Report an accident, incident or hazard

Accident

An accident is an unplanned event or incident that causes or contributes to personal injury.

All accidents and incidents must be investigated and where possible corrective actions taken. The amount of information that needs to be gathered will vary with the seriousness of the accident or incident, or the potential seriousness of what could have been the outcome.

Incident

An unplanned event which has the potential to cause injury, ill health to people or damage to property and the environment.

A hazard may be anything that has the potential to cause injury or illness to people, or damage to plant or equipment.

The reporting of incidents and identification of hazards is critical in achieving a safe workplace as it prompts action to prevent any future accidents and injuries. 

A notifiable incident means:

• the death of a person
• a serious injury or illness of a person
• a dangerous incident

What is a serious injury or illness

A serious injury or illness means an injury or illness requiring a person to have:

• immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital
• immediate treatment for:
  • a serious head injury
  • a serious eye injury
  • a serious burn
  • the separation of skin from an underlying tissue (such as degloving or scalping
  • a spinal injury
  • the loss of a bodily function
  • a serious laceration
• medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance

What is a dangerous incident

A dangerous incident is where any person is exposed to a serious result resulting from an immediate or imminent exposure to:

• an uncontrolled escape, spillage or leakage of a substance
• an uncontrolled implosion, explosion or fire
• an uncontrolled escape of gas or steam
• an uncontrolled escape of a pressurised substance
• electric shock
• the fall or release from a height of any plant, substance or thing
• the collapse, overturning, failure or malfunction of, or damage to, any plant that is required to be design or item registered under the Work Health and Safety Regulations, for example a collapsing crane
• the collapse or partial collapse of a structure
• the collapse or failure of an excavation or of any shoring supporting an excavation
• the inrush of water, mud or gas in workings, in an underground excavation or tunnel
• the interruption of the main system of ventilation in an underground excavation or tunnel.

If you have an accident or injury during working hours you should:

1. Get treatment from any of the following:

• First Aid;
• University Health, Counselling and Disability Services;
• Your own doctor;
• Flinders Medical Centre;
• Any other hospital.

You have the right to choose where you go for medical treatment.

Advise your treating doctor that the injury is work related and obtain a Workers' Compensation Medical Certificate from the doctor.

2. Report the accident/injury/incident

You must report (verbally or by email) the accident/injury to your supervisor as soon as possible.

You must also report the accident/injury on the University's online FlinSafe System, within 24 hours. If you are unable to report the accident/incident due to the accident, arrangements must be made for your supervisor to report it through FlinSafe.

If you are unsure if the accident/incident is a notifiable incident please contact the WHS Unit.

3. If appropriate, apply for Workers Compensation

4. Students, Visitors and Contractors

Students, visitors and contractors are not covered by Flinders University workers compensation insurance but may have other insurance cover.

Students, visitors and contractors should report accidents/incidents arising from work/activities at University premises using the above procedures.

The University's Risk and Insurance Services (8201 5726) can provide advice about insurance cover for students, visitors and contractors.

Staff members should raise any issues about safe working procedures or a safe working environment with their immediate supervisor. Any identified hazards should be reported on FlinSafe.  The hazard process followed in FlinSafe is shown in the Hazard Reporting Flow Chart.

Any person may draw a safety matter to the attention of the area supervisor or the elected health and safety representative.

If a supervisor is unable to resolve a WHS problem, then he/she should refer it to his/her supervisor for assistance. Advice may also be sought from the WHS Unit.

All hazards, incidents and injuries must be reported to the relevant University manager or supervisor as soon as reasonably possible.

Managers and supervisors are required to use FlinSafe to formally record hazards, incidents and injuries relating to University activities. Records can be created on behalf of others, including students, contractors or visitors.

All incidents must be formally recorded within 24 hours of the incident occuring. 

The following is the procedure for a definite or suspected notifiable incident.

Download the flowchart or see the steps below.