Reporting and managing a workplace incident in South Australia
When a workplace incident occurs, knowing what to do next is critical. Businesses and employers in South Australia have responsibilities to protect people involved, manage immediate risks and ensure incidents are reported correctly where required.
Workplace Safety Consultants provides workplace incident reporting and management guidance for businesses across Adelaide and South Australia, helping you understand your responsibilities and take the appropriate steps following a workplace incident.
Responding to a Workplace Incident
Immediate action may be required following a workplace incident to protect workers, contractors, visitors and members of the public.
Depending on the circumstances, your initial response may include:
- Providing assistance or treatment to injured people
- Making the area safe and managing any immediate risks
- Preserving the incident site
- Identifying and separating witnesses
- Determining whether the incident is notifiable
- Notifying SafeWork SA where required
- Recording and documenting the incident
How an incident is managed in the moments immediately following can be important for both workplace safety and meeting your obligations under Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation.
When Must a Workplace Incident Be Reported?
Under the Work Health and Safety Act, businesses must notify SafeWork SA as soon as they become aware of a notifiable incident related to their work activities.
A notifiable incident includes:
- The death of a person
- A serious injury or illness
- A dangerous incident
These requirements can apply to incidents involving workers, contractors, visitors or members of the public who are affected by workplace operations.
If you are uncertain whether an incident is notifiable, it is important to confirm your reporting obligations with SafeWork SA or seek appropriate workplace safety advice.
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Serious Injuries and Illnesses
Certain serious workplace injuries and illnesses must be reported. This can include injuries or illnesses requiring immediate treatment as an inpatient in hospital, as well as serious conditions such as:
- Amputation
- Serious head or eye injuries
- Serious burns
- Spinal injuries
- Loss of bodily function
- Serious lacerations
- Medical treatment following exposure to certain harmful substances
Sections 35, 36 and 37 of the Work Health and Safety Act provide further detail about notifiable incidents, serious injuries and illnesses, and dangerous incidents.
Dangerous Incidents and Near Misses
A person does not necessarily need to be injured for a workplace incident to be notifiable.
A dangerous incident can include a workplace event that exposes a person to a serious health or safety risk resulting from immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard.
Examples may include:
- Uncontrolled escapes of gas, steam or pressurised substances
- Uncontrolled fires, explosions or spills
- Electric shocks
- Falls or releases from height
- Structural collapses
- Plant or equipment collapses
Reporting dangerous incidents and near misses where required is an important part of workplace incident management and can help businesses identify risks before they result in serious injury.
Preserving a Workplace Incident Site
Following a notifiable incident, there may also be a legal obligation to preserve the incident site.
Section 39 of the Work Health and Safety Act requires the person with management or control of the workplace to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the site is not disturbed until an inspector arrives or provides further direction.
There are circumstances where the site may need to be disturbed, including to:
- Assist an injured person
- Remove a deceased person
- Make the site safe
- Prevent another incident
- Comply with a direction from an inspector
Understanding these requirements is particularly important immediately following a serious workplace incident, when decisions may need to be made quickly.
SafeWork Improvement and Prohibition Notices
A SafeWork inspector may issue notices when monitoring or enforcing compliance with WHS legislation.
Improvement Notices
An Improvement Notice may be issued where an inspector identifies a contravention of WHS legislation or believes a contravention is likely to continue or be repeated.
The notice will outline the issue and specify when corrective action must be completed. Improvement Notices must be prominently displayed at or near the workplace where the work is being carried out.
Prohibition Notices
A Prohibition Notice may be issued where an inspector identifies an activity that involves, or may involve, a serious risk to health or safety from immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard.
The notice may require an activity to stop or prevent unsafe plant or machinery from being used until the identified risk has been addressed.
Improvement and Prohibition Notices remain in force until the required action has been completed. Failing to comply with a notice may result in penalties.
Workplace Incident Reporting and Management Support
Workplace Safety Consultants provides workplace incident and reporting management assistance for businesses across Adelaide, including guidance when a workplace incident results in an Improvement or Prohibition Notice from SafeWork SA.
We can help you understand the notice, identify what needs to be addressed and take the appropriate steps towards rectification and compliance.
Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment
We can review the issues identified by SafeWork SA, conduct a gap analysis and risk assessment, and provide technical and practical guidance on the actions required.
Remedial Action Planning
We can develop a structured Remedial Action Plan outlining the steps required to address the underlying hazard. This may include appropriate technical solutions or engineering controls that can be implemented within the required timeframe.
Document and System Updates
We can help draft or revise Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies and safety management system procedures to address identified issues and support ongoing compliance.
Worker Consultation
We can guide your business through consultation with workers and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) regarding proposed changes and matters that may affect workplace health and safety.
Notice Extension Requests
Where additional time is required, we can assist with preparing a formal request to SafeWork SA for an extension to the timeframe specified in the notice before the compliance date expires.
SafeWork SA Communication
We can help prepare a formal response and supporting evidence demonstrating that the identified issues have been rectified for submission to the SafeWork SA inspector.
To enquire about how workplace safety consultants can assist with your workplace incident reporting and management needs, contact us today for support across Adelaide and South Australia.