A workplace accident is an unforeseen and sudden event that occurs in the course of work, which causes physical or psychological injury to an employee.
When to Report a Workplace Accident?
Employees must notify their employer as soon as possible that a work-related accident has occurred. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide first aid and to cover transportation costs if the employee needs to go to a healthcare facility or return home (ambulance, cab, public transit, etc.).
In Quebec for instance, the employer must complete the Employer Notice and Reimbursement Claim (Avis de l’employeur) as soon as possible for the first 14 days of the employee’s absence. Employees have up to 6 months from the date of the accident to file medical claims with CNESST.
How to Write a Workplace Accident Report?
A workplace accident report must be completed as soon as an event involving injury, illness or damage occurs.
To be complete, a workplace accident report must contain all the relevant information needed to better understand the circumstances surrounding the event.
The complete workplace accident report should contain the following information:
- Identification of the employee
- Type of accident
- Accident location
- Date and time of the accident
- Names of people involved and of witnesses
- Detailed description of the accident
- Causes of the accident
- Photos and other relevant support material
- Corrective measures taken
- Signatures of all parties (employees, witnesses, customers, supervisors, etc.)
Free downloadable workplace accident report templates are available.
How to Prevent Workplace Accidents?
To prevent workplace accidents, companies can:
- Train employees to understand health and safety risks
- Be cautious and encourage employees to communicate their concerns and observations
- Promote prevention and awareness among team members
- Learn from accidents and take action to prevent them from happening again
- Set up a prevention department
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment
