Reporting serious incidents

Preventing serious incidents is a fundamental component of your safety and health program. If a serious incident occurs at your workplace, it must be reported to Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) immediately. The committee should understand the details around serious incident reporting.

Use this Safety Swap to kick-start your next committee meeting

1. Serious incident definition

Part 2.6 of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation defines serious incidents as those that occur when:

• a worker is killed while performing their duties
• a worker suffers:
  • an injury from electrical contact
  • unconsciousness as the result of a concussion
  • amputation of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger or toe
  • third-degree burns
  • permanent or temporary loss of sight
  • a cut or laceration that requires medical treatment at a hospital (as defined in the Health Services Insurance Act)
  • exposure to substances that results in asphyxiation or poisoning
• there is a collapse or structural failure of a building, structure, crane, hoist, lift, temporary support system or excavation
• there is an explosion, fire or flooding
• there is an uncontrolled spill or escape of a hazardous substance
• there is a failure of an atmosphere-supplying respirator

2. When to report and who is responsible for reporting

The employer must report all serious incidents to WSH immediately, by the fastest means of communication possible, as required by the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Part 2.7. The employer must also ensure first aid is provided for victims, if it is safe to do so, and 911 is called for medical aid.

The scene of a serious incident must not be disturbed until WSH has been notified and has released the scene. In order to preserve the scene, no equipment or materials that were involved in an incident may be altered or moved, unless it is necessary to free an injured or trapped person, to avoid creating additional hazards or to provide immediate/critical care.

If you are unsure whether you should report, simply report. There are no negative consequences for reporting an incident.

3. When the employer reports the incident to WSH, they will need to share the following information:

• name and address of each person involved in the incident
• name and address of the employer
• name and address of any witnesses
• date, time and location of the incident
• any apparent cause of the incident and any circumstances that may have contributed
• any other relevant information

If the employer receives or is made aware of additional information after reporting, they must notify WSH immediately. For example, an incident is reported as a slip, trip or fall, but the injury is later identified as a fractured bone.

4. What happens if you don’t report

There may be financial consequences to not reporting serious incidents. It may also impact the reputation and culture of the work environment when the organization does not follow the legislation.

5. How to report

You can contact WSH 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to report a serious incident, injury or fatality:

• 1-855-957-SAFE (7233) (toll-free in Manitoba)
• 204-957-SAFE (7233) (in Winnipeg)
• Select Option 1

6. What to do after reporting

Following the reporting of any incident to WSH, an employer may be told to self-investigate or wait for WSH to arrive to investigate.

A safety and health officer will inspect the workplace to ensure it is safe for other workers to continue their regular work.

The incident investigation must also include the workplace safety and health committee co-chairs or their designates.

After the investigation is complete, an employer, in consultation with the co-chairs or their designates, must prepare a written report that includes the following: 

• the name of any person injured or killed
• the date, time and place of the incident, accident or dangerous occurrence
• a description of the incident, accident or dangerous occurrence
• any graphic, photographs or other evidence that may assist in determining the cause or causes of the incident, accident or dangerous occurrence
• an explanation of the cause of the incident, accident or dangerous occurrence, including any factors or events that indirectly contributed to it occurring
• any immediate corrective action taken
• any long-term action that will be taken to prevent a similar incident or dangerous occurrence, or the reasons for no action being taken

Top tips 

• When in doubt, report an incident.
• Provide first aid to the victim and call 911 for medical aid.
• Preserve the scene until WSH provides direction on the next steps.
• Report to WSH at 204-954-SAFE (selection Option 1).
• The committee co-chairs or their designates must be included in the investigation process.

Share your ideas!

If you would like to share your best practices with other safety and health committee leaders, we’d like to hear from you. Contact us for more information.