Incident Reaction Procedure

There are certain situations which may arise during your time on-site. There are specific procedures that must be followed if they do occur.

First priority is always to ensure that any person who has sustained an injury has received appropriate first aid or medical attention. Secure the scene, make the incident area safe and keep people not providing immediate and urgent assistance away from it. The scene of an incident should remain undisturbed until all the facts are collected. If there has been a death or serious injury, the site should not be altered in any way without the permission of a SafeWork SA inspector or police officer. Co-operate with emergency services personnel and SafeWork SA. Record physical evidence first. This evidence may be subject to rapid change or obliteration and should therefore be the first information recorded. Collect and photograph information such as:

• Location of the injured worker(s) at the time of the incident.
• Equipment in use at the time.
• Substances in use at the time.
• Safety devices or controls used at the time.
• Position of appropriate guards.
• Position of controls for any machinery involved.
• Damage to equipment.
• State of housekeeping in the area.
• Environmental conditions (such as weather, lighting, noise levels, temperature).

Take notes of the scene. Photographs, sketches and diagrams may also be useful. Careful study of these later may reveal conditions or contributing factors initially missed. Take notes about:

• Events leading up to the incident, systems of work being used instructions given, any variations from instructions.
• Workplace conditions, such as housekeeping, floor surfaces, stair treads, handrails.
• The exact location of the incident.
• Any materials being used or handled.
• The type of equipment being used.
• Any information at all which may provide clues about contributory factors.
• The incident itself.
• The state of the system and the actions that occurred at the moment of the incident.
• The person(s) directly involved and those involved at a distance.
• The tools, equipment, materials and fixtures directly involved.
• The injuries or damage which directly resulted.
• The events leading to consequential injury or damage.
• The persons involved, including those who rendered first aid.
• Any problems dealing with injuries or damage.

Gather the procedures and safety requirements for the area and tasks being performed. Compile a maintenance history of any plant or equipment involved. Review all potentially useful information about the workplace, equipment and procedures, including designs, specifications, drawings, and information from manufacturers and suppliers.