Dangerous incident

If a ‘dangerous incident’ arises through the conduct of a business or undertaking the regulator must be notified immediately.

Where the dangerous incident is currently life-threatening, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) should ensure the regulator is notified by calling 1800 678 198 (24 hours).

Where the dangerous incident is not currently life-threatening, the notifiable incident can be lodged online instead. 

A dangerous incident is defined as any incident at a workplace that exposes any person to a serious risk resulting from an immediate or imminent exposure to:

• an uncontrolled escape, spillage or leakage of a substance
• an uncontrolled implosion, explosion or fire
• an uncontrolled escape of gas or steam
• an uncontrolled escape of a pressurised substance
• electric shock
  • electric shock that must be notified:
    • minor shock resulting from direct contact with exposed live electrical parts (other than extra low voltage) including shock from capacitive discharge
  • electric shock that does not require notification:
    • shock due to static electricity
    • extra low voltage shock (i.e. arising from electrical equipment less than or equal to 50V AC and less than or equal to 120V DC)
    • defibrillators used deliberately to shock a person for first aid or medical reasons.
• the fall or release from a height of any plant, substance or thing
• the collapse, overturning, failure or malfunction of, or damage to, any plant that is required to be design or item registered under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022 (e.g. a collapsing crane)
• the collapse or partial collapse of a structure
• the collapse or failure of an excavation or of any shoring supporting an excavation
• the inrush of water, mud or gas in workings in an underground excavation or tunnel
• the interruption of the main system of ventilation in an underground excavation or tunnel.

Further notification requirements apply to mines and petroleum and geothermal operations. There are additional dangerous incidents for petroleum and geothermal energy operations.

When the regulator must be notified 

The regulator must be notified immediately of any incident relating to a workplace that exposes any person to a serious risk and if a dangerous incident arises through the conduct of a PCBU.

If the dangerous incident is currently life-threatening, the PCBU should notify the regulator immediately by phoning 1800 678 198 (24 hours).

Where the dangerous incident is not currently life-threatening, the notifiable incident can be lodged online.

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

All notifications of a dangerous incident must be lodged online or notified by phone.

Mining

All notifications of a dangerous incident 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 dangerous incident at a petroleum and workplace must also be made online even if you have already notified by phone.