What to Include in an Incident Report (With a Free Template)

An incident report details an incident that has occurred, allows for an investigation into the causes of the incident, and attempts to limit the impacts of similar future incidents. The report could detail an injury to a worker, damage to company property, or a near-miss event and provide a basis for the organisation’s safety team to take appropriate action.

What information should an incident report include?

Useful incident reports contain the date and time of an incident, the location of an incident, who was involved in an incident, and a full description of what happened. Reports should also record any injury, property damage or potential hazard, and the immediate action taken to contain the incident.

Supporting evidence, such as photographs, witness statements, and relevant documents, can help establish the facts. Once the initial details are recorded, the investigation should identify contributing factors and recommend corrective actions, including who is responsible and when improvements should be completed.

How can you use a simple incident report template?

A practical template makes reporting easier and ensures important information is not overlooked. Start with the incident reference number, date, time, location, and incident type. Add the names and roles of those involved, a factual description of the event, details of any injuries or damage, and the immediate response. Include supporting evidence, investigation findings, recommended corrective actions, responsible persons, and the final review status.

An incident management tool can help standardise this process, while accident management software makes it easier to investigate incidents, assign responsibilities and monitor outstanding actions. Always protect confidential information and follow applicable recordkeeping requirements.

SiteChief helps businesses organise incident reports, investigations and corrective actions through its digital safety management platform. Discover more at sitechief.com.