Table of Contents
Accidents, Incidents and Investigations in the Workplace
Date Modified: July 2022
Prepared by CCOHS
Listed below are selected sections of legislation which refer to general inspection procedures and steps to be undertaken after accidents and incidents in the workplace. Specific environments and situations, such as evacuations from confined spaces, may require tailored plans and have dedicated regulation. Legislation interpretation and enforcement varies by jurisdiction. Please see the list of Canadian Government Departments Responsible for Occupational Health and Safety (http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt.html) for contact information. For a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the legislative requirements please review the Canadian enviroOSH Legislationplus Standards service.
This list is prepared by CCOHS as part of the Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards . This service is a comprehensive and easy to search compilation of the full text of Canadian health, safety and environmental legislation and critical guidelines and codes of practice from all jurisdictions. All the legislation is compiled into one convenient location and is regularly updated with amendments highlighted.
Subscribers to this service and paid learners of the CCOHS e-courses have access to the full text of the legislation listed in this document. To become a subscriber please contact Client Services .
Canada
Canada Labour Code, (Part II - Occupational Safety and Health) (R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2)
Section 125, Specific duties of employer
Section 125.1, Further specific duties of employer
Section 125.2, Employer to provide information in emergency
Section 126, Health and safety matters
Section 127, Interference at accident scene prohibited
Section 127.1, Complaint to supervisor
Section 134.1, Establishment mandatory (Policy Health and Safety Committees)
Section 135, Establishment mandatory (Work Place Health and Safety Committees)
Section 136, Appointment of health and safety representative
Canada Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (SOR/86-304)
Section 11.06, Emergency Procedures and Equipment
Part XV, Hazardous Occurrence Investigation, Recording and Reporting
Part XVII, Safe Occupancy of the Workplace
Section 17.3, Fire Protection Equipment
Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act (S.C. 1989, c. 3),
Transportation Safety Board Regulations (SOR/2014-37)
Alberta
Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.A. 2020, c. O-2.2)
Part 7, Compliance and Enforcement
Section 33, Serious injuries, illnesses, incidents and worker exposure to radiation
See also:
Part 2, Health and Safety Committees, Representatives and Programs
Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alta. Reg. 191/2021)
Section 182, Duty to report injury or illness
Section 183, Record of injury or illness
Section 182, Duty to report injury or illness
Part 27, Violence and Harassment
Section 544, Reporting dangerous occurrences
Section 688, Unsafe conditions
See also:
British Columbia
As made under the Workers Compensation Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 492),
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97}
Part 3, Rights and Responsibilities
Section 3.3, Contents of program
Section 3.5, General requirement
Section 3.7, Special inspections
Section 3.8, Participation of the committee or representative
Section 3.9, Remedy without delay
Section 3.10, Reporting unsafe conditions
Section 3.11, Emergency circumstances
Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements
Section 6.32, Retention of records
See also:
Guide to Occupational Health and Safety Information in British Columbia (Seventh Edition 2010)
OHS Guidelines - Part 3 - Rights and Responsibilities (Including but not limited to: G3.28 Participation in employer incident investigations )
Reports of Injuries Regulations (B.C. Reg. 713/74)
Manitoba
Workplace Safety and Health Act (R.S.M. 1987, c. W210)
Section 7.4, Establishment of workplace safety and health program
Section 41.2, Information to committee or representative
Workplace Safety and Health Regulation (Man. Reg. 217/2006)
Section 2.4, Inspections of workplace
Serious Incidents at Workplace
Section 2.6, Definition: "serious incident"
Section 2.7, Notice of serious incident
Section 2.8, Site of serious incident to be preserved
Section 2.9, Investigations: serious incidents and accidents
See also:
Workers Compensation Act (C.C.S.M. c. W200)
New Brunswick
Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.N.B. 1983, c. O-0.2)
Section 8.1, Establishment and filing of safety policy
Section 15, Functions of committee
Section 20, Duty to report and take or recommend remedial action
Section 43, Notices to Commission of injury to employee or accidental explosion or exposure
Newfoundland and Labrador
Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.N.L. 1990, c. O-3)
Section 5, Specific duties of employers
Section 39, Duties of committees
Section 54, Reporting accidents
Section 56, Attendance at accident scene
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 (N.L.R. 5/12)
Section 18, Safety inspections
Part VIII, Machinery and Equipment
Section 88, Safe machinery and equipment
See also:
Section 420, Security and report requirements
Section 516, Rescue from confined space
Northwest Territories
As amended by the Safety Act (R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1),
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (R-039-2015)
Section 28, Investigation of certain accidents
Section 29, Preserving scene of accident causing death
Section 30, Injuries requiring medical treatment
Nova Scotia
Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.N.S. 1996, c. 7)
Section 42, Workplace Monitoring, Measurements and Tests
Occupational Safety General Regulations (N.S. Reg. 44/99)
Section 130, Assessment and written procedures
Nunavut
As made under Safety Act (R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1),
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (R-003-2016)
Section 28, Investigation of certain accidents
Section 29, Preserving scene of accident causing death
Section 30, Injuries requiring medical treatment
Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1)
Sections 8 - 9, Mandatory selection of health and safety representative
Section 51, Notice of death or injury
Section 52, Notice of accident, explosion or fire causing injury
Section 53, Accidents, explosions, etc., at a project site or mine
See also:
Prince Edward Island
Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.P.E.I. 2004, c. 42)
Section 36, Reporting of accidents
Section 37, Accidental explosions
Quebec
Act respecting occupational health and safety (CQLR c. S-2.1)
Part III, Rights and Obligations
Division II, The employer
Part IV, Health and Safety Committees
Part XI, Special Provisions Respecting Construction Sites
Regulation respecting industrial and commercial establishments (CQLR c S-2.1, r.6)
Division XIV, Accident Reports, Medical Examinations and Safety Committees
Section 14.3, Safety committees
Safety Code for the Construction Industry (CQLR c. S-2.1, r. 4)
Division II, General Provisions
Section 2.5.4, Duties of the safety officer
See also:
Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (CQLR c. A-3.001)
Saskatchewan
As made under the Saskatchewan Employment Act (S.S., 2013, c. S-15.1),
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (c. S-15.1 R.10)
Section 2-2, Accidents causing serious bodily injury
Section 3-11, Occupational health and safety program
Section 3-17, Inspection of place of employment
Section 3-18, Investigation of certain accidents
Section 3-19, Prohibition re scene of accident
Section 3-20, Investigation of dangerous occurrences
Section 3-21, Injuries requiring medical treatment
Yukon
Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act (S.Y. 2021, c. 11)
Section 41, Training for committee members and worker health and safety representatives
Section 44, Establishment of health and safety management systems
Section 57, Immediate reporting of serious incidents and injuries
Section 58, Required investigation and report
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (O.I.C. 2006/178)
Section 1.03.01, Hazard assessment
Section 11.04, Training for firefighters
Section 11.05, Rest and rehabilitation
Section 11.06, Personal protective equipment and clothing
Section 11.17, Rescue team assembly
Section 14.12, Immediate notification
Part 18, Minimum First Aid Requirements
Part 19, Violence and Harassment Prevention
Section 19.02, Content of violence and prevention policy statement
Section 19.03, Content of violence and harassment prevention procedures