ACCIDENT/INJURY REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION


Introduction

The OH&S Act and Regulations require employers to Keep information and records relating to work-related injuries suffered by employees’, and the collection of information about all accidents, injuries and near misses is an essential part of Swart and Sons efforts to ensure a safe workplace for everyone.

Policy

Immediate response

The person in charge must:

Take immediate action to prevent further damage or injury and provide assistance tany injured person, having due regard for their own safety.

Call for appropriate assistance or medical aid that is available.

Reporting

Minor injuries or incidents which dnot

Result in any significant loss of work time, or

Require professional medical assistance, or

Cause significant damage to property or equipment

These events must be reported to the supervisor and recorded on an Accident/Injury Report form.

All other accidents or injuries

Must be reported to the Supervisor by the employee/contractor and an Accident and Injury Report form completed as soon as this can be reasonably done.

Others aware of the event must make certain that it is reported in the event that an employee/contractor is not able to report it because of injury. Those affected by the incident should verify the report when they are able to.

When: Professional or medical advice is required

Work time is lost

Property is damaged

A particular event could have resulted in serious injury

The Supervisor must advise the person responsible for OH&S as soon as possible.

Fatality or very serious injury

The Managing Director must be advised immediately in the event of a fatality or very serious injury, or there was the potential for this.

SafeWork SA must be advised immediately (emergency telephone no. 1800 777 209 – available 24 hours -) if there is: A work related death

Injury that requires admittance to hospital as an inpatient

Injury that results from exposure to any substance that causes acute symptoms

A Dangerous occurrence – examples include Damage to or malfunction of any major plant

Unplanned collapse or failure of an excavation more than 1.5 meters deep

Unplanned collapse or partial collapse of a building or significant structure

Unplanned collapse of the floor, wall, or ceiling of a building being used as a workplace

A significant, uncontrolled explosion, fire, escape of gas, hazardous substance or steam

An electrical short circuit or serious malfunction of electrical apparatus

Significant, unplanned release of a flood of water, rock fall, or subsidence of ground

Malfunction of breathing or other safety equipment where the user’s health is endangered

Investigating Procedure

Minor injuries/incidents

Regular checks of all recorded minor injuries or incidents will be carried out by the Supervisor, together with any investigation required.

All other injuries/incidents

The Supervisor must either personally investigate or arrange for an investigation to be conducted within 24 hours of the event to avoid the loss of useful information. The aim of the investigation is to identify the reasons why the incident occurred and the actions that can be taken to avoid a re occurrence, not to establish blame. The investigation should identify all of the factors that contributed to the event, including: Damage to plant and equipment

Working environment

Working procedures

Work design

Behavior

All witnesses should be interviewed as a part of the investigation.

The Supervisor, in consultation with relevant Health and Safety representative(s), must determine the corrective actions tbe implemented as soon as possible. Temporary

Measures tcontrol the risk may be necessary while management considers the options for more permanent actions.

The Supervisor must complete the Accident/Injury Report and send this, together with all other relevant material, to Management.

The Supervisor is responsible for following up the effectiveness of the actions taken to prevent any re-occurrence of the event.