Incident Reporting & Investigations

If a workplace incident results in an injury, or could have caused a serious injury, both Stillbuilt Solutions and WorkSafeBC have certain responsibilities. 

Incident investigations help identify the cause and hazards, while finding ways to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Two different investigations may take place after an incident occurs: one that the employer conducts and one that WorkSafeBC conducts.

Incident Reporting

You must file a company Incident Report when:

• There is an accident where a worker is injured, or anyone else on site is injured (including homeowner, business owner, or contractor)

• There is a near-miss incident 

• Any A-Hazard is identified 

• There is a major release of a hazardous substance 

• A worker is suspected to be intoxicated

• Whenever an incident requires reporting to Worksafe BC

• There is a dangerous incident involving a fire or explosion that had potential for causing serious injury to a worker

Reporting Incidents to WorkSafe BC

The owner/employer is responsible for immediately notifying Worksafe BC when certain workplace incidents occur, such as when a worker is seriously injured or killed on the job, a building collapses, or there is a major release of a hazardous substance. 

To notify WorksafeBC of an incident, contact the Prevention Information Line.

An employer's requirement to notify WSBC of serious injuries or incidents is different from reporting injuries related to claims. If there is an injury on the job, the injured worker's employer still must complete and submit an Employer's Report of Injury of Occupational Disease (form 7), but this does not satisfy an employer's need to immediately report certain incidents. For more information about this reporting requirement, see section 68 of the Workers Compensation Act.

Incidents requiring immediate notification

Employers are responsible for immediately notifying Worksafe BC, using the Prevention Information Line, if any of the following incidents have happened in the workplace:

• A worker is seriously injured or killed on the job.

• There is a major structural failure or collapse of a building, bridge, tower, crane, hoist, temporary construction support system, or excavation.

• There is a major release of a hazardous substance.

• There is a diving incident as defined by OHS Regulation 24.34.

• There is a dangerous incident involving a fire or explosion that had potential for causing serious injury to a worker.

• There is a blasting incident that results in personal injury or injuries.

Serious injuries are those that are life-threatening or could cause permanent injury. Serious injuries include traumatic injuries such as major fractures, amputations, and serious burns. Serious injuries also include incidents such as exposure to chemicals and heat and cold stress, as these could result in life-threatening conditions or cause permanent impairment.

When any of these incidents happen in the workplace, employers are also required to conduct an investigation into the incident.

For more details about what is considered a serious injury, see Guideline G-P2-68-1.

When there is an incident

Before immediately notifying Worksafe BC about a serious workplace incident, employers must first:

• Address any workplace conditions that could be hazardous to other workers

• Ensure any injured worker(s) receive prompt first aid and medical treatment

Once the workplace has been secured and any injured workers have been attended to, contact Worksafe BC using the Prevention Information Line.

Unless instructed otherwise by a Worksafe BC officer, be sure the scene of the incident is not disturbed except to:

• Attend to someone who has been injured or killed

• Prevent further injuries

• Protect property that is in danger because of the incident

Immediate notification ensures quick response

When Worksafe BC is notified, their officers will:

• Inspect the workplace to make sure other workers are protected before any work on the jobsite continues

• Ensure any post-incident response or activity is performed safely

• Offer connections to available counselling services, where and as appropriate

• Provide referrals to Worksafe BC Claims team

• Determine whether an incident investigation is appropriate

Employers who don't immediately notify WorkSafeBC when serious incidents occur may be subject to enforcement, such as an administrative penalty.

Employer Investigations

Quick Link: Employer Incident Investigation Report Form (to be completed only by Owner)

• Employers are responsible for conducting investigations related to incidents that happen in their workplaces and submitting employer incident investigation reports (EIIRs) to WorkSafeBC.

• Depending on the incident and how serious it is, employers may also need to immediately report the incident to WorkSafeBC.

• Employers are responsible for completing reports to represent the four stages of an investigation: preliminary investigation, interim corrective actions, full investigation, and full corrective actions.

Incidents requiring an investigation

Employers are responsible for immediately conducting an investigation into any incident that involves:

• Serious injury to a worker or a worker's death

• Injury requiring medical treatment

• Minor injury, or no injury, but had the potential for causing serious injury

• Major structural failure or collapse

• Major release of hazardous substances

• Diving incident, as defined by the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation

• Dangerous incident involving explosive materials

• Blasting incident causing personal injury

Section 69 of the Workers Compensation Act provides more details about what incidents employers must investigate.

Investigation stages

Conducting an investigation into an incident that occurred in your workplace includes four stages. Those conducting the investigation must be knowledgeable about the type of work involved at the time of the incident. An employer and a worker representative must participate, if or as they are available.

The four stages of an investigation are:

1. Preliminary investigation

A preliminary investigation is an opportunity for employers to identify any unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that must be addressed so work can resume safely until a full investigation has been completed. Employers must complete a preliminary investigation and accompanying report within 48 hours of an incident.

1. Interim corrective actions

During the period between the incident and the conclusion of the full investigation, an employer is responsible for taking all actions reasonably necessary to prevent the incident from happening again. If you can identify only some of the unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that significantly contributed to the incident, interim corrective actions may include a full or partial shutdown of the worksite, removal of equipment, or reassignment of workers to other duties.

1. Full investigation

A full investigation is about determining an incident's cause or causes. This involves carefully analyzing the facts and circumstances to identify the underlying factors that led to the incident. Key questions to ask include:

• What factors made the unsafe conditions, act, or procedures possible?

• Are there any health and safety deficiencies in my management system or processes?

• A full investigation and report must be completed within 30 days of the incident.

1. Final corrective actions

Once a full investigation has been completed, as an employer you must prepare a corrective action report that describes the unsafe conditions that led to the incident, what corrective action is necessary, and the steps you and your organization will take to implement those actions.

WorkSafe BC Investigations

• Following an incident or near miss (an incident that almost happened), a WorkSafeBC investigation may be conducted to identify the cause and explore other related factors.

• The investigation process is also used to determine if enforcement action, such as imposing an administrative penalty or proceeding to prosecution, is appropriate.

• Findings from WorkSafeBC investigation reports are posted online. These are intended to help employers and workers understand the factors that contribute to workplace incidents so similar incidents can be prevented in the future.

WorkSafeBC may investigate workplace incidents that resulted in a death or an injury or had the potential to cause serious injury. Investigations help us determine why an incident happened, gather information about industry trends, and provide recommendations to prevent future incidents.

After a serious safety incident is reported to WorkSafeBC, one or more of our officers may come to your worksite to conduct an investigation, possibly within hours.

We investigate incidents to determine their cause and to ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act. The findings of the investigation may result in orders or administrative penalties.

Employers, workers, and other workplace parties have a legal duty to cooperate and do everything reasonably possible to help WorkSafeBC conduct its investigation. This includes:

• Allowing the team to fully access the worksite

• Answering all of the team's questions

• Producing documents and records at the team's request

What to expect during an investigation

Generally, in a WorkSafeBC investigation, officers:

• Secure and examine the incident site, including any equipment involved

• Take notes and photos

• Interview workers, managers, and witnesses

• Collect relevant documents, such as equipment operating manuals, written procedures, and training records

• Conduct tests on materials or equipment

• Seize materials, equipment, or documents as necessary

An investigation may involve others besides WorkSafeBC investigation officers, such as engineers, lawyers, human factors specialists, hygienists, and other subject matter experts. Other agencies beyond WorkSafeBC may also have jurisdiction or need to investigate a workplace incident. This includes:

• Police

• B.C. Coroners Service

• Technical Safety BC

• Office of the Fire Commissioner

• Federal agencies, such as the Transportation Safety Board, Transport Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada

• Agencies with jurisdiction over specific activities (e.g., mining)

Depending on the complexity, an investigation can last anywhere from a few days to several months. Some investigations require specialized testing of equipment or a review of thousands of documents. In the interests of workers and their families, we are committed to completing incident investigations as thoroughly and efficiently as possible.