• Section 1 - Preamble
• Section 2 - Purpose
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Procedure
• Immediate Incident Response
• Incident notification and classification
• Notifiable incidents
• Reporting and recording of incidents
• Investigation
• Completion Timeframes and communicating outcomes
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 5 - Non-Compliance

Section 1 - Preamble

(1) Charles Darwin University (‘the University’, ‘CDU’) is committed to fostering a safe workplace and learning environment through the management of Work, Health and Safety (WHS) incidents and their subsequent investigation. This includes damage to property, and both physical and psychosocial incidents. 

Section 2 - Purpose

(2) This procedure provides the framework for incident notification, reporting, classification and investigation for all University campuses and facilities. This ensures all Work, Health and Safety incidents, including near misses are reported, recorded and sufficiently investigated to produce appropriate corrective actions to minimise the chance of repeat incidents.

(3) This procedure should be read in conjunction with the Work Health and Safety Policy. 

Section 3 - Scope

(4) This procedure applies to all workers, as defined by the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 NT. It also includes higher degree by research candidates and affiliates, who undertake any activities on University premises, or who execute work for or on behalf of the University either on or off campus.

(5) This procedure does not pertain to a member of the public who suffers a medical event that occurs whilst participating in clinical activities, unless the facility or equipment was a contributing factor. For further clarification on this contact Work Health and Safety.

(6) The Critical Incident and Emergency Management Policy and Procedure and the Material Change Procedure provides information on incidents which are required to be reported to TEQSA in accordance with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.

Section 4 - Procedure

Immediate Incident Response

(7) A first responder to an incident should:

1. make the incident scene safe;
2. initiate an emergency response or medical treatment – refer to the Emergency Management Plan (as required);
3. notify a supervisor or manager;
4. preserve the incident scene; and
5. report the incident details.

Incident notification and classification

(8) All workplace incidents are to be reported to the relevant supervisor/manager and an Accident, Incident, Illness, and Injury Report (AIIR) must be completed as soon as possible. Table One provides information on how certain types of incidents are classified. The classification of an incident informs the response taken.

1. Verbal notification to Work Health and Safety should occur immediately to determine whether immediate notification to the relevant regulator/s is required.

(9) The work area where an incident occurred manages the incident through to completion with the support of Work Health and Safety. The Senior Manager Work Health and Safety is the final authority for the classification of an incident or hazard.

Table One – Incident Classification

Notifiable incidents

(10) The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 NT Part 3 requires the WHS Regulator to be notified of certain incidents. The following incidents are notifiable:

1. the death of a person; or
2. a serious injury or illness of a person; or
3. a dangerous incident.

(11) NT Worksafe, or other applicable state based organisation provides further information on determining whether an incident is notifiable.

Table Two - Incident notification timeframes and responsibilities 

Reporting and recording of incidents

(12) Incident reporting is required to:

1. ensure notification to external or legislative authorities within applicable timeframes (where required by legislation);
2. ensure appropriate emergency response is actioned (where necessary);
3. ensure appropriate levels of the University’s management and staff are informed of the incident’s basic details in a timely manner;
4. preserve evidence and secure the incident scene;
5. assist in identification of a risk or hazard that requires attention due to having the potential to cause harm; and
6. ensure incidents are recorded and classified by Work Health and Safety.

(13) All incident information collected, including records of notifiable incidents, are to be recorded in accordance with the Records and Information Management Policy and Procedure and are protected for access by authorised employees only. Incident information may include:

1. all investigation reports including preliminary assessments;
2. remedial / corrective actions;
3. witness statements;
4. relevant risk assessments;
5. incident photographs;
6. permits, authorisations; and
7. any other evidence collected.

(14) Regardless of classification, all incidents must be reported to the delegated Senior University representative and Work Health and Safety. All incidents that are notifiable to a regulator (EPA, NT WorkSafe etc.) will also be reportable to University Council and Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee.

Investigation

(15) The objective of an investigation is to determine its cause(s) and contributing factors so that corrective/preventative actions can be developed and implemented to manage the risk and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Table three describes the investigation requirement according to its incident classification.

Table Three – Incident classification and corresponding investigation requirements

Appointment of an investigation team

(16) The Senior Manager Work Health and Safety or their delegate will ensure an investigation is undertaken in accordance with this procedure and the investigation team is appropriately resourced.

(17) The Senior Manager Work Health and Safety will assign an adequately qualified and experienced Lead Investigator to facilitate an investigation into the incident to determine the cause/s and contributing factors so corrective/preventative actions can be developed and implemented.

(18) For all incidents requiring an ICAM investigation, the Lead Investigator will:

1. have completed ICAM Lead Investigators Training Course;
2. complete the required comprehensive investigation report, in association with the Investigation Team, including the forwarding of a Corrective Action Plan report containing the Investigation Team’s recommendations to the respective work area’s Senior Management;
3. liaise with the work area during the investigation process;
4. undertake the investigation process in accordance with the provisions of the ICAM methodology; and
5. distribute the investigation report as required.

(19) Where contractors are involved in an incident, including high potential incidents, they are to provide access to people, sites and other resources as needed to fully investigate the incident and implement corrective and preventative actions to prevent recurrence.

Investigation response timeframes

(20) With the exception of a preliminary report, where an investigation cannot be completed within thirty (30) days, a reason must be reported and extension approved by the Director People and Culture. Table four describes the response timeframes according to the incident classification.

Table Four - Investigation Response Timeframes

Relationship to other investigations

(21) Any one incident may attract several different investigations, performed by external agencies or authorities. Such authorities may include Emergency Services, EPA or WHS Regulator (none of whom are bound by this reference). Investigators may be called upon to coordinate their activities with those conducting these investigations.

Corrective and preventative actions

(22) Where system deficiencies have been identified through the investigation process, the responsible work area is required to develop a Corrective Action Implementation Plan based on recommendations from the investigation outcomes. The development and implementation of the Corrective Action Implementation Plan occurs when the incident investigation report has been agreed to and signed by the work area representative. The Lead Investigator may facilitate the development of the Corrective Action Plan with the work area representative.

(23) The respective work area is accountable for:

1. liaising with all action assignees prior to the action being assigned.
2. monitoring the due date for completion of the agreed corrective actions.
3. action completion notification to Work Health and Safety.

(24) Following completion of all actions, closure of the incident is recorded by Work Health and Safety. They assess compliance to the above requirements and will determine action plan effectiveness.

Hierarchy of control

(25) As part of post incident corrective action management strategy, Work Health and Safety and work area representatives need to stipulate control measure(s) to be put in place. The hierarchy of controls framework is utilised to determine appropriate control measure(s) and are selected from the highest order commencing with implementing controls to eliminate the hazard. For further information on the hierarchy of control framework see Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Control Procedure.

Completion Timeframes and communicating outcomes

Table Five - Corrective action planning, completion timeframes and communicating outcomes

Roles and Responsibilities

(26) The Vice-Chancellor, Senior Executive Team (SET), Directors and Managers are responsible for ensuring:

1. appropriate resources and processes are implemented for reporting, recording, classification, investigation and the management of work health and safety incidents; and
2. all work health and safety incidents are managed effectively, and reporting requirements are met.

(27) The Director People and Culture is responsible for:

1. reviewing ICAM reports prior to final approval by the delegated authority; and
2. reviewing requests for extensions to investigation reports that are unable to be completed within thirty (30) days.

(28) The Senior Manager Work Health and Safety is responsible for:

1. ensuring all external authorities including the WHS Regulator and Emergency Services are notified within the timeframes prescribed in this procedure;
2. collaborating with relevant work area representatives and Senior Executives to oversee the compilation, review and submission of ICAM reports, Corrective Action Plans and AIIR Investigation reports as described in this procedure;
3. ensuring notifiable, extreme and major incident investigation reports contain all relevant information  to enable the University Legal to provide legal advice based on accurate and complete information as required;
4. providing an incident briefing, as required, to the Vice-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee, and/or the University Council where legal accountabilities may need to be determined; and
5. ensuring incident investigations are undertaken in accordance with this procedure, including the appointment of a Lead Investigator where required, and that the investigation team is appropriately resourced.

(29) The Work Area Manager is responsible for ensuring: 

1. all workers under their supervision are made aware of this procedure;
2. the responsible manager, the investigation team, and the work area representative are responsible for ensuring the investigation report and any resulting corrective action plans are accurate and complete and in accordance with this procedure; and
3. that a subject matter expert or safety specialist is provided to the representative of the investigation team, if technical or quality support is required.

(30) First responder(s) are responsible for:

1. ensuring the injured person is attended to;
2. considering the welfare of witnesses and others;
3. ensuring the incident area to ensure it is safe (preserving the incident site if a significant incident/event);
4. implementing any corrective actions necessary to prevent an injury or reoccurrence; and
5. ensuring that incidents/hazards are reported to Work Health and Safety within 24 hours of the occurrence/identification.

(31) University contractors and representatives are responsible for:

1. reporting all work health and safety incidents to their supervisor as soon as reasonably practicable within 24 hours; and
2. where a contractor is involved in an incident, the University representative is responsible for reporting in accordance with the notification classification requirements.

(32) University employees and all other workers are responsible for: 

1. taking reasonable care of their own health and safety;
2. taking reasonable care that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons;
3. reporting all work health and safety incidents to their supervisor as soon as reasonably practicable within 24 hours; and
4. assisting relevant teams in the investigation process.

Section 5 - Non-Compliance

(33) Non-compliance with Governance Documents is considered a breach of the Code of Conduct - Employees or the Code of Conduct – Students, as applicable, and is treated seriously by the University. Reports of concerns about non-compliance will be managed in accordance with the applicable disciplinary procedures outlined in the Charles Darwin University and Union Enterprise Agreement 2025 and the Code of Conduct – Students.

(34) Complaints may be raised in accordance with the Complaints and Grievance Policy and Procedure - Employees and Complaints Policy - Students.

(35) All staff members have an individual responsibility to raise any suspicion, allegation or report of fraud or corruption in accordance with the Fraud and Corruption Control Policy and Whistleblower Reporting (Improper Conduct) Procedure.