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Incident report form template

A comprehensive form for documenting workplace incidents, accidents, injuries and near misses. Ensures incidents are reported consistently and meets WHS compliance requirements.

Incident report form

PDF format • Ready to download

Meets WHS documentation requirements
Covers all incident types (injury, near miss, damage)
Includes witness and investigation sections
Tracks immediate and corrective actions

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Safety officer reviewing incident documentation

Why you need an incident report form

Under Australian WHS laws, businesses must record workplace incidents, injuries and near misses. A standardised incident report form ensures all relevant information is captured consistently and meets your compliance obligations.

Proper incident documentation helps identify hazards and prevent future accidents. It also provides critical evidence if an incident results in a workers' compensation claim or investigation by a safety regulator.

This form covers injuries, near misses, property damage and other workplace incidents, making it versatile for all types of safety reporting.

Key features of this form

Designed to meet WHS requirements and support investigations

Structured reporting

Systematic format to capture all critical details of the incident.

Incident classification

Categories for different incident types (injury, near miss, property damage).

Detailed description

Space to document exactly what happened and immediate actions taken.

People involved

Record details of injured parties, witnesses and first responders.

Investigation notes

Section for initial findings and contributing factors.

Timestamp record

Precise time and date logging for incident and response actions.

What's included in this form

Comprehensive sections for complete incident documentation

Incident details

Date, time, location and type of incident (injury, near miss, property damage, etc.).

Reporter information

Name, position and contact details of the person submitting the report.

Injured party details

Information about anyone injured, including nature and location of injuries.

Incident description

Detailed account of what happened, including sequence of events and conditions.

Immediate action taken

First aid provided, emergency services called, hazards made safe, etc.

Witness statements

Names and accounts from anyone who saw the incident occur.

Contributing factors

Environmental conditions, equipment issues or other factors that may have contributed.

Corrective actions

Immediate steps taken to prevent recurrence and recommended improvements.

Supervisor review

Space for manager to add comments and confirm investigation completion.

Signatures

Sign-off from reporter, supervisor and safety officer where applicable.

When to use this form

Essential for workplace safety and compliance

What incidents should be reported

Any workplace injury, no matter how minor, should be documented. This includes cuts, strains, slips, trips and falls. Near misses - incidents that could have caused injury but didn't - should also be reported as they help identify hazards.

Property damage, equipment failures, security incidents and dangerous occurrences should all be recorded using this form. Notifiable incidents under WHS laws require additional reporting to the regulator.

Reporting timeframes

Incidents should be reported as soon as possible after they occur, ideally within 24 hours. This ensures details are fresh and corrective actions can be taken promptly.

Serious incidents that require notification to the WHS regulator must be reported immediately by phone, followed by written notification within required timeframes.

Investigation and follow-up

After an incident is reported, a supervisor or safety officer should review the form, investigate contributing factors and determine corrective actions. The form should be kept on file as part of your WHS records and reviewed periodically to identify trends.

Legal disclaimer

This template is designed to reflect Australian workplace standards and WHS legislation at the time of publication. It is provided as a general guide only and does not constitute legal advice.

You should review and tailor this template to suit your business, industry, specific hazards and workplace circumstances. For notifiable incidents or complex safety matters, seek independent legal or WHS advice.

Regulatory sources

This template is aligned with Australian workplace health and safety requirements.

Ready to improve your incident reporting?

Download our Incident Report form template and ensure all workplace incidents are documented properly.

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