Free · Certificate included
Incident Reporting
Document and report incidents accurately to protect everyone involved.
What you’ll learn
- Tell the difference between an incident and a near-miss — and report both
- Document facts, not opinions: who, what, when, and where
- Report promptly and route the report up the right notification chain
- Protect confidentiality and support a no-blame reporting culture
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Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
Incident vs. near-miss: what to report
An incident is any unplanned event that caused — or could have caused — harm to a person, damage to property, or a breach of trust.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 2
Why reporting matters
Filling out a form after a stressful event can feel like busywork.
5 min Quiz - 3
What to document: facts, not opinions
The golden rule of incident reporting is simple: record what you observed, not what you concluded.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 4
Timeliness & the report form
A report is only as good as the memory behind it — and memory fades fast.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 5
The notification chain & confidentiality
A report that sits in a drawer helps no one.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 6
No-blame culture & following up
Here’s the paradox of incident reporting: the organizations that most need reports are often the ones where people are most afraid to file them.
5 min Quiz Interactive
Sources & further reading
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Recordkeeping — Forms 300, 300A & 301 (Injury and Illness)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — Template for a Near-Miss Reporting Policy
- Nonprofit Risk Management Center — How to Build and Fortify a Critical Incident Process
- SECURA Insurance — Reporting Near Misses
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