Planning for workplace incidents
Make a plan for how your organisation will respond to workplace incidents before an incident happens.
A workplace incident is an event that arises out of workplace activities and causes harm to people or property, or could cause harm (including near misses).
Your plan should support people in your organisation to:
- respond immediately to keep everyone safe
- comply with the law.
It should also include when an incident needs to be reported to a safety regulator.
Tell your workers about the plan and make it easy for them to access. You could display it on a notice board or post it to a shared online space. Share it with new people when they start, and remind people about it during project or regular meetings.
Learn more about dealing with a workplace incident.
Planning for workplace injuries and illnesses
Organisations should make a plan for managing workplace injuries before an injury or illness happens.
A workplace injury is any injury or illness caused by, or that happens in the course of, work. Workplace injuries can include the worsening of an existing condition.
Your plan should support people in your organisation to:
- help workers
- comply with your legal obligations.
An effective workplace injury management plan should prioritise the safety of workers and making the workspace safe.
It should set out:
- how people can access first aid
- how workers can expect to be given first aid if they are injured
- how workers can seek medical treatment
- a system for reporting and keeping records of injuries
- information about when authorities, such as WHS regulators, should be notified
- information about when workers compensation insurance may be available, and when the PCBU is required to notify their insurer
- information about support available to injured workers
- how the PCBU and injured worker can communicate with each other
- who the PCBU may engage with as part of the worker’s recovery, including rehabilitation providers and treating doctors.
Tell your workers about the plan and make it easy for them to access. You could display it on a notice board or post it to a shared online space. Share it with new people when they start, and remind people about it during project or regular meetings.
Learn more about dealing with a workplace injury or illness.
How you manage workplace injuries will depend on who has been injured and whether workers are covered by workers compensation insurance.
Make sure you understand your workers compensation insurance obligations when planning for workplace injuries.
Return to work plans
When the time comes to develop a return-to-work plan for injured workers, your plan should:
- identify suitable duties that align with the employee’s capabilities
- follow medical evidence and advice
- make reasonable accommodations for the injured worker
- be communicated to the worker.
SafeWork Australia has a helpful Guide and template: Developing a return to work plan.
More in this section:
About workplace injuries and incidents
There are important actions to take if there is a safety incident or injury in the workplace.
Dealing with a workplace injury or illness
This page has information for workplaces and workers about how to manage an injury or illness that happens at work.
Dealing with a workplace incident
There are important actions to take if there is a safety incident in the workplace, including responding immediately to keep everyone safe and complying with the law.
