Learn how to comply with Victoria’s new incident notification requirements. Discover how to simplify reporting and improve workplace safety.
Victoria’s new incident notification requirements are crucial for keeping the workplace safe. This regulation ensures that equipment works as intended. Businesses in charge of equipment must follow specific procedures for reporting and handling incidents.
This article provides practical insights into the new requirements. You will get useful tips for improving your compliance efforts. Adopting these changes will keep your workplace accident-proof. It will help you meet international Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards like ISO 45001.
What Are the Key Changes in the OHS Regulations?
Victoria’s new incident notification requirements demand businesses to report safety accidents involving new types of equipment. Previously, only accidents involving big machines like cranes and trucks had to be reported. However, the new rules cover a wider range of equipment, like tractors, scaffolding, and certain types of moving equipment.
The development shows that safety concerns about smaller but still dangerous industrial plants are becoming more commonplace. The updated regulations make event tracking challenging for businesses that rely on spreadsheets. Manual tracking can cause mistakes, missed deadlines, and compliance risks.
What Does the EPS Regulations Change Entail?
Victoria’s new incident reporting requirements under the Equipment Public Safety (EPS) Regulations clarify what businesses that manage equipment must do. Companies must now notify WorkSafe Victoria about accidents involving certain equipment.
The EPS Regulations specify that people in charge of equipment must report major incidents on the spot. For example, you must report if equipment breaks down and hurts someone or puts the public at great risk. Structure failures, big machine breakdowns, and accidents that cause injuries must be reported.
What Constitutes a Notifiable Incident?
Any event that causes major harm or illness or poses an immediate or imminent threat to health or safety is a notifiable incident.
Immediate exposure means someone is likely to get hurt instantly, like when a worker is shocked while fixing broken equipment. On the other hand, imminent exposure refers to risks that could cause major harm, such as gas leaks.
Examples of notifiable incidents include:
- A machinery malfunction causing injury.
- A chemical spill that poses health risks.
- Unsafe work conditions that could harm employees.
How Do Changes Affect Businesses with Existing ISO 45001 Certification?
Victoria’s new incident notification requirements demand updates to existing health and safety management systems (HSMS).
For businesses already certified under ISO 45001, integrating these new notification rules can be challenging. Spreadsheets or disconnected cloud-based systems may not be able to handle real-time reporting. Incident tracking must be automatic or else, there will be delays or errors in compliance.
What Are the Legal Implications of Non-Compliance?
Businesses can get in trouble with the law if they don’t follow Victoria’s new incident reporting requirements. Noncompliance could lead to serious consequences, such as heavy fines or criminal charges.
Businesses that want to get or keep ISO 45001 certification may lose their certification status if they don’t meet these standards. If you break these laws, you can lose customer trust. Organisations that don’t put health and safety standards first are more likely to have problems with their operations and have to pay more for their insurance.
How Can Businesses Prepare for the New Regulations?
Ensure your processes comply with Victoria’s new incident reporting requirements by July 2024. Here’s how:
- Audit your existing incident reporting procedures. This process identifies gaps or areas for improvement. Keep a close eye on processes that rely on spreadsheets or disjointed cloud-based systems. They may hamper efficiency and accuracy.
- Train your staff on the new notification requirements. All employees should know what, how, and when to report. Consistent training sessions will guarantee that all personnel remain informed.
- Review your incident management system often. Ensure it stays effective and up-to-date. Use automated compliance tools to make tracking and reporting easier.
What Support Is Available for Businesses Navigating These Changes?
Some tools and organisations can help you understand Victoria’s new incident reporting requirements. Stay in line and improve health and safety at work with these resources
- WorkSafe Victoria. They give thorough instructions on how to follow the new requirements and report incidents. Their website has fact sheets, online tools, and a phone number companies can call for help.
- The Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). It offers workshops, training, and other tools that can help make workplaces safer.
- Industry Associations. The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), for instance, often give their members news, tips, and tools to help them follow new safety laws. These groups might hold classes or seminars.
- Safety Compliance Specialists. Companies that want to improve their safety management systems should consult these experts. They can give advice tailored to your needs. They help businesses get ISO 45001 certification, going beyond paperwork and broken systems to improve safety frameworks.
How Will These Changes Impact Public Safety?
Victoria’s new incident notification requirements are crucial for improving public safety. They ensure workplace accidents are reported faster and more accurately. This means companies can find risks faster, keeping workers and the community from getting hurt.
Better reporting of incidents helps protect public health in more ways. Reporting incidents right away helps the authorities act faster, which lowers the chance of bigger accidents happening. Finding hazards before they become serious threats and sending prompt alerts lead to better risk management.
Conclusion
Businesses must meet Victoria’s new incident notification requirements to fulfil legal obligations and improve workplace safety. To simplify this transition, consider leaving your spreadsheets and forms behind. FocusIMS offers streamlined solutions, including ISO 45001 certification support. Book a discovery meeting to ensure your business is fully prepared for these changes.
