An incident is an occurrence(s) arising out of or during work that could or does result in injury or ill health (also called an accident). An incident where no injury and ill health occurs, but has the potential to do so, may be referred to as a “near-miss”, “near-hit” or “close-call”.
All incidents and near-miss incidents must be investigated. The depth of the investigation is determined by the severity of the occurrence. This process applies whether the incident occurred on this site or on a customer’s site.
Investigation is carried out immediately or as soon as possible after the occurrence. There may be one or more non-conformities (non-fulfillment of a requirement), or there may be no non-conformity.
The immediate supervisor and or Health and Safety Representative will carry out the initial investigation to:
- Establish the cause. Assess whether serious misconduct was involved.
- Compile an accurate record of the event. Ensure that the investigation covers a description of the site, the operation, processes, plant/equipment (including PPE), events and people present or who were involved in the accident, incident or near miss. Interview all witnesses and collect written statements.
- Carry out a complete site examination, with photographic evidence or description and/or diagrams and documentation.
- Define action, responsibility and measures to prevent reoccurrence, within a predetermined time frame.
- Update the risk register, where necessary. Ensure it is reviewed for new risks identified because of the accident/incident/near miss and also existing risk contributing factor(s) and management controls.
- Supply the manager with documents and reports, so that they can review the report, carry out any further investigation if necessary and ensure that action is taken to avoid a recurrence, then sign off the report.
- In the case of a notifiable event, ensure that any injured party and assistants cannot be subjected to further injury by (if safe and practicable) removing them to a safe distance from the cause of the incident and then have a trained first aider attend to the injured party. An ambulance should be called if there are any doubts about the severity of the injury.
- In the case of a notifiable injury, management or the Health and Safety Representative is required to contact the nearest WorkSafe NZ office as soon as is practicable. (Or at least within 24 hours).
- DO NOT alter or move any machinery or equipment (unless it may cause immediate danger to others) and tape off the area of the incident. Machinery or equipment cannot be used again until it has been cleared by WorkSafe NZ.
- Notifiable Event forms must be filled out and sent to WorkSafe NZ within seven days. This can be done by completing the appropriate online notification form worksafe.govt.nz/notify-worksafe
- Make enquiries as to the extent of the injuries and of the potential of any long-term effects.
We will also notify other relevant PCBUs where required, when an incident occurs on their site and we are involved. We will do this by making telephone contact with the designated staff member or their supervisor, if unavailable.
Process to Review a Critical Event and/or a Change in Work Procedures or Policy
- Ensure that the investigation has identified the contributing risks whose management controls are to be reviewed, or that any newly identified risks are added to the risk register with their respective management controls defined.
- Verify that the corrective actions have been effective following the changes. If not, reassess what needs to happen to ensure effectiveness.
- Make enquiries as to the extent of the injuries to the employee and of the potential of any long-term effects. Evidence that the risk register has been reviewed because of the investigation, with links of time and date of review which match the event that triggered the investigation.
- A review of any further training required is to be completed.
- All staff to be made aware of the event and reason for changes to the policies, processes, equipment and/or the risk register. They are to be given the opportunity to discuss the event, to prevent reoccurrence.