The Safety Investigation Authority of Finland (SIAF[1] or SIA,[2] Finnish: Onnettomuustutkintakeskus, lit. Accident Investigation Center, shortened to Finnish: OTKES; Swedish: Olycksutredningscentralen) is the accident investigation authority of Finland. It investigates all major accidents, and all aviation, maritime, and rail accidents and incidents.[3] SIAF is located within the Ministry of Justice, and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.[4]
The SIAF was previously known in English as the Accident Investigation Board of Finland.[5]
The SIAF consists of five investigation branches: aviation, maritime, rail, other accidents, and exceptional events. The SIA has appointed a chief investigator to each.[6]
| Investigation branch | Description | Chief investigator |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation | The investigation of incidents and accidents regarding aviation in Finland.[7] | Ismo Aaltonen |
| Maritime | The investigation of accidents and dangerous situations that take place on Finnish territorial waters or in which a Finland-based vessel is involved.[8] | Risto Haimila |
| Rail | The investigation of especially hazardous accidents that happen either in rail, metro, or tram traffic, such as level crossing accidents, rolling stock fires, and train collisions.[9] | Esko Värttiö |
| Other accidents | The Other accidents-branch investigates serious accidents that pose a risk to life or that cause significant economic or environmental harm.[10] | Kai Valonen |
| Exceptional events | Exceptional events are events of a non-accidental nature, in which a severe risk to life and society is posed. The SIAF has investigated four of such events during its history: the Jokela school shooting (2007), Kauhajoki school shooting (2008), (2012), and Turku stabbing (2017).[11] |