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INCIDENT/INJURY/HAZARD REPORTING SYSTEM

INDEX

  1. What to do in the Event of an Accident/Injury/Hazard
  2. Reporting and Investigation
  3. Prevention/follow-up Action
  4. Serious Work Related Injuries, Illnesses or Dangerous Occurrences

1.     What to do in the event of an accident/injury

If an injury occurs, the first priority should be ensuring that the injured party gets appropriate medical attention by contacting the area First Aid Officers, the University Health Service, or the relevant Emergency Services. In all situations, steps should be taken to control all immediate threats to the health and safety of anyone who might use the area. Everyone has a responsibility to do this.

2.     Reporting and investigation

Once the situation is under control, it is necessary to report what happened and start the investigation process. The University's current injury and hazard reporting mechanism, is encompassed in the Injury/Incident/Hazard Report Form(pdf) available from the Health & Safety web site, School Secretaries, First Aid-Officers, or by contacting Health and Safety on extension 15263.

Forms should be completed by the person involved in the incident, or the person who identified the hazard, in conjunction with the person's supervisor. Instructions for completion(pdf) are located on the Health & Safety web site or by contacting Health & Safety on extension 15263.

3.    Preventative/Follow-up action

The supervisor is then responsible for implementing measures that will reduce the risk of the incident re-occurring. Depending on the nature of the incident, this may be very simple to achieve, or it may require a more detailed investigation involving a number of other groups within the University. In order that this investigation and follow-up is carried out in a timely manner, staff are reminded that an Injury/Incident/Hazard Report Form must be submitted to the Health and Safety Team within 24 hours of the occurrence. Staff should also be aware that if medical treatment is required or time lost from work, the Workers' Compensation Claims Officer, extension 15263, should be contacted in this regard.

By compiling a picture of injuries that have occurred at the University, slips, trips and falls have been identified as the hazard most frequently encountered by staff. Through the injury reporting system, and other proactive systems, hazards can be quickly attended to by Facilities Management staff.

NOTE: While the Injury/Incident/Hazard Report Form is to be used to identify and report hazards (in addition to accidents, injuries and illnesses), matters involving minor repairs or maintenance can be reported directly to Maintenance, Facilities Management or via completion of the University's Maintenance Request Form available on line.

4.     Serious Work-related Injuries, Illnesses or Dangerous Occurrences

By law in New South Wales the employer or person in charge of the workplace is required to notify the WorkCover Authority of NSW of serious work-related injuries, illnesses or dangerous occurrences.

The Health & Safety Unit are responsible for the submission of an Accident Report form in the following instances:

(a) Work related Injuries or Illnesses

All work-related incidents that involve a worker, where workers compensation is, or may be, payable must be reported to the University’s Workers' Compensation Officer, extension 15263, within 48 hours. This allows the University to meet legislative requirements to report all such incidents to the insurer within the required timeframe.

(b) Non Work Related Injuries or Illnesses

If a person dies or sustains a serious injury/illness as a result of an accident at the workplace, it must be reported immediately. This is required regardless of whether the person injured or killed is not an employee, eg a student, subcontractor or visitor.

(c) Dangerous Occurrences

If there is a dangerous occurrence at a workplace, regardless of whether anyone is injured. A dangerous occurrence is:

It is therefore imperative that the Health and Safety Team should be contacted immediately in the event of such occurrences as indicated in (a) (b) or (c) above.