Notification of Certain Occurrences

°Õ³ó±ðÌýHealth, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) team are responsible for ensuring that any dangerous occurrence is reported to SafeWorkSA as soon as practicable after the occurrence in accordance with Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA).

A notifiable dangerous occurrence is any incident or event which arises from operations carried on at a workplace and which causes an immediate and significant risk to a person. 
(Please note - the person does not have to be injured.)

The Security Office and the HSW team must be immediately notified of any of the following dangerous occurrences:

Notifiable Incident (WHS Act 2012 (SA) Section 35 - 39)

  • The death of a person; or
  • A serious injury or illness of a person; or
  • A dangerous incident.

A serious injury or illness requiring the person to have -

  • Immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital; or
  • Immediate treatment for –
    • The amputation of any part of his or her body; or
    • A serious head or serious eye injury; or
    • A serious burn; or
    • The separation of his or her skin from an underlying tissue (such as degloving or scalping); or
    • A spinal injury; or
    • The loss of a bodily function; or
    • Serious lacerations; or
  • Medical treatment within 48 hrs of exposure to a substance,

And includes any other injury or illness prescribed by the regulations but does not included an illness or injury of a prescribed kind.

Dangerous Incident

Means an incident in relation to workplace that exposes a worker or any other person to a serious risk to a person’s health or safety emanating from an immediate or imminent exposure to:

  • An uncontrolled escape, spillage or leakage of a substance; or
  • An uncontrolled implosion, explosion or fire; or
  • An uncontrolled escape of gas or steam; or
  • An uncontrolled escape of a pressurised substance; or
  • Electric shock; or
  • The fall or release from a height of any plant, substance or thing; or
  • The collapse, overturning, failure or malfunction of, or damage to, any plant that is required to be authorised for use in accordance with the regulations; or
  • The collapse or partial collapse of a structure; or
  • The collapse or failure of an excavation or of any shoring supporting an excavation; or
  • The inrush of water, mud or gas in workings, in an underground excavation or tunnel; or
  • The interruption of the main system of ventilation in an underground excavation or tunnel; or
  • Any other event prescribed by the regulations,

But does not include an incident of a prescribed kind.

If an employee suffers an immediately notifiable work-related injury (e.g. death, hospitalisation, acute symptoms associated with exposure to a substance at work), the employer must not without the permission of a SafeWorkSA Inspector:

  • Alter the site where the injury occurred; or
  • Reuse, repair or remove any plant or reuse or remove any substances that caused or was connected with the occurrence (so as not to interfere with any evidence),

In the time before an inspector gives permission, an employer may take such steps as are necessary:

  • To rescue an injured person; or
  • To retrieve any dead body; or
  • To protect the health and safety of any person who may be in the vicinity; or
  • To prevent undue damage to property,

A written report on a Notification of dangerous Occurrence form must also be provided by the University within 24 hours to SafeWork SA.

°Õ³ó±ðÌýHSW Manager (or representative) is to be present for any interview with SafeWorkSA.