Serious injury or illness

The regulator must be notified of any serious injury or illness arising through the conduct of a business or undertaking (PCBU) by calling us on 1800 678 198 (24 hours).

General workplaces (not a mine or a petroleum/geothermal operation)

You need to lodge information online even after notifying by phone.

Mining operations

All notifications of a serious injury/illness at a mining workplace must be made online via the Safety Regulation System (SRS) even after notifying by phone.

Petroleum and geothermal energy operations

All notifications of a serious injury/illness at a petroleum and workplace must also be made online even if you have already notified by phone.

Types of serious illness or injury

Serious illness or injury of a person means an injury or illness requiring the treatment indicated in the table below, or the work-related infections or zoonoses listed on this page.

Definitions

‘Immediate treatment’ means the type of urgent treatment that would be required for a serious injury or illness, which includes treatment by a registered medical practitioner (a doctor), a paramedic or registered nurse.

‘Medical treatment’ refers to treatment by a registered medical practitioner.

Even if immediate treatment isn’t available, such as in rural or remote areas or due to the lack of specialist care, the notification of a serious illness or injury must still be made.

Types of treatment

Types of treatment Example of serious illness or injury
Immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital

Admission into a hospital as an in-patient for any duration, even if the stay is not overnight or longer.

It does not include:

  • out-patient treatment provided by the emergency section of a hospital (i.e. not requiring admission as an in-patient)
  • admission for corrective surgery which does not immediately follow the injury (e.g. to fix a fractured nose).
Immediate treatment for the amputation of any part of the body Amputation of a limb such as arm or leg, body part such as hand, foot or the tip of a finger, toe, nose or ear.
Immediate treatment for a serious head injury

Fractured skull, loss of consciousness, blood clot or bleeding in the brain, damage to the skull to the extent that it is likely to affect organ or face function.

Head injuries resulting in temporary or permanent amnesia.

It does not include:

  • a bump to the head resulting in a minor contusion or headache.
Immediate treatment for a serious eye injury

Injury that results in or is likely to result in the loss of the eye or total or partial loss of vision.

Injury that involves an object penetrating the eye (for example metal fragment, wood chip).

Exposure of the eye to a substance which poses a risk of serious eye damage.

It does not include:

  • eye exposure to a substance that merely causes irritation.
Immediate treatment for a serious burn

A burn requiring intensive care or critical care which could require compression garment or a skin graft.

It does not include:

  • a burn that merely requires washing the wound and applying a dressing.
Immediate treatment for the separation of skin from an underlying tissue (such as de-gloving or scalping)

Separation of skin from an underlying tissue such that tendon, bone or muscles are exposed (de-gloving or scalping).

It does not include:

  • minor lacerations.
Immediate treatment for a spinal injury

Injury to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebrae including the discs and spinal cord.

It does not include:

  • acute back strain.
Immediate treatment for the loss of a bodily function

Loss of consciousness, loss of movement of a limb or loss of the sense of smell, taste, sight or hearing, or loss of function of an internal organ.

It does not include:

  • mere fainting
  • a sprain or strain.
Immediate treatment for serious lacerations

Deep or extensive cuts that cause muscle, tendon, nerve or blood vessel damage or permanent impairment.

Deep puncture wounds.

  • tears of wounds to the flesh or tissues. This may include stitching to prevent loss of blood and/or other treatment to prevent loss of bodily function and/or infection.
Medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance

Medical treatment is treatment provided by a doctor.

Exposure to a substance includes exposure to chemicals, airborne contaminants and exposure to human and/or animal blood and body substances.

Injury or illness in a remote location that required urgent transfer to a medical facility for treatment

Includes any injury or illness not specified previously that cannot be treated at or near the site of the incident.

A remote location is any location that is not served by ordinary ambulance services, and may include mines and offshore facilities, rail camps, geological surveys, and isolated holiday facilities.

A medical facility includes a hospital and any other facility that provides medical services.

Injury or illness that a medical practitioner considers likely to prevent the person from being able to do their normal work for at least 10 days

Captures any illness or injury not specified previously that prevents a person from doing their normal work for at least 10 days.

This may only be determined by a medical practitioner and may be in the form of a medical certificate or letter.

Notification must be provided even if the worker is capable of light duties (e.g. a warehouse worker who is moved to desk duties for the duration of their recovery).

Additional serious illness and diseases

The regulator must be notified of any infection caused by work or related to doing work. This includes:

  • working with micro-organisms
  • the provision of treatment or care to a person
  • contact with human blood or body substances
  • handling or contact with animals, animal hides, skins, wool or hair, animal carcasses or animal waste products.

The regulator must also be notified of any zoonoses (infectious diseases that can pass from animals to humans) that are contracted in the course of work that involve handling or contact with animals, animal hides, skins, wool or hair, animal carcasses or animal waste products.  Examples to watch out for include:

  • Q fever
  • Anthrax
  • Leptospirosis
  • Brucellosis
  • Hendra Virus
  • Avian Influenza
  • Psittacosis.

Notification of psychological injuries

Psychological injuries must be notified where they meet the above criteria and where they are a result of sexual assault or sexual harassment.

There are additional reporting requirements for psychosocial incidents that occur at mine sites, including sexual assault or sexual harassment.

Learn more about notification of sexual harassment and/or assault to WorkSafe Mines Safety.

Report an incident to WorkSafe

Download these posters for a quick reference guide to reporting a death, serious injury or illness or a life-threatening dangerous incident in your workplace.

Download now

Use the Incident notification: Interpretive guideline for an overview on mandatory reporting requirements for incidents that must be notified to the regulator under the work health and safety legislation.

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