HR investigation decides whether alleged conduct happened. The PRRR Investigation Method™ does that too, in a confidential findings report, and adds a separate, de-identified system report on the work factors and the controls that failed, with rated recommendations that change the work.
Can it be used for sexual harassment complaints?
Yes. Sexual harassment, violence, a manager as the respondent or a repeat complaint always go to a formal investigation or a system review under the method's triage step.
Is the training nationally recognised?
The 2-day Lead Investigator course includes assessment for the nationally recognised unit BSBWHS515 Lead initial response to and investigate WHS incidents, issued by Allens Training (RTO 90909). The other courses are not nationally recognised.
Is there a toolkit with the templates?
Yes. The PRRR Investigation Toolkit has every template the method uses, as editable Word and Excel files, with a worked example. It is coming soon to our training package store.
