Obligations for notifying Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) of an incident

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must make the notification immediately after becoming aware that a notifiable incident arising from the business or undertaking has occurred.

Notifying details of incidents

Notification must be made by the fastest possible method.

During business hours – 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) – you can notify WHSQ by 1 of the following options:

• phone 1300 362 128
• complete and submit the online incident notification form
• fax the completed incident notification form (PDF, 241KB) to fax number (07) 3874 7700
• email the completed incident notification form (PDF, 241KB) to whsq.aaa@oir.qld.gov.au.

Outside of business hours:

• phone the WHS Infoline on 1300 362 128 to be connected to WHSQ's after-hours messaging service. Your notification details will be referred to a WHSQ on-call inspector who will contact you within a time frame that has regard to the seriousness of the incident.

If you make the notification by phone, written notification is not required. WHSQ will provide the person notifying for the business or undertaking with details of the information received.

Keeping records of notifiable incidents

The person conducting a business or undertaking must keep a record of each notifiable incident for at least 5 years from the date notified to WHSQ.

WorkCover Queensland notification of an incident

An injuries claim to WorkCover Queensland or your workers' compensation insurer is not the same as notifying WHSQ of an incident.

WorkCover Queensland and other workers' compensation insurers have a different role to play to WHSQ following a workplace incident. WHSQ investigates the cause of the incident and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future. WorkCover Queensland and other workers' compensation insurers provide financial compensation to people injured in the course of their employment.

WHSQ is the work health and safety regulator in Queensland. It uses notified incident information to investigate workplace incidents and contraventions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. This information is also used to develop programs that identify solutions to workplace safety issues across all industries.

Notification to WHSQ is in addition to any workers' compensation claim made to WorkCover Queensland or self-insured businesses.

Also consider...

• Refer to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011.
• Find out more about incidents, notifications and contacting WHSQ.