A small peer group of senior nurses managers meet at the King's Fund Centre bi-monthly to exchange ideas. In 1983-84 they identified a particular concern relating to recording incidents of accidents and the group focussed on the need for nurses to be encouraged to record all such incidents as a 'reflex action' without fear of punitive action. It was felt that the objectives of these recordings should be seen as preventing a similar occurrence, providing a better standard of patient care and providing facts for possible future use. Frances Roberts has been conducting a research study into incident forms and was asked to speak at a King's Fund conference on the subject on 14 March 1984. This project paper is based on the research study and reactions from the conference.