Product Overview

Summary: This SOP provides a clear, legally defensible process for managing Work Health and Safety (WHS) incidents from initial response through to investigation, reporting and corrective actions. It helps Australian businesses respond consistently to injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences, protecting workers while demonstrating compliance with WHS legislation and regulator expectations.

The Management of Work Health and Safety Incidents Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, end‑to‑end approach for dealing with any WHS incident in the workplace, including near misses, notifiable incidents, injuries, illnesses and property damage. It defines exactly what must happen in the critical first minutes and hours following an incident—making the scene safe, providing first aid, preserving evidence, notifying management and regulators, and supporting affected workers.

Beyond the initial response, this SOP guides your organisation through thorough incident investigation, root cause analysis, consultation with workers, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions. It addresses common pain points for Australian businesses such as uncertainty about notifiable incidents, inconsistent incident reporting between sites, and poor follow‑through on corrective actions. By implementing this procedure, you create a consistent, transparent and auditable system that reduces repeat incidents, supports continuous improvement, and clearly demonstrates that you are meeting your duty of care under Australian WHS laws.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a rapid, coordinated and legally compliant response to all WHS incidents and near misses.
• Reduce the likelihood of repeat incidents by embedding structured investigation and root cause analysis.
• Demonstrate due diligence and compliance with WHS legislation, regulator expectations and insurer requirements.
• Standardise incident reporting, notification and recordkeeping across sites, shifts and work groups.
• Strengthen safety culture by showing workers that incidents are taken seriously and acted on consistently.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners and PCBU Representatives
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Advisors
• Site Supervisors and Leading Hands
• Operations Managers
• HR Managers
• Return to Work Coordinators
• HSE Coordinators
• Safety Committee Members

Hazards Addressed

• Delayed or inadequate response to injuries and medical emergencies
• Failure to control or isolate ongoing hazards after an incident
• Unreported or under‑reported incidents and near misses
• Loss of critical evidence needed for effective investigation
• Non‑compliance with notifiable incident requirements to WHS regulators
• Poor management of psychosocial impacts on affected workers and witnesses
• Ineffective corrective actions that do not address root causes

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions (Incident, Near Miss, Notifiable Incident, Dangerous Occurrence, PCBU)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Officers, Managers, Supervisors, Workers, HSRs)
• 4.0 Types of WHS Incidents Covered
• 5.0 Immediate Response to Incidents (Make Safe, First Aid, Emergency Services)
• 6.0 Securing the Scene and Preserving Evidence
• 7.0 Internal Notification and Escalation Requirements
• 8.0 Regulator Incident Notification (Criteria, Timeframes, Methods)
• 9.0 Incident Reporting and Documentation Requirements
• 10.0 Incident Investigation Process and Timeframes
• 11.0 Root Cause Analysis Methods (e.g. 5 Whys, ICAM-style approaches)
• 12.0 Corrective and Preventive Action Planning
• 13.0 Consultation with Workers and Health and Safety Representatives
• 14.0 Communication with Injured Workers and Witness Support
• 15.0 Recordkeeping, Privacy and Information Management
• 16.0 Trend Analysis, Monitoring and Management Review
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Awareness Requirements
• 18.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act (as implemented in each state and territory)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (as implemented in each state and territory)
• Safe Work Australia – Incident Notification Fact Sheets and Guidance Material
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• State/Territory WHS Regulator Incident Notification Requirements (e.g. SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, WorkSafe Queensland)