Digital Injury Report Forms

In this article

• Why is Timely Reporting Important?
• What to Include in an Injury Report Form
• Do’s and Dont’s When Filling Out This Form
• FAQs about Injury Report Forms
• Efficiently Report Work-Related Injuries with SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor)
• Related Injury Report Forms and Checklists

Why is Timely Reporting Important?

Timely reporting of injuries and similar workplace incidents is crucial to workplace safety for many reasons. For one, it swiftly informs supervisors and relevant authorities about an injury that has fallen upon an employee. This way, the injured individual can receive the assistance they need, may it be through medical treatment or preventive measures.

In addition, filling out an injury report form in the soonest time is key to obtaining an accurate account of the incident. This practice allows employees to capture all essential details while they’re still fresh in the memory of the individuals and witnesses involved. Having a reliable injury record can aid in resolving any subsequent legal and insurance disputes.

Lastly, employers can use these accounts to identify trends and patterns in their organization or work environment. By consistently documenting and analyzing reported incidents, they can spot recurring issues or conditions that put their employees at risk. This, in turn, allows them to make informed decisions about preventive measures and safety protocols to reduce the likelihood of future accidents and injuries.

What to Include in an Injury Report Form

An employee report of injury form gives employers and authorities an overview of the injury, its potential causes, and actions taken. For a comprehensive account of the injury, the form should contain the following items:

• Employee name
• Job title of the employee
• Supervisor name
• Date and time of reporting
• Date and time of injury
• Name(s) of witness(es), if any
• Communication with the supervisor
• Site/location where the injury occurred
• Incident description
• Cause(s) of the injury
• Injured body part(s) and description
• Actions taken (e.g., doctor’s visit)
• Previous injuries, if any
• Name and signature of the employee
• Name and signature of the supervisor

The image below shows an example of a digital injury report form for your reference:

Do’s and Dont’s When Filling Out This Form

Just like with incident reporting, it’s important to keep in mind the following best practices and common mistakes to avoid when writing an injury report form:

Do’s

• Report the injury to the supervisor as soon as possible after it happens.
• Give a detailed account of the incident, including the date, time, location, and a thorough description of how the injury occurred.
• Stick to the facts for more accurate documentation of the case.
• If there are witnesses, include their statements in the injury report.
• Seek urgent medical care to ensure that the injury is diagnosed and treated properly.

Dont’s

• Fabricate or exaggerate the information written in the report.
• Speculate or assign blame without concrete evidence.
• Attempt to diagnose the injury unless you’re a trained medical professional.
• Leave out essential details or have blank fields from the report.
• Neglect to follow up on recommended actions from the employer or medical provider.