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WorkSafeBC

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Critical incident response

Providing critical incident intervention to workers and employers in B.C.

WorkSafeBC’s Critical Incident Response (CIR) Program provides critical incident intervention to workers and employers who have experienced a traumatic event in the workplace. The goal is to reduce the distress experienced immediately following an event and to prevent the development of further, more serious difficulties.

Early intervention is intended to mitigate the impact of a critical incident on workers and employers. Service can be provided up to three weeks from the date of the critical incident.

The CIR program is a free, confidential, and voluntary service. It does not address labour relations issues or concerns regarding safety at the worksite. All such concerns will be redirected to occupational health and safety departments, management, unions, or employee assistance programs where available.

For more information see:

Contact CIR

If your workplace has experienced a critical incident and you would like support or information about our service, please page the CIR program at 1 888 922-3700 between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.

What is a critical incident?

A workplace critical incident is an event — like an injury, fatality, or robbery — that causes emotional or psychological trauma in people exposed to the incident directly, or indirectly. It is a sudden, powerful event outside the range of normal experience — and outside of the worker's control.

Reactions to highly stressful events can include:

  • Feeling jumpy, anxious, moody, or irritable
  • Having difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or thinking clearly
  • Having trouble going near the accident scene, or to places that trigger memories of the accident or incident
  • Having trouble being around people
  • Having difficulty being alone
  • Sleep disturbance/nightmares

These reactions are normal responses to stressful or abnormal events. Workers' feelings about their jobs and the workplace can be seriously affected, and the whole workplace may suffer after a critical incident. Effects may include poor morale, decreased productivity, increased accidents and sick time, higher disability claims, and greater staff turnover.

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