Report an Injury

When an injury occurs, your first priority is to make sure your employee gets first aid and medical attention.

You must report all injuries requiring medical attention or where the worker will lose time from work to the WCB. 

The employer and employee should complete the injury report together. The WCB must receive the report within five business days after the injury was reported to you. Penalties can apply if reports are late.

How to Report an Injury

The quickest and easiest way for employers to report is online via MyAccount

Fax: Fill out the WCB Injury Report Form and fax it to 902-491-8001.
Mail: If you do not have access to a fax machine, please mail or deliver to our Halifax or Sydney offices.

For 24/7 access to support for MyAccount, including tips to fill out an Injury Report, click here

Make it policy for your workers to report all workplace injuries when they occur and before they leave the work site that day. Timely reporting of injuries allows you to effectively investigate the work site where the injury occurred, interview witnesses and collect the information required to understand the cause. 

When you become aware that an injury has occurred: 

  • Contact the worker right away to let them know you are concerned for their health and wellness. 
  • Provide or seek immediate health care for your worker. 
  • Reassure them that you will do what you can to help them back to work as soon as possible.
  • Report the injury to WCB Nova Scotia within five business days if the worker sought medical aid or lost time from work. Using MyAccount to submit a report is the fastest way. You may also be required to report serious injuries to the Occupational Health and Safety Division at Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration.
  • Assist the worker to achieve safe and timely return to work. See our Return to Work section for more details.
  • Keep up to date on the status of your injury claim for your workers using MyAccount. Learn more about the claim process.

Serious Injuries

It's your duty to report serious injuries.

A serious injury or incident is one that endangers life or causes permanent injury.

You must notify the Occupational Health and Safety Division at the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration whenever a serious injury happens at your workplace. Call or send the notice in writing within the following deadlines:

Fatalities—immediately
Serious injury—as soon as possible, within 24 hours

  • Unconsciousness
  • Fracture of the skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg, ankle, wrist or a major part of the hand or foot
  • Loss or amputation of a leg, arm, hand, foot, finger, or toe
  • Third-degree burn
  • Loss of sight in one or both eyes
  • Asphyxiation or poisoning
  • Any injury that requires admission to hospital
  • Any injury that endangers life

Serious incident—as soon as possible, within 24 hours

  • An accidental explosion
  • A major structural failure or collapse of a building or other structure
  • A major release of a hazardous substance 
  • A fall from a work area where fall protection is required by the regulations

Report:
Phone: 1-800-952-2687 (1-800-9LABOUR) or 902-424-5400
Mail: OHS Division
PO Box 697
Halifax, NS B3J 2T8

Email: ohsdivision@novascotia.ca