California Accidents: What you need to know

California requires employers to develop and implement a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), which includes requirements for accident investigations. There are no federal requirements to have a formal accident prevention or accident investigation program.

See the state State Plans topic for detailed information about the IIPP requirements.

See the federal Accidents topic for guidance for conducting accident investigations and reporting procedures.

See the state Illness and Injuries topic for information about reporting workplace fatalities and serious injuries to regulatory agencies.

The CA Department of Industrial Relations/Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) administers and enforces workplace safety and health rules in California.

California requires all employers to have in place a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), which must include injury and illness investigation procedures and procedures for correcting unsafe acts or conditions. The IIPP must include the name of the person responsible for implementing the program, procedures for identifying and then correcting job hazards, provisions for employee training and instruction, a communications system, and procedures to ensure employees comply with safety rules.