Providing a safe workplace

In certain circumstances, injuries in the workplace must be reported immediately to SafeWork SA, which is the State regulator for occupational health, safety and welfare.

These circumstances are as follows:

• When a work-related injury causes death
• When a work-related injury requires hospitalisation
• When a work-related injury has acute symptoms associated with exposure to a substance at work
• When there is a dangerous occurrence where there is an immediate and significant risk to a person or person/s arising from work regardless of whether or not an injury occurs, such as:
  - the collapse, overturning or failure of a load-bearing plant such as a scaffold, lift, crane or hoist
  - an uncontrolled explosion, fire or escape of any gas or hazardous substance
  - an electrical short circuit, malfunction or explosion

Call SafeWork SA to report serious workplace incidents and dangerous occurrences on 1800 777 209 (24-hour service). For general enquiries, call 1300 365 255.

SafeWork SA is responsible for administering and enforcing occupational health, safety and welfare and certain industrial relations laws in South Australia.

SafeWork SA encourages employers and workers to work together to achieve a safe and healthy workplace. The best results are achieved when everyone in the workplace is involved in developing a risk management approach to eliminating and controlling health and safety hazards.

SafeWork SA promotes and encourages safe, fair and productive working lives for all South Australians by working with employers, workers, unions and industry representatives.

For information about SafeWork SA and your responsibilities as an employer contact:

SafeWork SA’s Help Centre
Phone 1300 365 255
help@safework.sa.gov.au
www.safework.sa.gov.au

The SafeWork SA Library manages a comprehensive collection of occupational health and safety, workers compensation, rehabilitation, return to work and industrial relations resource material. Membership is free. Contact the bookshop to request products on a range of safety and workers compensation issues.

100 Waymouth Street, Adelaide.

Library, phone (08) 8204 8877,
email: library@safework.sa.gov.au

Bookshop, phone (08) 8204 8881,
email: bookshop@safework.sa.gov.au

As an employer, you have certain responsibilities regarding occupational health, safety and welfare (OHSW) following an injury or near miss at work.

Action must be taken following a workplace accident to secure the health and safety of the injured person/s and to protect all other people that could be exposed to the hazard. This may be done by securing the immediate environment where the accident occurred, isolating any power to plant and equipment and rendering the area safe.

Some injuries at work need to be immediately reported to SafeWork SA. If a worker is injured in the workplace and requires hospitalisation, if workers are exposed to a substance at work and develop acute symptoms, or if there is a workplace injury that causes death, you must notify Safework SA.

You also need to report dangerous occurrences immediately – that is, a situation where there is an immediate and significant risk to workers regardless of whether or not an injury has occurred. Examples include the collapse of a scaffold, lift or crane; an uncontrolled explosion, fire or escape of a hazardous substance; or an electrical short circuit, malfunction or explosion.