Short answer: call 911 and protect people first. A work-connected employee death must be reported to Cal/OSHA as soon as practically possible and no later than 8 hours after the employer knew, or with diligent inquiry should have known. Preserve the scene except where rescue or safety requires a change, contact the workers' compensation claims administrator, and—if violence caused the death—complete the violent incident log, investigation, hazard corrections, and plan review.
Follow law-enforcement and emergency personnel instructions. Move others away and do not disturb the scene except for rescue, first aid, or an immediate safety need.
Do this as soon as practically possible and within the reporting window. Have the employer name and address, time and place, number of employees affected, event description, contact person, and law-enforcement agency ready.
Secure footage, equipment state, access records, messages, witness names, and photographs lawfully available to the employer. Record any necessary scene changes and why they were made.
Contact the workers' compensation carrier or claims administrator immediately and submit the Employer's Report of Occupational Injury or Illness within five days of knowledge.
Designate a factual point of contact for family communication, employees, investigators, and insurers. Protect privacy and do not speculate about fault or cause.
Create the de-identified violent incident log entry, conduct and document the post-incident investigation, correct identified hazards, and date the prevention-plan review.
Keep a single file of reports, requests, interviews, produced documents, and dates. A fatality investigation can involve multiple agencies with different responsibilities.
This page is a first-response checklist, not a substitute for counsel. A workplace death can involve Cal/OSHA, workers' compensation, law enforcement, privacy duties, and family communications at once. Keep the response factual and organized.
The reporting deadline and the information employers must provide.
Cal/OSHA's reporting instructions and district-office contact path.
The additional log, investigation, correction, and plan-review duties when violence caused the incident.