What is the purpose of a 'lessons learned' log?

• A. To capture insights from incidents and near-misses to prevent recurrence and improve processes.
• B. To blame individuals.
• C. To track budgets.
• D. To schedule safety drills.

Answer: (B)

A lessons learned log is a learning tool that captures what happened in incidents or near-misses, why it happened, and what can be changed to prevent a repeat. Its purpose is to improve processes, controls, training, and safety culture by documenting root causes, contributing factors, and recommended corrective actions, then tracking whether those actions are effective. The emphasis is on systemic improvement and organizational learning, not on blaming individuals. This helps share insights across teams and ensure that experiences lead to safer, more reliable operations.