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Accident & Injury Reporting
We are at the height of fire and field season, when our exposure to injuries and incidents is at its highest. This year, we are also seeing a larger number of minor injuries across the agency, making timely reporting especially important.
Knowing how to report injuries and incidents — and doing so promptly — is one of the most important responsibilities we all share in maintaining a safe work environment. Whether it’s a minor injury, a near miss, or a serious incident, prompt reporting ensures employees receive appropriate care, allows us to identify and address hazards, and helps prevent similar incidents in the future.
Don’t dismiss an injury because it seems minor at the time. Reporting it creates a record of what happened and helps protect both the employee and the agency if medical care is needed later.
If you’re ever unsure about what to report or how to report it, don’t wait — reach out to your Supervisor, Safety Officer, or HR for guidance.
Click here to access all of your safety policies, documents, information, and resources at the IDL Safety Program SharePoint site.
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Chris Lile
Safety Officer
Idaho Department of Lands
3563 E. Ririe Hwy.
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
(208) 403-1022
Email: clile@idl.idaho.gov
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Safety Topics
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Employee Responsibilities When Injury Occurs
If you are an employee who experiences a work-related accident, injury, illness, or occupational exposure, your first responsibility is to report the incident immediately to your supervisor, even if you do not think medical treatment is needed. If you witness an incident involving a coworker, direct them to report it to a supervisor right away—prompt action ensures that care is provided quickly and any claims are processed without delay.
If you are involved in an injury or accident, you or your supervisor will be required to complete the First Report of Injury (FROI).
If medical care is needed, employees must use a preferred provider listed under the statewide policy effective October 15, 2022.
In the case of emergencies or incidents outside business hours, go to the nearest urgent care or ER and follow up with a preferred provider.
When medical treatment is received, a Physician’s Release to Return to Work must be filled out by the Doctor. If your doctor assigns work restrictions, coordinate with your supervisor on potential light duty options. Declining such work may affect your benefits.
For questions or help with any part of the process, contact IDL's HR department. Currently Lily Kay lily.kay@idl.idaho.gov is our Worker's Comp Business Partner.
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Supervisor Responsibilities When Injury Occurs
Supervisors play a vital role in the workers’ compensation process and must respond promptly when notified of a work-related accident, injury, illness, or exposure. As soon as they are made aware of an incident—whether it's a near miss, requires first aid, or involves medical treatment—they are responsible for ensuring completion of the First Report of Injury (FROI) and the Supervisor Incident Report form. The FROI must be completed and will automatically be emailed to Safety, HR and the Supervisor.
Supervisors must also collect Witness Statements from anyone who observed the event and ensure all further documentation is submitted to HR and the safety department via: HR@idl.idaho.gov and safety@idl.idaho.gov
Please utilize the Injury Reporting Flowchart for process guidance.
If the employee needs medical care, the supervisor should direct them to a preferred provider unless emergency treatment is required, in which case the employee should go to the nearest urgent care or ER and follow up with a preferred provider.
In addition to reporting and documentation duties, supervisors must coordinate with HR when an injured employee is released with work restrictions. Together, they determine whether light duty or modified work is available. Supervisors should seek guidance up their chain of command, as light duty assignments may be obtained from different areas and bureaus as needed.
If light duty is offered and the employee declines, supervisors must report this to HR.
By following these steps, supervisors help ensure compliance, timely care, and a safe path for employees to return to work.
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Reporting Reminders and Forms
Timely and accurate injury reporting is critical to ensure proper care for employees and compliance with Workers’ Compensation guidelines. The FROI must be completed and will automatically be emailed to Safety, HR and the Supervisor.
HR will then initiate a claim and generate a case number with SIF. Although treatment can usually proceed without this number, some medical facilities or pharmacies may require it later for billing purposes. Submitting this form promptly supports effective follow-up care and minimizes delays in treatment or benefits.
Supervisors must also complete and submit a Supervisor’s Accident Report to support the FROI. This report provides essential documentation and may also be submitted independently for near misses or incidents without immediate claims. In all cases where medical treatment is received, a Physician’s Release to Return to Work must be filled out by the attending practitioner and sent to the Safety Inbox, even if no work time is lost. Ensure this is collected at the time of treatment to avoid delays in return-to-work planning.
Key procedures to remember:
- Submit FROI promptly. This auto-emails all parties involved.
- Email all further forms (Supervisor’s Report, Witness Statements, Return to Work, Light Duty) to: HR@idl.idaho.gov and safety@idl.idaho.gov
- Injury while on wildfire duty: Refer to:
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Injury Accident Reporting Pocket Card for wildfire-specific protocols and Agency Provided Medical Care (APMC) usage.
Reporting timelines:
- Employees have 60 days to notify a supervisor of a potential injury (if no treatment was received).
- Employees have 1 year to seek treatment and open a claim.
- HR has 10 days from the date of treatment to file with Workers’ Compensation (once complete documentation is received).
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