Health and Safety Incidents

Employers, occupiers and persons in charge must report incidents promptly to WorkSafe Victoria at 132 360.

• deaths and life-threatening injuries (eg amputations) must be reported immediately
• other serious incidents, such as those listed below, should be reported as soon as the employer is aware of the incident or within 48 hours:
  • a person requires medical treatment:
    • after exposure to a substance
    • as an inpatient in hospital
    • for a serious injury such as an amputation, a head or eye injury, electric shock, spinal injuries or serious laceration
  • incidents where employees or other persons are in the immediate vicinity of a risk such as:
    • registered or licensed plant that has collapsed, overturned, failed or malfunctioned
    • the collapse of an excavation supporting an excavation
    • the collapse of a building or structure
    • an implosion, explosion or fire
    • incidents involving Dangerous Goods
    • if plant or object falls from high places, or
    • in relation to a mine –
      • the overturning or collapse of any plant
      • any inrush of water, mud or gas, or
      • the interruption of the main system of ventilation.

 WorkSafe will call the employer or occupier the same day and advise the employer or occupier:

• if an inspector will visit their site
• whether the employer or occupier can disturb the incident scene.

Serious incidents will be assessed by a WorkSafe Inspector. For more information, refer to compliance and enforcement.