07 Jun Accident/Incident Reporting

Accident & Incident Reporting

Reporting accidents, injuries, incidents, and near misses is an important part of preventing future injuries. Even when an event appears minor, reporting it allows hazards to be identified, corrective actions to be taken, and similar incidents to be prevented.

Instructor Note: Before beginning this Toolbox Talk, identify who employees should report incidents to, who is responsible for completing required company reports, and the location of emergency and first-aid information.

What Should Be Reported?

Employees should promptly report:

• All work-related injuries and illnesses, including those requiring first aid or medical treatment.
• Accidents involving property, vehicles, tools, or equipment.
• Near misses that could have resulted in injury or damage.
• Unsafe conditions or unsafe acts that could lead to an incident.
• Any accident or incident they witness.

What Should You Do After an Incident?

Get help first. If someone is injured, provide or obtain appropriate first aid and call emergency medical services when necessary. Employees should know who the designated first-aid personnel are and how to direct emergency responders to the worksite.

Report the incident promptly. Notify your supervisor or other designated company representative as soon as practical. Do not assume someone else has reported it.

Preserve the scene when appropriate. Unless necessary to rescue someone or eliminate an immediate hazard, avoid disturbing equipment or conditions that may be important to the investigation.

Provide accurate information. Employees who witnessed the incident should explain what they saw and provide factual information without speculation or assigning blame.

Why Reporting Matters

The purpose of reporting and investigating incidents is to determine what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. Near misses are especially valuable because they provide an opportunity to correct a hazard before someone is injured.

Remember: Never ignore an incident because it seems too minor to report. Today’s near miss may be tomorrow’s serious accident. Report hazards and incidents promptly so they can be corrected before someone gets hurt.