Incident reporting system adoption in the UK and Ireland: what EcoOnline’s 2026 Workplace Safety Report reveals
Most workers in the UK and Ireland still report incidents verbally, yet 71% say more digital tools would make them feel safer. Here's what the 2026 data means for your incident reporting system.
Verbal reporting still leads. 64% of UK and Irish workers report incidents verbally to a manager, and 58% prefer this method.
Digital reporting is growing. 37% use a computer-based incident reporting system (UK 39%, Ireland 32%), and 37% report by email.
Irish workers want more digital options. Ireland uses computer-based reporting, which is less than the UK but prefers it more (33% vs. 28%).
Feedback is the weak link. Only 11% receive incident feedback through dedicated safety software, and 6% get no feedback at all.
Workers want digital safety tools. 71% say more digital tools would make them feel safer, up from 67% in 2025.
AI views are mixed. 47% see potential for AI to improve safety. Younger workers are most positive, and older workers are more skeptical.
Workers already train digitally. 85% of UK and Irish workers with competency training received digital or e-learning; the highest share of any region surveyed.
The takeaway: a mobile-friendly incident reporting system with automated feedback can close the gap between how workers report today and how they want to.
Introduction
When a worker slips on a wet floor or spots a chemical leak, what happens next decides whether the organisation learns from it or repeats the same mistake. A reliable incident reporting system turns these moments into records, investigations, and corrective actions. Too many workplaces still rely on a quick word with a manager and hope the details survive.
EcoOnline’s 2026 Workplace Safety Report asked workers across the UK and Ireland how they report incidents, what response they receive (if any), and how they feel about digital tools and AI. The results show a workforce that is more digitally ready than many safety leaders assume, with the following key takeaways:.
This article breaks down the key findings, explains what they mean for your accident reporting procedure, and sets out practical steps to build an incident reporting process that workers trust and use.
Table of contents
Click on a specific section below to navigate to that area:
An incident reporting system is a tool that lets employees record workplace incidents, near misses, and hazards in one central place. It keeps a consistent record of each incident report, sends it to the right people, and tracks investigations and corrective actions through to close. Digital incident reporting systems replace paper forms, emails, and verbal reports with a process that is structured, auditable, and easy to search.
For safety leaders, this difference matters and could even be critical. If an incident is mentioned to a manager in passing, it can be forgotten. If it is logged in a dedicated system, it becomes data you can use to prevent the next one.
How workers in the UK and Ireland report incidents today
Verbal reporting still dominates
EcoOnline’s Workplace Safety Report, reveals that reporting verbally to a manager is still the most common method by a clear margin, with 64% of workers using it (UK 64%, Ireland 67%). It is also the most preferred method, chosen by 58% of respondents.
Verbal reporting is quick and personal, which may explain its popularity. That being said, this method is the weakest link in any accident reporting procedure. Why? Details get lost, timelines blur, and trends across sites or shifts never come to light because nothing is recorded consistently.
Computer-based incident reporting systems lead the digital options
Among digital methods, reporting via computer with a dedicated incident reporting system is the most used, at 37% overall. Adoption is notably higher in the UK (39%) than in Ireland (32%).
Email is also widely used, with 37% of workers using it overall (UK 37%, Ireland 34%). Though email feels digital, it brings many of the same problems as verbal reporting:
reports are scattered across inboxes
formats vary
there is no built-in workflow for investigation or follow-up
Ireland shows a gap between use and preference
The data shows clear demand for better digital tools. Although Irish workers use computer-based reporting less than UK workers, more of them prefer it (Ireland 33% vs. UK 28%). Many Irish organisations have an opportunity here: workers want a structured digital route to submit an incident report, and the data shows they are not getting it.
The feedback gap after an incident report
Reporting is only half of the safety loop. Workers also need to know what happened after they’ve raised a concern.
55% of workers in the UK and Ireland receive incident feedback directly from managers
48% receive it by email
Only 11% receive it through dedicated safety software (UK 12%, Ireland 7%)
6% say no feedback happens at all (UK 6%, Ireland 7%)
This is where many safety cultures quietly break down. If workers report an incident and hear nothing back, they are less likely to report the next one. A modern incident reporting system closes the loop automatically by updating the reporter on investigation progress, corrective actions, and lessons learned. This builds the trust that keeps people reporting again and again.
Workers want more digital safety tools
71% of workers in the UK and Ireland say they would feel safer if their company used more digital tools for workplace safety, up from 67% in 2025. This combines 30% who answered “yes, definitely” and 41% who said “somewhat, depending on implementation.”
This detail matters. In the UK, 33% answered “yes, definitely,” compared with only 20% in Ireland, which suggests some apprehension among Irish workers. The large “depending on implementation” group is a clear message to safety leaders: workers are open to digital tools, but adoption depends on choosing software that is simple, mobile-friendly, and clearly helps the people using it.
AI in workplace safety: promise and skepticism
AI is no longer just a buzzword. It’s changing how businesses operate, and governments in both markets are encouraging adoption. The UK government launched its AI Opportunities Action Plan in early 2025, and Ireland published its Digital and AI Strategy in 2026.
Workers are cautiously optimistic. 47% of UK and Irish workers see potential for AI to improve workplace safety (23% “yes, definitely” and 24% “yes, I see potential”).
Some reluctance remains, especially in Ireland:
27% of Irish workers said, “somewhat, but it depends on implementation,” compared with 18% in the UK
15% of Irish respondents see no use case for AI, compared with 10% in the UK
Views also differ sharply by age:
Age group
Positive about AI
Don’t trust the technology at all
18 to 34
59%
4%
35 to 49
Not reported
7%
50 to 65
Not reported
19
For safety leaders, AI should be introduced transparently. Use cases such as automatically categorising incident reports, spotting trends across sites, or suggesting root causes give people practical value they can see. Pairing this with clear communication helps win over more skeptical, experienced workers.
Digital training is already the norm
If you’re worried that your workforce isn’t ready for digital tools, the training data says otherwise. Of workers in the UK and Ireland who received competency training, 85% said it included digital training or e-learning (UK 86%, Ireland 80%).
The UK and Ireland lead the world in technology adoption for workplace training:
Region
Digital training adoptoin
UK and Ireland
85%
USA and Canada
82%
Global average
76%
Nordics
72%
Workers already use digital platforms to learn. Incident reporting has simply not caught up.
How to strengthen your accident reporting procedure
Based on the 2026 findings, here are five practical steps for safety leaders:
Keep the human connection, but record everything. Let workers talk to managers, then make sure every conversation becomes a logged incident report.
Make reporting mobile and fast. A digital report that takes under a minute on a phone, will beat a verbal mention every time.
Close the feedback loop. Automated updates tell reporters their concerns were heard and acted on.
Involve workers in rollout. With 41% saying it “depends on implementation,” early involvement and clear training are key to adoption.
Introduce AI with purpose. Start with low-risk, high-value features and explain how they support people rather than replace their judgement.
EcoOnline’s incident management software brings these steps together in one incident reporting system, with mobile reporting, automated workflows, and real-time feedback that turns every report into insight you can act on.
Get more insights about this topic, in addition to chemical safety, crisis management, sustainability and more in EcoOnline’s latest Workplace Safety Report.
Elevate your incident reporting workflow
The average safety team spends eighteen minutes logging a single incident, often starting with a paper form leading to data loss and slow follow-up. ECO online fundamentally redesigns incident workflow. An employee can use their phone to log an injury, near miss, in under sixty seconds using location services, voice to text notes, and photo upload. The system instantly categorizes the incident and automatically assigns the investigation task to the correct supervisor based on department location. No manual emails required. We also provide a dashboard that tracks overdue preventative actions, guaranteeing nothing falls through the cracks. Workflow analyses are integrated directly into the incident record, ensuring supervisors capture root causes, not just symptoms. This forty percent time saving lets you focus on prevention, not paperwork. Ready to reclaim your time? Book a personalized workflow analysis for your safety management team now.
Book a demo
We’ll take you through exactly how EcoOnline’s EHS software can benefit your business.
What is the most common way workers report incidents in the UK and Ireland?
Verbal reporting to a manager is the most common method, used by 64% of workers according to EcoOnline’s 2026 Workplace Safety Report. It is also the most preferred, at 58%.
How do you make an incident report?
Report the incident as soon as it is safe to do so, ideally before the end of your shift. A complete incident report includes:
1. The date, time, and exact location of the incident 2. A clear, factual description of what happened 3. The names of the people involved and any witnesses 4. Any injuries, illnesses, property damage, or chemical exposures 5. Immediate actions taken, such as first aid or isolating a spill 6. Photos or supporting evidence, where possible
What is the accident reporting procedure?
An accident reporting procedure is the step-by-step process an organisation follows after a workplace accident or near miss. It usually includes:
1. Respond: Make the area safe and give first aid or medical care. 2. Report: Notify a supervisor right away and submit a formal incident report. 3. Notify regulators where required: In Great Britain, report deaths, specified injuries, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE under RIDDOR without delay, and report over-seven-day injuries within 15 days. In Northern Ireland, these reports go to HSENI. In Ireland, report fatal accidents to the HSA or Gardaí immediately, and report injuries that keep someone off normal work for more than three consecutive days within 10 working days. 4. Investigate: Identify the root causes and contributing factors. 5. Act: Put corrective and preventive actions in place. 6. Close the loop: Share the findings with the person who reported the incident and with the wider team.
How many workers use a dedicated incident reporting system?
37% of UK and Irish workers report incidents through a computer-based incident reporting system. Use is higher in the UK (39%) than in Ireland (32%).
Why is email not enough for incident reporting?
Emails are unstructured, scattered across inboxes, and lack built-in workflows for investigation, corrective actions, or trend analysis. That makes it hard to track and learn from incidents.
Do workers want more digital safety tools?
Yes. 71% of UK and Irish workers say more digital safety tools would make them feel safer, up from 67% in 2025.
How do workers feel about AI in workplace safety?
47% see potential for AI to improve safety. Workers aged 18 to 34 are the most positive (59%), while 19% of those aged 50 to 65 say they don’t trust the technology at all.
What is a digital incident reporting system?
A digital incident reporting system is software that replaces paper forms, verbal reports, and email with one online process for recording workplace incidents, near misses, and hazards. Workers submit reports from a computer or mobile device, often with photos, locations, and witness details attached.
Solutions such as EcoOnline’s incident management software can help you elevate your safety status. Take a look at our demo video library or download our compliance toolkit for more information.
About the author
Dina Adlouni
Content Marketing Manager
Dina Adlouni is a Content Marketing Manager at EcoOnline and an expert in EHS and sustainability content. She has been writing about this topic for six years and counting.
