Mandatory injury register
You are legally required to keep a register of workplace injuries and illnesses sustained by workers or visitors.
You need to record injuries and illnesses regardless of whether there has been a claim made to your insurer.
There are penalties for failing to keep a register of injuries.
We have a standard template you can use for your injury register or you can buy one from your office stationery supplier.
The register of injuries needs to include:
- name of the injured worker
- the worker's address
- the worker's age at the time of injury
- the worker's occupation at the time of injury
- the industry in which the worker was engaged at the time of injury
- the time and date of injury
- the nature of the injury
- the cause of the injury.
The register of injuries may be kept in writing or be electronic (like on a computer).
If the register of injuries is kept in electronic form, you must provide education, training and facilities to ensure that your workers are able to access the register.
A record of each notifiable incident must also be kept.
When and how to notify a serious injury or illness, a death or dangerous incident
If there is a serious injury or illness, a death or a dangerous incident, you must report it to us immediately on 13 10 50.
A "notifiable incident" under the work health and safety legislation relates to:
- the death of a person
- a serious injury or illness of a person
- a potentially dangerous incident.
Significant penalties apply if you fail to notify us of an incident.
The incident site must be preserved until a SafeWork Inspector attends unless the inspector or regulator directs otherwise.
You must notify your insurer of the incident within 48 hours.
More information on your legal obligations regarding injury registers.