Report serious injuries, illnesses or incidents

Workplace incidents

You must call the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Contact Centre (1-866-415-8690) as soon as possible if:

• a worker has died at work or from an illness connected to the work site
• a worker has been or will be admitted to a hospital as a result of a workplace injury, illness or incident
  • note that hospital admission does not include treatment at an emergency room or urgent care centre
• there is:
  • an unplanned or uncontrolled explosion, fire or flood that causes a serious injury or illness or has the potential to cause a serious injury or illness
  • the collapse or upset of a crane, derrick or hoist
  • the collapse or failure of any component of a building or structure

You must report mine or mine site incidents described in section 544 of the OHS Code online as soon as possible. If a death, serious injury, illness or incident has occurred at a mine or mine site, call the OHS Contact Centre as soon as possible.

Do not disturb the scene

You cannot disturb the scene of any injury, illness or incident described in section 33(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act). These are:

• incidents that result in a worker fatality, or result or may result in a worker being admitted to hospital
• an unplanned or uncontrolled explosion, fire or flood that causes a serious injury or illness or has the potential to cause a serious injury or illness
• a crane, derrick or hoist collapse or upset
• a full or partial building or structural collapse or failure

The OHS Act describes the scene as the immediate area where the injury, illness or incident occurred.

You also cannot alter, move or remove equipment, documentation or other information related to the injury, illness or incident.

When it is okay to disturb the scene

From the OHS Act, you can disturb the scene of an injury, illness or incident described in section 33(2) of the OHS Act if:

• an OHS officer or police officer gives you permission to do so
• you need to attend to a person who is ill, injured or killed
• you need to prevent further injuries, illnesses or incidents
• you need to protect property endangered by the incident

The OHS Act does not prohibit disturbing the scene of radiation overexposures, mine or mine site incidents or potentially serious incidents. If a death, serious injury, illness or incident has occurred at a mine or mine site, or because of a radiation overexposure, these fall under the ‘Do not disturb the scene’ rules above.

By Director’s Order effective December 1, 2021 you may disturb the scene of an unplanned or uncontrolled explosion, fire or flood; a crane, derrick or hoist collapse or upset; a (full or partial) building or structural collapse or failure if:

• there is no injury or illness involved
• you haven’t been directed otherwise by an OHS officer or police officer

Who should report to OHS

The employer or prime contractor should report an incident or injury as soon as possible to OHS.

If there is no prime contractor, the contractor or employer responsible for the work site must report the incident.

Investigating the incident

The employer or prime contractor (if there is one) at the work site must investigate any reportable injury or incident. Involve the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative, if one exists, in the investigation and prepare a written report as follows:

• the circumstances of the incident and what, if anything, can be done to prevent another incident
• provide the report to the health and safety committee or representative, if there is one. If there is no committee or representative, the report must be made available to workers
• the report must be provided to an OHS officer, if requested

Resouce: Incident reporting and investigation

Providing an investigation report to OHS

• You must provide your fatality, serious injury, illness or incident investigation report to an OHS officer on request.
• When you notify the OHS Contact Centre of a radiation overexposure, the OHS Contact Centre will direct you on how to submit your incident investigation report.
• In cases where you must notify OHS online, you must also submit your investigation report online.

Report retention

• You must keep a copy of your incident investigation report readily available for at least 2 years.

Contact

Connect with OHS:

Phone: 780-415-8690 (Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-866-415-8690 
TTY: 780-427-9999 (Edmonton)
TTY: 1-800-232-7215

Ask an Expert

Related

• Health and safety eNews