Why is a timeline included in post-incident documentation?

• A. To assign praise or blame publicly
• B. To record personnel payroll changes
• C. To provide a chronological sequence of events for investigative purposes
• D. To summarize unrelated incidents

Answer: (C)

A timeline in post-incident documentation serves to establish the sequence of events in time so investigators can reconstruct what happened. By recording what occurred, who was involved, and when each action or notable event took place, it creates a clear, continuous narrative that reveals the order of operations, responses, and any gaps or delays. This chronological view helps identify cause-and-effect relationships, verify procedures were followed, and support root-cause analysis as well as evidence gathering for both internal review and any legal or compliance needs. It’s not about praising individuals, tracking payroll, or summarizing unrelated incidents; those purposes don’t help determine what happened or how to prevent recurrence.