Environment, Health and Safety OARS Online Accident Reporting System A guide to the University of Calgary’s new web- based On-line Accident Reporting System (OARS). January 2009

Environment, Health and Safety Accident and Incident Reporting Employees must report any accident or incident to their Supervisor as soon as possible. Students must report all accidents or incidents to their Supervisor, Instructor or University Representative as soon a possible. Contractors, Visitors or Volunteers must report any accident or incident to a University Representative as soon as possible. The Supervisor or University Representative is required to file a report within 24 hours of receiving notification of the accident or incident.

Environment, Health and Safety Before you start Accident reporting is required by Alberta OH&S laws as well as University policies. Any student, staff, or faculty member can file an accident/incident report. Just have your UCID ready to file the report.

Environment, Health and Safety Security Certificate The first time you access OARS, you may get an error message indicating that the security certificate is invalid or unknown. You must update your computer’s security certificate to use OARS. For instructions on installing the security certificate to your computer, click on rityCertificate.pdfhttp:// rityCertificate.pdf

Environment, Health and Safety Access to OARS There are two ways to access OARS 1.EH&S website at 2.MyUofC Portal In MyUofC, go to: Campus Services EHS Tools Online Accident Reporting System

Environment, Health and Safety Getting Started Click Login with CAS

Environment, Health and Safety Create New Incident Report On the OARS Home page, click Create New Incident Report. Complete the online form. For help completing each section, use the icon.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 1 - Person Involved Person Reporting Incident Indicate in what capacity you are reporting the incident. Click on the appropriate button, and select either Supervisor, University Representative or Self. The system will automatically fill in the required tracking information. Person Involved or Affected Select the status of the person injured or involved in the incident. For Faculty/Staff or Graduate Student click “Select Involved.” For Undergraduate Student, Contractor or Public, complete all text fields. Indicate the length of employment and time in occupational at time of incident.

Environment, Health and Safety Supervisor Selection If you are “Self” reporting and entering your own accident/incident report, you will have to provide your supervisor’s information. Click “Select Supervisor” and you will be able to select from a list and then the information will auto fill. If you are a “University Representative” reporting on behalf of an employee, graduate student, undergraduate student, contractor, visitor or volunteer and do not know the name of the Supervisor, click “Unknown Supervisor.” If the Supervisor is known, Click “Select Supervisor” and you will be able to select from a list and then the information will auto fill. You may enter one other person to be notified of the accident. Many Faculties, Departments and/or Units require additional management notification. Consult your Department/Unit about additional notification requirements. You must know this address as there is no select option. Click “NEXT” when finished with the page.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 2 - Description Enter the Date and Time of the incident. Select Campus and Incident Location. If the location cannot be selected from the list, enter the information in the space provided. Provide Incident Details – be as descriptive as possible. Attachments may be uploaded. Identify if Campus Security attended. Enter Witness and First Aid information. Click “NEXT” when finished with the page.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 3 - Classification Select which level of incident is being reported 1, 2 or 3. Classification determines the appropriate level of notification and management involvement in the investigation. Select all applicable boxes below the level selected. Click “NEXT” when finished with the page.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 4 - Details Identify the Body Part(s) Affected, Nature of Injury and Type of Contact – select all that apply. Click “NEXT” when finished with the page.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 4 - Details If you are a “University Representative” or “Self” reporting you can now save a draft, view the PDF report, or submit the report. “Supervisors” can complete the report from start to finish (pages 1-6). If there are errors in completing the report, red error messages will appear at the top of the page, outlining what is wrong and on which page. Make these corrections and resubmit the report. A message will appear “Completed Report Submitted Successfully.” A copy will automatically go to the Supervisor and any additional recipients whom you may have included on page 1. EH&S will receive notification if “Unknown Supervisor” is selected. The Supervisor will be required to complete Pages 5 and 6. Depending on the incident level, other Higher Authorities may also be required to complete the Management Review section on Page 6.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 5 – Investigative Details The Supervisor is required to identify the immediate cause of the incident. Immediate Causes are the hazards that existed immediately prior to the occurrence of an incident. Select all the boxes that apply to the incident.

Environment, Health and Safety Root Cause The Supervisor is required to identify the root cause of the incident. Root Causes underlie all other causes and are the most important to identify in incident investigations. Select all the boxes that apply. Click “NEXT” when finished with the page.

Environment, Health and Safety Page 6 – Corrective Action Corrective Actions to Prevent Recurrence After identifying the causes of the incident, the Supervisor is required to identify (and implement) corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Select all the boxes that apply. If “Other” selected, utilize the “Recommendations/Prevention Measures” open text box to describe in detail. Scroll down the page to the Management Review section.

Environment, Health and Safety Management Review Level 2 and 3 incidents require higher levels of management notification, review and sign-off. Higher Authorities must complete the Management Review section. Level 2 Incidents “Second Higher Authority” must approve the incident investigation to close the OARS report. Level 3 incidents “Second Higher Authority” must review and approved the investigation. “Third Higher Authority” must approve the incident investigation to close the OARS report.

Environment, Health and Safety Management Review - Supervisor Supervisor or University Representative (for all incident classification levels) is required to: Identify the “Corrective Actions Target Date” and the “Corrective Actions Compete Date.” Approve the Investigation and Corrective Actions by selecting “Yes.” Confirm that the corrective actions have been implemented by selecting “Yes” to “Corrective Actions Complete." Include additional comments in the text field provided. Level 1 Incidents - Supervisor may now complete the investigation by selecting “Submit Completed Report.” Level 2 & 3 incidents – Supervisor must identify higher levels of management (higher authorities).

Environment, Health and Safety Management Review – Level 2 Incidents Supervisors are required to identify the “Second Higher Authority” for level 2 incidents. The “Second Higher Authority” is the person whom the Supervisor reports to. Click “Select” to be able to select from a list and the the information will auto fill. Second Higher Authority is required to: Approve the Investigation and Corrective Actions by selecting “Yes.” Confirm that the corrective actions have been implemented by selecting “Yes” to “Corrective Actions Complete." Include additional comments in the text field provided, if necessary. Complete the investigation by clicking “Submit Completed” report.

Environment, Health and Safety Management Review – Level 3 Incidents Supervisors are required to identify the Second and Third Higher Authorities for level 3 incidents. The Second Higher Authority is the person whom the Supervisor reports to and the “Third Higher Authority” Is the person whom the “Second Higher Authority” reports to. Click “Select” to be able to select from a list and the the information will auto fill. Third Higher Authority is required to: Approve the Investigation and Corrective Actions by selecting “Yes.” Confirm that the corrective actions have been implemented by selecting “Yes” to “Corrective Actions Complete." Include additional comments in the text field provided, if necessary. Complete the investigation by clicking “Submit Completed” report.

Environment, Health and Safety Edit and View the Report You may edit a report until such time as your Supervisor or any Higher Authority has completed the Management Review sections and submitted the report. Reports may be viewed at any time (unfinished, open, submitted or closed).

Environment, Health and Safety Nagging s reminders will be sent to the Supervisor (or Higher Authorities) when: there has been no follow up after 5 days of receiving the notification. the Corrective Action Target Date has not been given. the Corrective Action Target Date has passed.

Environment, Health and Safety Training Site for Practice To practice using OARS, go to You can enter your own incident reports, or report in the capacity of the Supervisor, or the University Representative. For training purposes, no confirmation will be sent to the persons mentioned on the report in order to avoid unnecessary confusion.

Environment, Health and Safety Questions More information about reporting accidents/incidents and OARS can be found at Contact Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) at –