How to File a Construction Accident Report in Connecticut: A Step-by-Step Guide

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Key Takeaways

• Act fast. *Make the scene safe and get medical help first.*
• Document immediately. Start an internal incident report the same day while memories are fresh.
• Know OSHA timelines. Fatalities: 8 hours. Hospitalizations/amputations/eye losses: 24 hours.
• Collect evidence. Photos, witness statements, equipment and training records matter.
• Follow up. Assign corrective actions, track completion, and retain records.

What Is a Construction Accident Report?

An incident or construction accident report is a written record documenting injuries, illnesses, near misses, property damage, vehicle incidents, or other safety events that occur on a jobsite. It is normally completed by a supervisor or safety manager and retained for compliance, insurance claims, workers’ compensation, and internal safety improvements. For background on workers’ compensation context, see workers’ compensation benefits in Connecticut.

What Triggers a Report?

Not every minor scrape requires the same documentation. Document formally when you have:

• Any injury requiring medical treatment beyond basic first aid
• Loss of consciousness
• Restricted duty or time away from work
• Significant property damage
• Vehicle crashes involving company vehicles or occurring in/near the work zone
• Equipment failures that could have caused harm

Reporting vs. Documenting

Reporting is notifying an outside agency (OSHA, emergency services). Documenting is completing your internal incident forms and preserving facts for your records. Both are important; you will almost always document internally, and reporting to OSHA depends on severity.

Immediate Actions After a Construction Incident

The first hour after an accident is critical. Prioritize safety, then documentation. Follow this checklist:

• Stop work in the affected area; remove people from danger and control hazards.
• Call 911 for life-threatening injuries—do not delay.
• Provide first aid within your training; do not move injured people unless necessary.
• Preserve the scene. Leave tools and equipment in place if safe; take photos before clean-up.
• Identify and separate witnesses. Collect independent accounts before they discuss the event.

If a Vehicle Crash Is Involved

Vehicles are common on construction sites—work trucks, deliveries, and equipment. Connecticut law requires a driver involved in a crash causing death, serious injury, or property damage to stop, render assistance, and provide identifying information. From a practical standpoint, authorities recommend guidance such as what to do after a car accident in CT and specific emergency steps in the call 911 car accident protocol.

Note: this is traffic law and safety guidance, not OSHA reporting. However, vehicle crashes on site may still require internal documentation and possible OSHA notification if serious injuries occurred.

Who Is Responsible for Filing?

Multiple parties may be involved on busy sites. Typical responsibilities:

• Employer or controlling contractor: Usually responsible for OSHA notifications and maintaining safety records. See guidance on subcontractor injury liability in CT.
• Site supervisors and safety managers: Complete internal reports and gather witness statements.
• Subcontractors: May need to report to both their company and the general contractor per contract/site rules.
• Employees: Should report incidents immediately and cooperate with fact-finding.

Timeline Guidance

Typical timing:

• Immediately: Emergency response and securing the scene
• Same shift/day: Begin internal incident report
• Within OSHA windows: Report externally if incident meets reportable criteria (see next section)

OSHA Reporting Requirements in Connecticut

Connecticut follows federal OSHA rules. Understand the difference between reportable and recordable.

Reportable vs. Recordable

Reportable: Events that must be notified to OSHA immediately: fatality; inpatient hospitalization; amputation; loss of an eye.
Recordable: Injuries that must be entered on OSHA forms (300, 301, 300A) if your company is required to keep logs—this includes cases with days away, restricted duty, or medical treatment beyond first aid.

OSHA Reporting Deadlines

Deadlines begin when the employer learns of the event:

• Fatality: Report within 8 hours
• Hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss: Report within 24 hours

How to Report to OSHA

You can:

• Call OSHA’s 24-hour hotline: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
• Use OSHA’s online reporting form at osha.gov
• Contact your nearest OSHA Area Office (use OSHA’s office locator)

Have the following ready: business and site location, contact person and phone, date/time, number affected, brief description, and type of outcome.

Common Misconceptions

“Sent to urgent care = OSHA reportable.” Not necessarily. Inpatient hospitalization means admission, not a treated-and-released ER/urgent care visit.
“Near miss = must report to OSHA.” Near misses are not OSHA-reportable but should be documented internally to prevent future injuries.

How to File a Construction Accident Report: The Internal Process

Follow these practical steps day-to-day:

Step 1: Secure Medical Care and Make the Area Safe

Get injured workers care and control hazards. Nothing is more important than life and safety.

Step 2: Notify Your Internal Chain of Command

Alert foreman, superintendent, safety manager, project manager, and HR as required by your company.

Step 3: Start the Incident Report the Same Day

Begin a written report immediately. Record facts—weather, lighting, specific work, tools/equipment, and PPE used.

Step 4: Collect Evidence

Gather photos, videos, equipment info, inspection tags, JHAs, safety meeting logs, and training records.

Step 5: Get Witness Statements

Record names, employers, contact info, and exact observations in the witness’s own words. Take statements separately to avoid contamination.

Step 6: Write the Supervisor Narrative

Provide a factual timeline and immediate actions taken. Stick to observations and documented evidence.

Step 7: Determine If OSHA Reporting Is Required

Compare the incident to OSHA criteria. If unsure, err on the side of reporting or call OSHA for guidance.

Step 8: Handle Workers’ Compensation and Insurance Notifications

Notify your workers’ compensation carrier as required by your insurer or third-party administrator. For information about eligibility, see workers’ compensation eligibility in Connecticut.

Step 9: File Records and Schedule Follow-Up

Store reports, photos, statements, and training records together. Assign corrective actions with responsible persons and due dates, and document completion.

Site Incident Report Template for Connecticut Construction

Use this adaptable outline for internal reporting:

Header Information

• Project name and address
• General contractor and subcontractor names
• Report number, date/time created, and preparer

Injured Person Information

• Full name, employer, job title/trade, contact info
• Shift start time and tenure in position

Incident Basics

• Date/time, exact location on site, task being performed, crew size

Incident Type & Injury Details

• Categories: injury/illness, near miss, property damage, vehicle incident, equipment failure
• Body part, nature of injury, first aid, treatment location, transport method

Witnesses, Equipment, PPE, and Narrative

• Witness contact info and separate statements
• Equipment make/model/serial and last inspection
• PPE and safeguards in place
• Objective, time-stamped supervisor narrative

Root Cause, Corrective Actions, OSHA Evaluation, and Sign-Offs

Document causal categories, corrective actions with owners and dates, OSHA evaluation (8/24-hour criteria), and sign-offs from supervisor, safety manager, and project manager.

If the Incident Involved a Roadway Crash

Police crash reports can be important for insurance and internal files. Connecticut issues an “Accident Information Summary” and posts official crash reports online in about 10 business days. For details on obtaining crash paperwork see Connecticut MV-104 accident report. Attach police reports to your incident file when relevant.

Recordkeeping, Retention, and Common Mistakes

Keep all incident materials together and accessible to safety and HR teams. If required, enter recordable injuries on the OSHA 300 Log and post 300A summaries as required.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting too long to write the report
• Recording opinions instead of observable facts
• Missing witness contact information
• Failing to document corrective actions
• Confusing “reportable” and “recordable”
• Missing OSHA deadlines

Additional Resources

For context on seasonal risk factors and legal context after a serious jobsite injury, see summer construction accidents and who can sue after a construction accident in CT.

About the Author

Lou Etemi is a Connecticut personal injury lawyer and co-founder of Etemi Law who represents individuals and families injured by negligence. He has helped hundreds of clients resolve serious injury claims by combining disciplined case preparation, medical understanding, and persistent negotiation with insurance companies. Lou is known for his hands-on advocacy, strong client relationships, and client-first approach to accountability and fair compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When must I call OSHA?

If the incident involves a fatality, call OSHA within 8 hours. For inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye, call within 24 hours. If you’re unsure, report or call OSHA for guidance.

Q: Is a trip to urgent care OSHA-reportable?

No—an urgent care visit or an ER visit without admission is not considered an inpatient hospitalization. It may still be OSHA-recordable depending on treatment beyond first aid and other factors.

Q: Who completes the internal incident report?

Site supervisors or safety managers usually complete the internal report and gather witness statements; the employer or controlling contractor is typically responsible for OSHA notifications and recordkeeping.

Q: How long should I keep incident records?

Keep incident reports, photos, witness statements, and corrective action documentation in your safety/HR files. OSHA-recordkeeping rules dictate retention for OSHA logs where applicable; otherwise follow your company and insurer policies.

This article provides general information about construction accident reporting in Connecticut. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For specific incidents or legal obligations, consult a qualified attorney or safety professional.