I1. Incident or Injury Reporting

I1.1 Introduction
I1.2 Standard
I1.3 Procedures
   I1.3.1 Report form
   I1.3.2 Incident investigation
   I1.3.3 Workplace health and safety representatives
   I1.3.4 Workers' compensation insurance
   I1.3.5 'Near miss' incidents

I1.1 Introduction

Policy reference number	I1 Incident or Injury Reporting
Scope and application	This procedure applies to all employees, students, contractors and visitors while they are on University property or undertaking University work. A work injury, as defined in the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) means: (a) an injury to an employee or other person in the course of doing work that requires first aid or medical treatment; or (b) the recurrence, aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any existing injury in a person in the course of doing work that requires first aid or medical treatment and to which the work was a contributing factor. A serious bodily injury under the Act means an injury that causes death or impairs a person to such an extent that as a consequence of the injury the person becomes an overnight or longer stay patient in hospital.
HR contacts	Michael Flannery
Policy type/category	Management
Related legislation/ regulations/guidelines	Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 (Qld)
Associated USQ policies	USQ Workplace Health and Safety Procedures Manual
Delegations authority	Delegate	Authority
	Supervisor	Investigation of incident or injury; completion and lodgement of record form
	Category 4 Delegate or above	All incidents, injuries and illnesses in their respective faculties or departments are reported and investigated
	Manager, USQ Safe	All administrative arrangements
Approval authority	Council for policy statements Vice-Chancellor or General Manager for procedures
Review date/s	Published September 1998 Reviewed June 2007 Endorsed by the Executive Workplace Health and Safety Committee July 2007

I1.2 Standard

Any individual who is injured or involved in an incident at the University must inform their Supervisor as soon as possible.

I1.3 Procedures

I1.3.1 Report form

Individuals at the University must record all personal incidents or injuries on an Incident Record/Report form which is also available from faculty or department administration sections, the Student Services Medical Clinic or USQSafe.

The Supervisor must also complete the Incident Record/Report form and upon completion will forward both forms to their Category 4 Delegate or above and USQSafe.

I1.3.2 Incident investigation

The Category 4 Delegate or above of the area where the incident occurred is responsible for investigating the cause of the incident and must take action to prevent any recurrence.

The relevant Delegate must investigate the incident to ensure that action has been taken to eliminate the cause. USQSafe will keep all Incident Record/Report forms for incident analysis and control.

If a person suffers serious bodily injury or a work related illness at a University workplace, the Qld Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1995 states that a person must not move or otherwise interfere with any plant or other thing connected with the injury, illness or event without the permission of an inspector or, if an inspector is not available, a police officer. A person may move or interfere with the scene of the incident if it is necessary to save life, relieve suffering, or to prevent injury or property damage.

I1.3.3 Workplace health and safety representatives

A Workplace Health and Safety Representative is entitled to be told by the University of any work injury, illness or dangerous event which takes place. The Representative is also entitled to review the circumstances surrounding any such events and to provide advice to the University.

I1.3.4 Workers' compensation insurance

If the injury to a University worker comes under the WorkCover definition of a compensable injury, the injured employee may apply for compensation by completing a Work Cover form.

Refer to Section R2 - Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation in this WHS Procedures Manual and the additional Workers' Compensation information provided by USQSafe more details.

I1.3.5 "Near miss" incidents

If a person is involved in a ‘near miss' incident, this should be recorded on a Hazard Report and Investigation form. A ‘near miss' is an incident that although it did not result in an injury or disease, it had the potential to do so. Reporting of minor and near miss incidents can lead to prevention of more serious incidents or injuries.

For more details, refer to Section H1 - Hazard Reporting procedures in this WHS Procedures Manual.