Writing up a workplace safety concern

How to describe a hazard, what happened or could happen, and who you told.
A safety report should help someone find and fix the hazard. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules differ, and using Report 2 HR does not stop or extend any deadline. See Official help for agencies.

Describe the hazard

Say exactly what and where it is, such as “wet floor behind the grill with no mat”. Add when you noticed it.

Say what could happen or did

Describe any injury, near miss or risk. Keep to what you observed.

Who knows about it

List who you told, when, and what they said. Include earlier reports about the same hazard.

Photos and records

If you have photos or incident logs, list them in the evidence index and attach them yourself.

Urgent danger

If there is immediate danger, contact emergency services or the relevant safety agency right away; this tool is not an emergency service.
Fictional sample: blocked fire exit
This sample is fictional. Names and events are made up.
On February 2 I saw that the rear fire exit in the warehouse was blocked by pallets. I told my lead, Casey Demo, who said it would be moved “later”.
On February 9 the pallets were still there. I took a photo (kept on my phone) and have listed it as evidence.
I am asking for the exit to be cleared and for a written confirmation when it is.
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