LOCAL RULES: WAC 296-27-031

Washington incident report requirements

Your Washington incident report has 4 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • A report to DOSH within 8 hours of a death or any inpatient hospitalization
  • A preliminary investigation with the supervisor, witnesses and an employee representative
  • Every OSHA 301 item, completed within 7 calendar days for a recordable case
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Washington runs its own workplace safety program through the Department of Labor and Industries' Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Its rules in WAC 296-27 and 296-800 set faster reporting than the federal rule, keep equipment in place after a serious accident, and require a documented preliminary investigation. Here is each rule with a link to the official text, and how notes become a Washington incident report.

Last reviewed October 12, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Incident reportWASHINGTON / SAMPLE

Sample notes, 140 words

Company: Northgate Fabrication
Site: 1840 Industrial Pkwy, shipping dock 2
Date: 10/08/2026, about 2:15pm
Injured: Luis Romero, material handler, warehouse crew
Supervisor: Tom Reilly
...
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4 Washington rules on your checklist, including a report to DOSH within 8 hours of a death or any inpatient hospitalization.

Still to add

  • NeededType of incident
  • NeededCompleted by
  • RecommendedNotes for damage to property, equipment or the environment

Filled in for you

Company or organizationNorthgate Fabrication
Site address or location1840 Industrial Pkwy, shipping dock 2
Date of the incidentOct 8, 2026
Employee or person involved (full name)Luis Romero, material handler, warehouse crew
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What Washington requires

  • The employer reports to DOSH within eight hours of a work-related incident that results in a fatality or an inpatient hospitalization of any employee, and within 24 hours of one that results in an amputation or loss of an eye without inpatient hospitalization (counted from when the employer learns of it, or learns it was work-related), by telephone to 1-800-4BE-SAFE (1-800-423-7233), in person to the nearest DOSH office, by telephone to 1-800-321-OSHA, or to DOSH by any other meansWAC 296-27-031 (1) to (6)
  • The report to DOSH gives the establishment name; the location, time and date of the incident; the type of reportable event; the number and names of the employees affected; a contact person and phone number; and a brief description of the incidentWAC 296-27-031 (7)
  • A fatality is reported only if it occurs within 30 days of the incident; incidents on a commercial or public transportation system are not reported (but are recorded); a heart attack at work resulting in death or inpatient hospitalization is reported; hospitalization only for observation or diagnostic testing is notWAC 296-27-031 (8) to (11)
  • Equipment involved in a work-related accident that results in a death, inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye is not moved until a Labor and Industries representative investigates and releases it, unless moving it is necessary to remove victims or prevent further incidents and injuriesWAC 296-800-32010
  • For such an incident, the employer assigns the immediate supervisor, employees who witnessed it and others the investigator needs to assist Labor and Industries staff who arrive to investigateWAC 296-800-32015
  • For all serious injuries, a preliminary investigation evaluates the facts relating to the cause of the incident, conducted by a person the employer designates, the injured employee's immediate supervisor, witnesses, an employee representative (such as a shop steward or another person the employees choose) and anyone else with the experience and skills; it notes where and when it happened, who was present, what the employee was doing and what happenedWAC 296-800-32020
  • The employer documents the preliminary investigation findings for use at any formal investigationWAC 296-800-32025

Report to DOSH within 8 hours

A work-related death, or the inpatient hospitalization of any employee, is reported to DOSH within eight hours; an amputation or loss of an eye without a hospital admission, within 24 hours. The clock starts when the employer learns of it, or learns it was work-related. Call 1-800-4BE-SAFE (1-800-423-7233), go to the nearest DOSH office, call 1-800-321-OSHA, or reach DOSH any other way.

The report gives the establishment, where and when it happened, the type of event, how many employees were affected and their names, a contact person and phone, and a short description. Hospital stays only for observation or tests are not reported; a death is reported if it occurs within 30 days of the incident.

Leave the equipment where it is

After a death, inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye, equipment involved is not moved until Labor and Industries investigates and releases it, except to remove victims or prevent further injuries. The employer assigns the supervisor and witnesses to help the investigators who arrive.

The preliminary investigation

Every serious injury gets a preliminary investigation into its cause by a person the employer designates, the injured employee's supervisor, witnesses, an employee representative and anyone else with the right experience. It notes where and when it happened, who was there, what the employee was doing and what happened, and its findings are documented for any formal investigation.

From notes to a Washington incident report

Note who was there, what the employee was doing, what happened and whether anything was moved. ReportDraft records the preliminary investigation team, when DOSH was called and whether equipment was moved, alongside the federal Form 301 items Washington uses.

Common mistakes

  • Treating a hospital admission as a 24-hour report; in Washington it is 8 hours.
  • Moving the machine or tool involved before Labor and Industries releases it.
  • Investigating without the injured employee's supervisor or an employee representative.
  • Not writing down the preliminary investigation findings.
  • Reporting a stay for observation only, while missing a real admission.

Sources

Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Next review due January 12, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.