Employer Duty to Provide Immediate Notification of Workplace Incidents

While all OHS laws require employers to provide notification of injuries, illnesses and other workplace health and safety incidents, the specifics vary significantly by jurisdiction. The chart below illustrates the Who/What/When/Where/How of each jurisdiction that you need to know to ensure compliance in all parts of Canada.

Immediate Incident Notification Requirements by Jurisdiction(1)

(Abbrevs: JHSC = Joint Health & Safety Committee; HSR = Health & Safety Representative)

Jurisd.	Triggering Incidents Requiring Notification	When Notification Required	Who Must Be Notified	Means of Notification	What Noti -fication Must Include
FED	Accident, occupational disease or other hazardous occurrence resulting in: Employee death Disabling injury to 2 or more employees Loss of body member or use Permanent impairment of body function Explosion Damage to boiler or pressure vessel resulting in fire or rupture Free fall of elevating device Damage to elevating device rendering it unserviceable	Within 24 hours of becoming aware of incident	Nearest district office of Dept. of Employment & Social Dev. responsible for HRSDC Labour Program	Phone or telex	Date Time Location Nature of incident
AB(2)	Fatal injury or accident to worker Injury or accident resulting in workers hospitalization as inpatient Unplanned or uncontrolled explosion including near misses not resulting in actual injury Collapse or upset of crane, derrick or hoist *Collapse or failure of component integral to integrity of building or structure	As soon as possible	Director of Inspection	Quickest practical means of communication available	Time Place *Nature of incident
BC	Accident that: Resulted in workers death or serious injury Involved major structural failure or collapse of crane, tower, building, bridge, hoist, temporary construction support system or excavation Involved major release of hazardous substance Involved a fire or explosion including near misses not resulting in actual injury	Immediately	WorkSafeBC	Phone or online via WorkSafeBC website	Un- specified
MB	Serious incident, i.e.: Worker killed Worker injured from elec. contact; unconsciousness from concussion; fractured arm, leg, skull, spine, hand, pelvis, foot; amputated arm, leg, hand, foot, toe, finger; third degree burns; permanent or temporary loss of sight; cut or laceration requiring hospitalization; asphyxiation or poisoning Collapse or structural failure of crane, building, structure, hoist, lift, temporary support system or excavation Explosion, fire or flood Uncontrolled spill or escape of hazardous substance Failure of atmosphere-supplying respirator	Immediately	Director or safety and health officer	Fastest means of communication available	Date, time, locationName & address of each person involved in incident* Name & address of each employer involved in incidentName & address of each witness Apparent cause & circum- stances giving rise to it
NB	A. Serious injury to employee resulting in(3): Death Loss of consciousness Amputation Fracture (other than to finger or toe) Burn requiring medical attention Loss of vision in one or both eyes Deep laceration Admission to hospital as inpatient B. Other Accidents Accidental explosion or exposure to biological, chemical or physical agent at workplace including near misses not resulting in actual injury Catastrophic event or equipment failure at workplace including near misses not resulting in actual injury	Immediately	WorkSafeNB (both A & B) JHSC/HSR (of A but not B)	Notice to WorkSafeNB may be provided by phone (1 800 222-9775) or Preliminary Report of Incidents Notification Form Means of notifying JHSC and HSR not specified	Company name, address, contact info Nature of incidentDate, time, locationBrief description of incident *Infor -mation about injuries
NL	Fatality to any person Serious injury to any person resulting in: Fracture of skull, spine, pelvis, femur, humerus, fibula, tibia, ulna, radius Amputation of major part of hand or foot Loss of sight in an eye Serious internal hemorrhage Burn requiring medical attention Gas poisoning or asphyxiation causing total or partial loss of physical control *Other injury likely to endanger life or cause serious injury (4) Near misses with potential to cause death or serious injury even if not actually causing such	Immediately	Assistant deputy minister JHSC/HSR	Phone or online	Not specified
NS	Fire, flood, accident causing: Unconsciousness Fracture of skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg, ankle, wrist or major part of hand or foot Loss or amputation of leg, arm, hand, foot, finger or toe Loss of sight in one or both eyes Poisoning or asphyxiation Injury requiring inpatient hospital admission Any injury endangering an employees life(4) Fatality Other Accidents: Accidental explosion Major structural failure or collapse of building or structure Major release of hazardous substance *Falls in situations requiring fall protection, including near misses not involving actual injuries	Within 24 hours	Executive OHS Director or designate JHSC/HSR	Phone or online	Doesnt specify info required but does say that completing WCB Injury Report Form required for workers comp notification (see Table 3 below) will also work for OHS notification purposes if its provided to Exec. OHS Director within 24 hours
ON	A person is killed or critically injured, i.e, suffers injury that.: Places life in jeopardy Produces unconsciousness Results in substantial blood loss Fractures arm or leg (but not finger or toe) Amputates arm, leg or hand (but not finger or toe) Consists of burns to major portion of body *Causes sight loss in an eye	Immediately	MOL inspector JHSC/HSR	Phone or other direct means	Constructor & employer name, addressNature & circum -stances of incident & bodily injury sustainedDescription of machinery or equipment involvedTime and place * Name & address of victim, all witnesses & treating physician or surgeon
PEI	Accident in which worker seriously injured in a way which may cause (including near misses involving potential but not actual): Death Loss of limb Unconsciousness Substantial blood loss Fracture Amputation of leg, arm hand or foot Burn to major portion of body Sight loss in an eye Accidental explosions with or without injuries	Within 24 hours	OHS director or representative JHSC/HSR	Fastest means available	Doesnt specify
QC	Accidents causing: Workers death Workers total or partial loss of limb or its use Significant physical trauma to worker Serious injuries to several workers preventing them from working for at least 1 day *Property damage of $166,612(5) or more	Within 24 hours	CNESST JHSC/HSR	In writing delivered by most rapid means of communication	Doesnt specify
SK	Accidents causing serious bodily injury, i.e., those: Actually causing a workers death That had the potential to but didnt actually cause a workers death, e.g., a near miss A workers hospitalization as an inpatient for at least 72 hours Dangerous occurrences, i.e., those that could have but didnt result in workers serious bodily injury, including: Structural failure or collapse of structure, scaffold, temporary falsework or concrete framework, all or part of an excavated shaft, tunnel, caisson, coffer dam, trench or excavation Failure of crane or hoist Overturning of crane or unit of powered mobile equipment Accidental contact with energized elec. conductor Bursting of grinding wheel Uncontrolled spill or escape of toxic, corrosive or explosive substance Premature or accidental detonation of explosives Failure of elevated or suspended platform Failure of atmosphere-supplying respirator	As soon as reasonably possible	OHS Division JHSC co-chairs/HSR	Phone notice + written notice by personal delivery or fax, courier or post	For serious bodily injury accidents:Name of each dead or injured workerName of each victims employerDate, time, location Circum- stances of accident Apparent injuries Name, fax, phone of employer /contractor or designated contact For dangerous occurrence accidents: Name of each employer, contractor & owner at site Date, time, location Circum- stances of accident Name, fax, phone of employer / contractor or designated contact
NT/NU	Accidents causing serious bodily injury, i.e., those: Actually causes an individuals death That had the potential to but didnt actually cause an individuals death, e.g., a near miss An individuals hospitalization as an inpatient for at least 24 hours Dangerous occurrences, i.e., those that could have but didnt result in an individuals serious bodily injury, including: Structural failure or collapse of structure, scaffold, temporary falsework or concrete framework, all or part of an excavated shaft, tunnel, caisson, coffer dam, trench or excavation Failure of crane or hoist Overturning of crane or unit of powered mobile equipment Accidental contact with energized elec. conductor Bursting of grinding wheel Uncontrolled spill or escape of toxic, corrosive or explosive substance Premature or accidental detonation of explosives Failure of elevated or suspended platform Failure of atmosphere-supplying respirator	As soon as reasonably possible	Chief Safety Officer JHSC/HSR (with victims names redacted)	Phone notice + written notice	For serious bodily injury accidents:Name of each dead or injured individualName of each dead or injured workerName of each victims employer Date, time, location Circum -stances of accident Apparent injuries Name, fax, phone of employer or designated contact For dangerous occurrence accidents: Name of each employer, principal contractor & owner at site Date, time, location Circum -stances of accident *Name, fax, phone of employer or designated contact
YK	Serious injury, i.e.: Injury resulting in death Fracture of major bone, including skull, spine, pelvis or femur Amputation (other than finger or toe) Loss of sight in an eye Internal bleeding Third degree burns Dysfunction caused by concussion, electrical contact, lack of oxygen or poisoning Injury causing paralysis (permanent loss of function) Serious accident, i.e.: Uncontrolled explosion Failure of safety device on hoist, hoist mechanism or hoist rope Collapse or failure or collapse of load-bearing component of buidling or structure Collapse or failure of temporary support structure Inrush of water in underground working Collapse or cave-in of trench, excavation wall, underground working or stockpile Accidental release of a hazardous product Brake failure on powered mobile equipment causing a runaway *Any accident that likely would have caused serious injury but for safety precautions, rescue or just dumb luck	Immediately or as soon as reasonably practicable	Safety officer or his/her office	Unspecified	Un- specified

NOTES
(1) Table 1 shows incident notification rules for general industry; most jurisdictions have separate and more stringent reporting requirements for mines and mining plants and other high-risk operations
(2) Alberta requirements are based on Bill 30, which takes effect on June 1, 2018
(3) Immediate injury notification in New Brunswick not required if workplace is a vehicle and employee is injured on a highway or public road
(4) Immediate notification in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia doesnt include injuries that may be treated with first aid or medical treatment and from which worker can return to work either immediately or for next scheduled shift
(5) In Québec, the threshold property damage amount for reporting is adjusted annually for inflation