Workplace Safety Procedures: Reporting Incidents
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
Yesterday our manager reminded us about workplace safety after a minor accident in the warehouse. One colleague slipped on a wet floor because no one had put up a warning sign. Since then, we have been much more careful about following the safety procedures. Before we start our shift, we now check the emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and first-aid box. We also have to wear high-visibility vests and safety shoes when we walk through the loading area. During the meeting, the manager explained that we must report every incident, even if nobody is seriously hurt. She said the company would invest in better lighting and clearer signs to prevent future problems. I realised that taking a few minutes to follow the rules could protect everyone. Next week, we are going to practise an evacuation drill so we will know exactly what to do in an emergency.⚡ Learning goals
- I can describe a minor workplace accident using past tenses.
- I can explain basic safety procedures in a warehouse or factory.
- I can use obligation language (must / have to) to talk about safety rules.
✨ Key language
- There was a minor accident in the warehouse “There was a minor accident in the warehouse yesterday.”
- We have to follow the safety procedures “We have to follow the safety procedures on every shift.”
- We must report every incident “We must report every incident, even small ones.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Past simple for completed incidents
Rule: Use the past simple to describe a specific finished accident or event at work.Examples: One colleague slipped on a wet floor.; The manager explained the new safety rules.; She said the company would invest in better lighting.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners often mix present and past (e.g. *she explain*). — Keep the verb in the past simple: she explained.
Choose the best verb: Yesterday a colleague ______ on a wet floor.
Tip: Use the -ed form for regular past verbs.
Fill with the best answer: Yesterday our manager ______ us about workplace safety.
Tip: Think of the completed action in the past meeting.
2️⃣ Present perfect for recent changes
Rule: Use the present perfect to talk about changes that started in the past and are true now.Examples: We have been much more careful since the accident.; The safety procedures have improved.; Our team has learned from the incident.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners often use only past simple with since. — Use have / has + past participle with since or for.
Choose the best option: Since the accident, we ______ more careful.
Tip: Use have/has + been for a change that continues now.
Fill with the best answer: Our safety procedures ______ a lot since last year.
Tip: Think of a change from the past to now.
3️⃣ Must / have to for safety obligation
Rule: Use must or have to to talk about rules that are necessary to follow.Examples: We must report every incident.; We have to wear safety shoes.; You must not block the emergency exits.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes say *you must to wear* or *you have wear*. — Use must + base verb or have to + base verb.
Choose the best option: We ______ every incident, even small ones.
Tip: After must, use the verb in its base form.
Fill with the best answer: We ______ high-visibility vests in the loading area.
Tip: Use have to + verb to talk about regular safety rules.
4️⃣ Before + verb / to + infinitive for procedures
Rule: Use time clauses with before and to + infinitive to describe the steps in a procedure.Examples: Before we start our shift, we check the emergency exits.; We follow the checklist to avoid accidents.; We practise evacuation drills to be ready for an emergency.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes repeat the subject after to (e.g. *to we check*). — Use to + base verb without a subject.
Choose the best safety procedure sentence.
Tip: Put the verb in the base form after before.
Fill with the best answer: The company will improve the lighting ______.
Tip: Use to + infinitive to express the purpose of an action.
✍️ Vocabulary
warehouse
Meaning: a large building where a company stores goods or materials.Synonyms: storage building, depot, facility.
Chunk/Idiom: work safely in the warehouse.
Example: We check the emergency exits in the warehouse every morning.
Morphology: noun; singular countable noun.
Self-practice: Describe one safety rule in your company warehouse.
warning sign
Meaning: a sign that tells people about possible danger in an area.Synonyms: caution sign, danger notice, alert sign.
Chunk/Idiom: put up a clear warning sign.
Example: Someone forgot to put up a warning sign on the wet floor.
Morphology: noun phrase; countable noun phrase.
Self-practice: Write one sentence about a warning sign at your workplace.
emergency exit
Meaning: a special door used to leave a building quickly in an emergency.Synonyms: fire exit, escape door, safety exit.
Chunk/Idiom: keep the emergency exit clear.
Example: We always keep the emergency exit free from boxes and pallets.
Morphology: noun phrase; compound noun phrase.
Self-practice: Explain where the nearest emergency exit is in your workplace.
high-visibility vest
Meaning: a bright reflective jacket workers wear so others can see them easily.Synonyms: reflective vest, safety vest, hi-vis jacket.
Chunk/Idiom: wear a high-visibility vest in the loading area.
Example: All staff must wear a high-visibility vest near moving vehicles.
Morphology: noun phrase; compound safety garment noun.
Self-practice: Write when you have to wear a high-visibility vest at work.
safety shoes
Meaning: strong shoes with protection for the toes, used in industrial workplaces.Synonyms: protective footwear, steel-toe boots, work boots.
Chunk/Idiom: put on your safety shoes before entering the warehouse.
Example: You must wear safety shoes when walking through the warehouse.
Morphology: noun phrase; plural protective noun phrase.
Self-practice: Describe a task where safety shoes are essential.
evacuation drill
Meaning: a practice exercise where staff leave the building as in a real emergency.Synonyms: safety drill, fire drill, emergency exercise.
Chunk/Idiom: run an evacuation drill every quarter.
Example: Next week we will have an evacuation drill for the whole warehouse team.
Morphology: noun phrase; compound emergency noun phrase.
Self-practice: Write one tip for staying calm during an evacuation drill.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Yesterday a colleague slipped on a wet floor.
We have been more careful since the warehouse accident.
You must report every incident to your manager.
Before each shift, we check the emergency exits.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the best option: Yesterday our manager ______ us about workplace safety.
Tip: Use the past simple for a finished safety meeting.
Since the accident, we ______ more careful about safety.
Tip: Present perfect links the past accident to the present.
Fill with the best answer:
We ______ every incident, even if nobody is seriously hurt.Tip: Use must + base verb to express strong safety rules.
Fill with the best answer:
The company will improve the lighting ______.Tip: Use to + infinitive to express the purpose of a safety action.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which phrase means a practice emergency where everyone leaves the building?
Tip: Think of practising how to leave the building safely.
In the mini-text, where did the minor accident happen?
Tip: Re-read the first sentence of the mini-text.
Fill with the best answer:
The colleague slipped because the ______ was not marked.Tip: Which part of the workplace was dangerous in the story?
Fill with the best answer:
Before each shift, we also check the ______.Tip: Look for the health-related object in the checklist.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: We had a minor accident in the warehouse yesterday, did you hear about it?B: Yes, our manager reminded us that we must report every incident.
A: Next week we are going to practise the evacuation drill again.
B: Good. It helps everyone remember the safety procedures.
Why this matters:
Following clear safety procedures reduces accidents at work. Reporting every incident helps the company fix problems early. Regular drills mean people stay calm and know exactly where to go in an emergency.Verb & Adjective Pack:
report — Workers must report every safety incident to their manager.inspect — We inspect the emergency exits before each shift starts.
slippery — The floor was slippery because nobody put up a warning sign.
visible — High-visibility vests make staff more visible near moving vehicles.
prepared — Regular evacuation drills help staff feel prepared for emergencies.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: In the loading area, we ______ at all times.
Tip: Use have to + verb and include the key safety item from the mini-text.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We are more careful since the warehouse accident.
Tip: Use the present perfect to show a change that continues now.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
Before each shift, we check the emergency exits and the first-aid box.
Tip: Notice the order of actions in this safety procedure sentence.