1 Principles

Any individual who is injured or involved in an incident at the University must inform their Supervisor as soon as possible.

2 Procedures

2.1 Report form

Individuals at the University must record all personal incidents or injuries on an Incident Record/Report form which is also available from faculty or department administration sections, the Student Services Medical Clinic or USQSafe or they may report via the University Hazard and Incident Reporting and Tracking System (UniHIRTS) on the University’s website.

The Supervisor must also complete the Incident Record/Report form and upon completion will forward both forms to their Category 4 Delegate or above and USQSafe.

2.2 Incident investigation 

The Category 4 Delegate or above of the area where the incident occurred is responsible for investigating the cause of the incident and must take action to prevent any recurrence.

The relevant Delegate must investigate the incident to ensure that action has been taken to eliminate the cause. USQSafe will keep all Incident Record/Report forms for incident analysis and control.

If a person suffers serious bodily injury or a work related illness at a University workplace, the Qld Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 states that a person must not move or otherwise interfere with any plant or other thing connected with the injury, illness or event without the permission of an inspector or, if an inspector is not available, a police officer.  A person may move or interfere with the scene of the incident if it is necessary to save life, relieve suffering, or to prevent injury or property damage.

2.3 Workplace health and safety representatives

A Workplace Health and Safety Representative is entitled to be told by the University of any work injury, illness or dangerous event which takes place.  The Representative is also entitled to review the circumstances surrounding any such events and to provide advice to the University.

2.4 Workers' compensation insurance

If the injury to a University worker comes under the WorkCover definition of a compensable injury, the injured employee may apply for compensation by completing a Work Cover form. 

Refer to Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation in this WHS Procedures and the additional Workers' Compensation information provided by USQSafe for more details.

2.5 "Near miss" incidents

If a person is involved in a ‘near miss' incident, this should be recorded on a Hazard Report and Investigation form or report via the University Hazard and Incident Reporting and Tracking System (UniHIRTS) on the University’s website.  A ‘near miss' is an incident that although it did not result in an injury or disease, it had the potential to do so.  Reporting of minor and near miss incidents can lead to prevention of more serious incidents or injuries.

For more details, refer to Hazard Reporting procedures in this WHS Procedures.

3 Definitions

4 Other Policy Information