What Is a Construction Incident Report and Why Is It Important?

Accidents can happen in any workplace and even best-laid plans can go awry. The construction industry continues to be one of the most high-risk industries to work in. In the UK, there were 51 fatal injuries to workers during 2023/24, which is above the annual average of 42 fatalities from 2019 to 2023.

A thorough construction incident report is paramount to identifying future risks and develop better safety protocols.

What Is a Construction Incident Report?

A construction incident report is a document that recounts an incident that has occurred on a construction site. It’s a significant step in helping to identify the cause(s) of an incident and is vitally important for preventing similar incidents occurring in the future.

The immediate feedback you have from an incident report allows you to effectively and promptly address potential issues. Doing so can keep projects on track, mitigate risk and avoid penalties from regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). For example, if an worker comes across a poorly fitted electrical installation during an inspection, they should file an incident report immediately. This will allow the organisation to honour its responsibility to ensure it will not happen again.

Sparing a moment to file an incident report on a construction site is difficult. However, it is well worth the effort for its role in risk management.

What Fields Are Included in a Construction Incident Report?

There are key pieces of information that need to be included in a construction incident report, to create as vivid a picture as possible. Areas that need to be included are:

• Date and time of incident.
• Location of incident.

Both of these fields are important for figuring out the when and where of an accident. This also gives valuable insights into the mindsets of employees. For example if the incident occurs in the later half of the day, it may indicate there aren’t enough mitigation measures to protect against tiredness and human errors.

• Description of incident.
• Weather and site conditions.

Be as detailed and specific as possible in these two sections. These descriptors of the scenario will set the scene of the incident and will provide valuable information about the cause of the accident. For example, if an employee falls from height during high winds, the weather could likely have contributed to the incident.

• Names, roles, and contact details of witnesses.
• Details of any personnel involved.
• Photographs of the incident.

Witnesses and photographs are essential to the reporting process, as their account of events will help to piece together the sequence of events that led to the incident. The details of personnel and witnesses will also help to ensure that every opinion is accounted for and there is no confusion about who was present.

• Details of any equipment involved.

Documenting the equipment involved might help point to any equipment faults or failures that contributed to the accident, so it may be replaced o repaired before causing further damage.

• Details of any corrective or preventive measures taken.
• Recommendations to prevent future incidents.

Listing the information above is important for holding the relevant stakeholders accountable. If the appropriate recommendations and corrective measures are not made, organisations run the risk of another accident occurring which could have dire consequences, Conducting a new risk assessment will be essential to identifying any unidentified hazards.

What Types of Incidents Need to Be Recorded in the Incident Report?

Effective incident reporting is crucial for maintaining a safe construction site and ensuring compliance with legal and organisational safety standards. Construction sites, rife with potential hazards, necessitate a robust system for properly classifying and recording incidents. Classifications which are commonly used include:

Serious/Catastrophic Events

These incidents have devastating consequences, including death, permanent disability, or severe temporary harm. According to the HSE, falls from height made up 52% of fatal injuries by accident kind in construction. A worker falling from a poorly secured scaffolding resulting in spinal injuries would be categorised as a serious event.

First Aid-Only Events

First aid-only events involve minor injuries that can be treated on-site without requiring medical intervention, such as:

• Small cuts
• Abrasions
• Minor burns

A worker might scrape their hand while handling rough materials. Though seemingly trivial, these events should still be documented to identify recurring hazards and enhance workplace safety practices.

Medical-Only Events

Medical-only events involve injuries necessitating professional medical treatment but not resulting in hospitalisation or lost work time. For example, a worker suffering a deep laceration from a sharp tool that requires stitches at a clinic. 

Recordable Events

Recordable events are defined by their severity and the legal obligation to document them. These include incidents that result in:

• Time away from work.
• Restricted duties during recovery.
• Medical treatment beyond initial first aid.

A worker who sprains their ankle severely on uneven ground and requires physiotherapy qualifies as a recordable event. Such documentation is often required by regulatory bodies, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Report-Only Events

Report-only events, commonly referred to as "near misses," are incidents that could have caused harm but did not. For instance, a steel beam might slip from a crane and land in a vacant area, narrowly missing workers. Although no injuries occurred there is a chance something could have happened. Reporting these events is crucial as they offer immediate feedback on gaps in your health and safety protocols.

Lost Time Events

Lost time events occur when an injury or illness prevents a worker from performing their regular duties. A construction worker could sustain a back injury from lifting heavy materials, requiring rest and recovery. Tracking these incidents is essential for assessing workplace safety performance and understanding the economic impact of injuries. Assessing the economic impact of these incidents also helps with securing stronger buy in from stakeholders.

Why is Proper Classification Important?

Proper documentation of events helps track these incidents for trend analysis and compliance with reporting regulations. Accurate classification and recording of incidents enable organisations to pinpoint recurring hazards, refine safety protocols, and comply with legal obligations, such as the Health and Safety Act 1974. By systematically addressing these categories, construction sites can create a safer work environment, reduce incident rates, and improve worker confidence.

Common Types of Incidents Which Happen in Construction

The construction industry is inherently high-risk, with workers frequently exposed to hazardous conditions. The number and variety of hazards on a construction site can vary wildly depending on the type of job. However, there are a number of hazards and construction injuries which you should always consider as possibility.

Falls from Heights

As we mentioned earlier, working at heights is one of the most significant risk factors in construction as they cover over half of the fatal injuries that occurred in 2024/25. For example, a worker installing roof shingles without a properly secured harness might lose footing, falling 20 feet and sustaining fractures.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Simple oversights often lead to slips, trips, and falls. An employee slipping on a wet concrete slab caused by rain without warning signs could suffer a sprained ankle. Similarly, tools scattered across a messy site may cause a worker to trip and injure their wrist. 

Electrical Hazards

Electrical risks can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. A labourer using a faulty extension cord might experience an electric shock due to poor maintenance practices. Additionally, contact with overhead power lines during crane operations could cause arc flash injuries, demonstrating the importance of equipment inspections and clear marking of power line locations.

Struck-by Hazards

Struck-by hazards are another leading cause of injuries in construction with lots of large objects and cars moving. A carpenter struck by a loose steel beam during crane hoisting might suffer a concussion, while debris falling unexpectedly during demolition could break a worker's shoulder. These events underscore the necessity of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring proper communication during operations involving heavy loads.

Caught-in or Caught-Between Hazards

Mechanical equipment and unstable environments often pose risks of entrapment. A worker’s hand caught in an unguarded conveyor belt might sustain severe lacerations. In trench work, an improperly shored wall collapse could trap a worker, causing serious leg injuries.

Fire/Explosion Hazards

Fire and explosions, though less frequent, can be catastrophic. Improper storage of flammable liquids near welding activities might cause a fire, burning nearby workers. A gas leak in poorly maintained pipelines could lead to an explosion, severely injuring those nearby.

Toxic Material Hazards

Exposure to hazardous substances remains a significant concern. Workers removing old asbestos insulation may develop respiratory issues over time, while improper handling of industrial cleaning agents could result in chemical burns. 

Noise Hazards

Prolonged exposure to high-decibel equipment like drills can cause permanent hearing loss in workers lacking ear protection. A sudden explosion might temporarily impair hearing in nearby employees. 

Heavy Equipment Hazards

Heavy machinery incidents are often severe. A bulldozer operator backing into a labourer standing in a blind spot could cause significant injuries. Similarly, a malfunctioning forklift dropping its load might narrowly avoid injuring workers but still cause costly equipment damage. 

Heat-Related Hazards

Construction workers often face extreme temperatures. A labourer installing asphalt under the sun might collapse from heat stroke due to insufficient hydration. Similarly, prolonged exposure during steel-reinforcing tasks could lead to heat exhaustion for a welder.

Learning to File a Construction Incident Report

To file an effective incident report, stakeholders must have the proper training from a reputable training provider. We have been providing construction health and safety training to the industry for well over a decade. For those looking to understand construction incident reporting in great detail, we recommend the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction course. It is available in a variety of circumstances such as:

• Online
• Virtual
• Classroom

The qualification, linked below, is aimed at anyone who manages health and safety in construction in their role. It will give you an understanding of all health and safety responsibilities, requirements and duties of the latest construction industry regulations.