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Incident Reporting Flowchart

Incident Reporting and Supervisor Accident Investigation
WSU Pullman, College of Arts and Sciences

In the event of an emergency, call 911.

This interactive guide will assist you in reporting workplace injuries, illnesses, or near-miss incidents.

If an incident has occurred, the first step is to submit an online Incident Report.

Once submitted, please return to this guide to complete any remaining steps. Finishing the process ensures proper documentation and supports a safer workplace.

Curious about near miss incidents?

A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury but had the potential to do so. Reporting near misses is a proactive measure to help prevent future incidents. The purpose of reporting a near miss incident is to improve safety, not to assign blame.

  • Chemical Spill Without Exposure
    A sealed bottle of corrosive acid slipped from a lab bench and cracked, spilling a small amount onto the floor. No one was injured, and no skin contact occurred, but if someone had been working nearby, they could have been exposed had they been closer.
  • Needle Stick with Contaminated Sample—Almost
    While disposing of a used syringe containing blood samples, a researcher missed the sharps container and nearly punctured their hand when reaching to catch it. The needle landed harmlessly on the benchtop, but a slip in timing or angle could have led to a potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
  • Centrifuge Tube Shatters Mid-Spin
    A researcher unknowingly loaded a cracked tube of bacterial culture into the centrifuge. Midway through the cycle, the tube shattered. The rotor stayed sealed, preventing exposure—but if it had been an unsealed unit, aerosolized pathogens could have contaminated the lab and exposed staff.
  • Pressurized Gas Cylinder Tipped
    A gas cylinder was briefly left unsecured and tipped over when bumped. It did not fall completely, but it could have caused serious injury or property damage if it had hit someone or if the regulator had broken off.
  • Unexpected Reaction Causes Flash Fire
    A student added a solvent to a reaction flask without realizing it contained residual reactive material. A small flash fire erupted but self-extinguished quickly. No one was burned, but hair and eyebrows were singed—had they leaned in a bit further, it could have been much worse.
  • Cryogen Spill Nearly Causes Asphyxiation
    While transferring liquid nitrogen, a dewar tipped and spilled into a poorly ventilated cold room. The researcher left quickly after noticing dizziness—had they stayed longer, oxygen displacement could have led to unconsciousness.
  • Laser Beam Strikes Unprotected Eye Area
    A researcher was aligning an optical setup and bypassed protective eyewear “just for a second.” The laser beam reflected off a metal surface and narrowly missed direct eye contact. No damage occurred, but a small shift in angle could have led to permanent eye injury.

Please answer the following questions to determine the appropriate reporting steps. Multiple forms may be required.

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