Accident and hazard reporting
New! Online accident and hazard report
A fundamental component of any accident prevention program is good, reliable accident reporting. If minor injuries, near misses or hazards are reported it gives the University through your supervisor an opportunity to intervene and prevent more serious injury. Your minor trip may be the next person's twisted ankle or worse. Similarly if you are finding it difficult to safely get the box down from top of the cupboard, it may be only a matter of time before you or a colleague are injured.
If you have an accident you should report it. If you identify a hazard and you cannot fix it quickly, you should report it. Reporting of accidents or hazards should occur promptly reducing the chances of the same thing happening to others. Managers and OHS Representatives are encouraged to put up the Report That Hazard (29 KB) poster in the workplace.
With other types of injuries/incidents, for example with computers, early reporting of persistent or reoccurring pain or discomfort can prevent the problem from developing and becoming more serious. This same principle applies to some manual handling injuries and work related stress. Nearly half of the serious injuries over the last three years at Deakin may have been prevented if they were reported when they started occurring rather than many months later.
There is a statutory requirement in Victoria to report all serious injuries involving staff, students, visitors or contractors to WorkSafe Victoria. There is also a requirement to report electrical accidents to EnergySafe Victoria.
Please contact the University's OHS Unit immediately on (03) 5227 2869 (Geelong / Warrnambool) (03) 924 68175 (Melbourne).
The University uses an online accident and hazard report as well as a simple one page accident and hazard report (48 KB). A Word version of the accident and hazard report (72 KB) can also be used. The form should be used to report work injuries and other serious incidents and near misses. The form should also be used to report hazards that cannot be quickly resolved.
Once completed, the report should be given to your supervisor (if practical) and then sent to the OHS group in Human Resources Division. The report contains a section to be completed by your manager or supervisor on what actions are being taken to prevent a re-occurrence of the accident or to remove the hazard. It is your supervisor's responsibility to action the report if possible or send it to the appropriate University area for action.
For more serious accidents or near misses a more formal accident investigation must be carried out by the manager or supervisor. This would apply where the incident has been reported to WorkSafe or where a WorkCover Claim is submitted. Advice should be sought from the OHS group. The Manager Accident Analysis Report (83 KB)can be used for this purpose if appropriate.
OHS hazards associated with public areas, fixtures such as toilets and lights, and fittings such as carpets should be lodged directly with Facilities Management Services via a Work Request.
If OHS matters are not adequately addressed you can take them up with your local health and safety representative or through your campus OHS committee (contact the OHS group).
