Incident Notification Changes
A person conducting a business or undertaking must notify their WH&S regulator immediately after becoming aware of a serious work-related injury, illness or dangerous incident, known as ‘notifiable incidents.’
This incident notification requirement was reviewed as an outcome of the 2018 review of the model WH&S laws. Recommended changes following this review, providing clarity and certainty, were agreed by WH&S ministers in June 2024.
The decision to review them were to;
- Ensure the provisions met the 2008 Review intentions
- Ensure the provisions capture relevant incidents, injuries & illnesses occurring from new work practices, industries and work arrangements, and
- Ensure WH&S regulators have visibility of work-related psychological injuries and illnesses.
Some of the changes include.
- Clarity for the type of incidents to be notified, deciding whether a serious injury or illness must be notified and preserving evidence and incident sites
- Capturing violent incidents arising out of the conduct of the business that may not result in serious physical injuries or illnesses, but rather psychological health & safety
- Notification of a work-related suicide or attempted suicide where there it may suggested that there is a potential link to work or the environment.
- Capturing serious work-related injuries or illnesses through the notification of a worker’s absence of 15 or more consecutive days due to psychological or physical injury, illness or harm arising out of conduct of the business.
Amendments to legislation are due to be finalised by early 2025.
We will keep you up to date with these changes.