Product Overview

The Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedure is a professionally developed, ready-to-use document designed specifically for Australian workplaces. It provides a clear, step-by-step framework for reporting, recording and investigating incidents, injuries, near misses and hazards in line with Australian work health and safety legislation.

This comprehensive procedure helps organisations standardise their response to incidents, from immediate actions and regulator notification through to root cause analysis, corrective actions and follow-up. It supports WHS compliance, improves safety culture and ensures critical information is captured accurately and consistently for ongoing risk management.

Key Features

• Detailed guidance on how to report and investigate incidents, near misses and hazards.
• Clear roles and responsibilities for managers, supervisors, workers, HSRs and WHS personnel.
• Specific sections on notifiable incidents and communication with WHS regulators.
• Structured investigation process including evidence collection, interviews and root cause analysis.
• Corrective and preventive action planning aligned with the hierarchy of control.
• Practical checklists to support implementation and day-to-day use.
• Recordkeeping and incident register requirements to strengthen safety documentation and audit readiness.

Benefits

• Strengthen WHS compliance: Aligns your incident management practices with Australian work health and safety laws, regulations and codes of practice.
• Reduce risk and prevent recurrence: Focus on root causes and effective controls to stop similar incidents from happening again.
• Save time and resources: Ready-made, structured procedure reduces the need to develop documentation from scratch.
• Support a positive safety culture: Encourages prompt reporting of incidents and near misses, improving hazard identification and risk control.
• Improve transparency and accountability: Clearly defined responsibilities and workflows make it easier to manage and close out actions.
• Enhance safety documentation: Provides a solid foundation for WHS audits, insurance requirements and internal reporting.

Who is this for?

• Small to large Australian businesses seeking reliable WHS documentation.
• Safety managers, WHS advisors and HSE professionals responsible for incident management.
• HR and People & Culture teams overseeing injury management and workplace behaviour issues.
• Operations and site managers needing a consistent, practical process for handling incidents.
• Organisations wanting to improve their WHS compliance, safety performance and reporting culture.

Legislation & References

This Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedure has been developed with reference to key Australian work health and safety requirements, including the model WHS Act and Regulations, regulator guidance on notifiable incidents, and recognised good practice in incident investigation and risk management. While it should always be tailored to your specific operations and jurisdiction, it provides a strong, compliant framework that can be readily adapted to your organisation.

By implementing this procedure, your business will have a robust, defensible approach to incident reporting and investigation that supports legal obligations, reduces risk and contributes to safer, healthier workplaces.