When something goes wrong on site, two separate reporting systems can apply in Alberta — OHS (the safety regulator) and WCB (the workers' compensation insurer). They have different triggers and different timelines, and confusing the two is a common and costly mistake. Here's how they fit together.
Two systems, two purposes
Alberta OHS must be notified of the most serious events so the regulator can investigate and, where needed, preserve the scene. WCB-Alberta must be notified of work-related injuries and illnesses so a worker's claim can be handled. A single incident can trigger both, one, or neither.
What must be reported to Alberta OHS
Under the OHS Act, employers must notify OHS of certain potentially serious incidents and serious outcomes. Broadly, these include:
- An injury or incident that results in death.
- An injury or incident that results in a worker being admitted to hospital.
- An unplanned or uncontrolled explosion, fire, or flood that causes or has the potential to cause a serious injury.
- The collapse or upset of a crane, derrick or hoist.
- The collapse or failure of a structure, scaffold, or excavation, and similar dangerous occurrences with the potential for serious harm.
When one of these occurs, there are two obligations: notify OHS as soon as possible, and preserve the scene — the incident site generally must not be disturbed except to attend to the injured, prevent further harm, or as authorized by an officer. Where a potentially serious incident occurs, the employer must also investigate and prepare a report, and make it available to OHS on request.
When in doubt, call. Alberta's OHS Contact Centre can confirm whether an event is reportable. It's far better to make a call that turns out to be unnecessary than to miss a reportable incident.
What must be reported to WCB
Employers must report a work-related injury or illness to WCB-Alberta when it results in more than first aid — for example, lost time beyond the day of injury, modified work, the need for medical treatment beyond first aid, or ongoing disability. The employer's report to WCB is generally required within 72 hours of becoming aware that the injury is reportable.
Not every scrape is a WCB claim — genuine first-aid-only cases that don't require treatment beyond first aid generally aren't reported to WCB, but you should still record them internally in a first aid record.
Timelines at a glance
- Serious/potentially serious incidents → OHS: notify as soon as possible; preserve the scene; investigate and report.
- Reportable injuries → WCB: employer report generally within 72 hours.
- First-aid-only cases: record internally in your first aid records.
The records employers should keep
Regardless of external reporting, keep your own documentation for every incident and near miss:
- Incident / near-miss report — what happened, when, who was involved, conditions.
- Investigation — root cause and contributing factors.
- Corrective actions — what changed to prevent recurrence, tracked to completion.
- First aid records — for treatment that didn't rise to a WCB report.
Near misses matter: investigating a near miss with serious-harm potential is exactly the kind of proactive practice COR auditors look for, and it's how you prevent the next incident from being a reportable one.
Never scramble for an incident record again
Berg Safety Management captures incidents, near misses and first-aid cases with corrective actions — keeping both OHS and WCB documentation organized and ready.
Book a DemoThis article is general information, not legal advice, and is simplified for clarity. Reporting obligations and thresholds are set by the current Alberta OHS Act, Regulation and Code and by WCB-Alberta, and can change. Always confirm against the current legislation or with Alberta OHS and WCB-Alberta for your specific situation.