Report Details of Incident to Workplace Supervisor as Appropriate
If at the time you are unable to report straight away to your supervisor, that as soon as the emergency is over you will need to report to your supervisor.
Incident Reporting
It is important to maintain records of any incidents and injuries that occur in the organisation.
Record as much detail as possible about the incident/injury, the equipment involved and action taken to prevent a similar incident, as appropriate.
Prepare reports as appropriate
It is important to record details of the casualty's physical condition and any changes, including management of the casualty and response to management. As soon as the casualty has been stabilised, a report must be made to your supervisor.
There are several reasons for this.
- This documented record is a legal document and may be used in a court of law, for example, as evidence in a law suit or a coroner's investigation
- If the casualty is transferred to a doctor's or hospital's care, this record can be communicated to the doctor
- The incident may be investigated, identifying and rectifying causes to prevent the incident from occurring again
- The records may be a useful tool for obtaining information used for audits
Methods
Your workplace will have an accident/incident form that will need to be completely filled in.
Company procedures
Always follow company procedures. You may have to write details first into a logbook and then fill out an accident/incident form. Maybe you will only have to fill out an accident/incident form. Whatever the company policy, make sure it is followed. Be sure to fill out all information requested as soon as practicable and sign the form. It is normal practice to submit the form to management.
The accident/incident form is a legal document that can be used in a court of law.
Incident reporting
Notification of work-related incidents to WHS/OHS authorities is a legal requirement of both the workers compensation and occupational health and safety legislation. In New South Wales this authority is WorkCover NSW.
The following is a list of relevant legislative provisions:
- Section 44 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998
- Clause 32 of the Workers Compensation Regulation 2003
- Under the relevant sections of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Under the relevant sections of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
From 1 September 2003, work-related incidents under clause 341 are called incidents. Previously, these incidents were called accidents and other matters. Also from 1 September 2003, there is a new simplified incident notification system in NSW. The types of incidents that should be reported include:
- Serious incident involving a fatality or a serious injury or illness. Notify WorkCover immediately by phone and the workers compensation insurer within 48 hours.
- Incident involving an injury or illness to workers, where workers compensation is or may be payable. Notify the workers compensation insurer within 48 hours.
Serious incident with no injury or illness, but is immediately life threatening. Notify WorkCover immediately by phone plus notify WorkCover within seven days to make full report using the online form or a printed version.
Incident with no injury or illness, and is not immediately life threatening. Notify WorkCover within seven days using the online form or a printed version.
These provisions include non-workers, for example visitors or customers at the workplace.
When notifying, you will be asked questions about the incident. Some information will only need to be provided when there has been a death, injury or illness. This information is marked with an asterisk*.
Employer information:
- Name of employer
- Address (street address, suburb, postcode)
- Abn number
- Type of industry
Notifier information:
- Name of notifier
- Phone number
* Injured person details:
- Name of injured, ill or deceased person
- Residential address (street, suburb, postcode)
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- Non-worker category (e.g. visitor, customer)
Incident details:
- Date of incident
- Location of incident (location, street, suburb, postcode)
- Description of how incident happened
- Description of injury, illness or death*
Insurers may ask for more information.
Occupiers of workplaces/employers must keep the following records about the notification for at least five years after the notification is given:
- A record of the date, time, place and nature of the incident/injury
- A record of the date of notification and the way in which the notification was given
- A record of any acknowledgement given by the insurer or WorkCover
These records must be made available for inspection by a WorkCover inspector or an authorised representative of the worker. An entry in the Register of Injuries is a sufficient record of an injury to a worker for notification purposes. The record of any acknowledgement of the notice can also be kept as part of the Register of Injuries.