An incident is an unplanned, undesired event that hinders completion of a task and may cause injury, illness, property damage, or some combination of all three in varying degrees. 

Who Can Submit a Report?

All incidents occurring at UPEI need to be reported. Incident reports may be submitted by workers, students, contractors, campus visitors, or through anonymous submissions.

Reports can be submitted via email, in-person, UPEI SAFE app, etc. 

Types of Incidents

Reports received by HSE can vary widely and may include injuries or occupational illnesses, slips, trips, or falls, health and safety concerns, near misses, chemical or environmental exposures, animal bites, air quality complaints, etc. 

If injured, the person should

• seek medical attention and/or first aid immediately. All serious injuries should be immediately reported to the UPEI HSE Manager at 902-566-0516 or to Security at 902-566-0384.

You’ve Submitted an Incident Report. Now What?

All incident reports received by HSE are treated confidentially.

Response Time:

HSE aims to acknowledge all reports within 24 hours during regular business hours. Reports submitted during weekends or holidays are addressed on the next regular workday.

*Emergencies: call Security at (902) 566-0834 or HSE Manager at (902) 213-3183.

What Happens After You Submit a Report?

1. Acknowledgment

• HSE will confirm receipt of the report (unless submitted anonymously).
• Additional information from the writer may be requested if clarification is needed.

2. Initial Review

• HSE reviews the report to determine the next steps. This may include
  • forwarding the report to the individual’s supervisor and requesting an action plan from the supervisor (due within 72 hours); and
  • requesting supporting documents from the supervisor (ex. SOPs, protocols, photos). If a supervisor does not respond within 72 hours, a reminder is sent. If needed, their supervisor is also informed.
  • Incidents of serious injury require HSE to report immediately to WCB.
    • HSE may instruct Writer/Supervisor to leave the scene untouched for WCB investigation, if required.

Once HSE determines all necessary information is received:

• HSE reviews and may provide recommendations or solutions to help prevent future recurrence.
• If necessary, HSE may share the report (with personal information removed) with other departments for action. The person who submitted the report is notified of this action and updated with any relevant outcomes.

4. Closure

Once HSE determines that appropriate action has been taken, the file is closed. The reporter is notified, and all related materials (emails, forms, documents, photos) are securely stored.

Reporting and Statistics

• A monthly summary of incident reports is provided to the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC), with all identifying details removed.

Join virtual activities to celebrate Safety and Health Week. Sign up for free, live, online sessions.

Beginning May 5, enter a safety tip for your work area for a chance to win! Email HSE@upei.ca with subject line: SAFETY TIP, and include your name, department, type of work area (lab, office, etc.), and your safety tip! Safety tips will be accepted and entered into the draw until May 15, 2026.