How to Complete and Submit the WorkSafeBC EIIR (Form 52E40)

The WorkSafeBC EIIR (Form 52E40) is the Employer Incident Investigation Report that British Columbia employers must complete after certain workplace incidents under the Workers Compensation Act. You complete it in two stages — a preliminary report finished within 48 hours and a full report finished within 30 days — and submit the full report to WorkSafeBC through its online tool, a PDF upload, or by fax or mail. The preliminary report stays on file unless an officer asks for it.

When You Have to File One

Section 69 of the Workers Compensation Act lists four categories of incidents that require an employer investigation:1British Columbia Laws. Workers Compensation Act

  • Any incident reportable to WorkSafeBC under Section 68, including a worker’s death or serious injury.
  • An injury that needs medical treatment beyond basic on-site first aid.
  • A high-potential near miss — no injury or only a minor one, but the realistic potential to seriously hurt someone.
  • Any incident type prescribed by regulation, such as a major structural failure or collapse.

One carve-out worth knowing: vehicle accidents on a public street or highway are excluded from this requirement, even if a worker is injured.1British Columbia Laws. Workers Compensation Act If one of the four triggers applies, the investigation is automatic. You don’t have discretion to skip it.

The Two Deadlines

Preliminary Report — 48 Hours

The preliminary investigation must be completed within 48 hours of the incident.2WorkSafeBC. Conducting an Employer Investigation The purpose is narrow: identify any unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that significantly contributed to the incident, and decide what interim corrective steps are needed to prevent a repeat while the fuller investigation continues.1British Columbia Laws. Workers Compensation Act

The 48-hour clock is for completing the report, not for sending it in. Keep the preliminary report on file and provide a copy to WorkSafeBC only if an officer requests it.2WorkSafeBC. Conducting an Employer Investigation

Full Report — 30 Days

The full investigation and its report must be completed within 30 days of the incident.2WorkSafeBC. Conducting an Employer Investigation This report digs into root causes and may revise the contributing factors and corrective actions you first identified. The full report is the one you submit to WorkSafeBC.

Who Carries Out the Investigation

Section 70 requires that the investigation be done by people knowledgeable about the type of work involved. Both an employer representative and a worker representative should take part whenever they are reasonably available: viewing the scene, advising on scope and methods, and contributing to the findings.1British Columbia Laws. Workers Compensation Act

You also need to make every reasonable effort to make witnesses and other relevant people available for interview by your team and by any WorkSafeBC officer running a parallel investigation. Record each witness’s name, address, and phone number.

What Goes on Form 52E40

WorkSafeBC publishes Form 52E40 as a fillable PDF, with a companion guide walking through each section.3WorkSafeBC. Guide to Completing an Employer Incident Investigation Report (EIIR) You can use WorkSafeBC’s online reporting tool instead, or your own company template if it covers all the required content.

The form collects:

  • Administrative data — business name, WorkSafeBC account number, incident location, and worker information.
  • A factual, chronological narrative of what happened. Stick to observable facts: what the worker was doing, what equipment was in use, what the conditions were. Keep speculation and blame out of it.
  • Contributing factors — the unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that led to the incident. This is the analytical core of the report. Focus on systemic issues like equipment condition, training gaps, or procedural failures rather than individual fault.
  • Witness information — names and statements from anyone who saw the incident or has relevant knowledge. Collect accounts quickly, while details are fresh.
  • Corrective actions — what you’ve already done and what you plan to do. In the full report, assign responsibility and set target completion dates for each action.

How to Submit the Full Report

You generally only submit the full investigation report to WorkSafeBC, not the preliminary one. Three options:2WorkSafeBC. Conducting an Employer Investigation

  • Online reporting tool. Sign in to your WorkSafeBC online services account and open the Health & Safety tab to reach the EIIR Dashboard. The tool lets you build both preliminary and full reports, prepopulate the full report from the preliminary, save drafts, and review earlier submissions.
  • PDF upload. If you used the fillable PDF or your own template, upload it through WorkSafeBC’s dedicated upload portal.
  • Fax or mail. Fax 604-276-3247 (toll-free 1-866-240-1434), or mail to WorkSafeBC, PO Box 5350 Stn Terminal, Vancouver, BC V6B 5L5.

The online tool is the most practical option for most employers because it creates a digital record and lets you track status. Whichever route you use, keep a copy for your own files.

Who Else Needs a Copy

Filing with WorkSafeBC isn’t the end of it. Once the preliminary report is finished, you must give a copy to your joint health and safety committee or your worker health and safety representative, whichever exists at your workplace.2WorkSafeBC. Conducting an Employer Investigation The same rule applies to the full report when it’s done.

If your workplace has neither a joint committee nor a worker representative, post a copy at the workplace where everyone can read it. Watch privacy when posting: remove or redact medical details or sensitive information that would identify an injured worker’s condition beyond what’s needed to understand what happened.

The Follow-Up Corrective Action Report

After the full investigation is done and corrective actions are in place, WorkSafeBC expects a corrective action report documenting:2WorkSafeBC. Conducting an Employer Investigation

  • The unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that made the corrective action necessary.
  • The specific corrective actions taken to prevent similar incidents.
  • The names and job titles of the people responsible for implementing each action.
  • The completion date for each action.

Once the actions are in place, go back and check whether they’re actually working. A corrective action that looks fine on paper but hasn’t changed behaviour on the floor tends to resurface in a later audit. Distribute this report the same way as the investigation reports: to the joint committee or worker representative, or posted if neither exists.

What Non-Compliance Costs

WorkSafeBC sets penalty amounts based on the nature of the violation, the employer’s history, and the size of the payroll.4WorkSafeBC. Penalties There are two tiers:

  • OHS citations for lower-risk violations. A first offence citation is $656.48; a repeat for substantially the same issue within three years doubles to $1,312.96.
  • Administrative penalties for more serious or repeated violations. The base penalty is 0.5% of the employer’s assessable payroll, and the statutory maximum is $816,148.69.

Penalties can climb further with aggravating factors such as high-risk or intentional violations, or a prior penalty for the same type of violation in the previous three years.5WorkSafeBC. Media Backgrounder – Administrative Penalties Failing to investigate, filing late, and submitting an incomplete report can each draw a penalty on their own. A late or missing EIIR can also prompt a broader review of your safety management system, which sometimes turns up additional violations beyond the original incident.