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Work Health and Safety Act 2011
38Duty to notify of notifiable incidents
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38 Duty to notify of notifiable incidents
(1) A person who conducts a business or undertaking must ensure that
the regulator is notified immediately after becoming aware that a
notifiable incident has occurred.
(2) The notice must be given in accordance with this section and by the
fastest possible means.
(3) The notice must be given—
(a) by telephone; or
(b) in writing.
Note The written notice can be given by fax or email, see the Legislation Act,
pt 19.5.
(4) A person giving notice by telephone must—
(a) give the details of the incident requested by the regulator; and
(b) if required by the regulator, give a written notice of the incident
within 48 hours of that requirement being made.
(5) A written notice must be in a form, or contain the details, approved
by the regulator.
Note If a form is approved under s 277 for a written notice, the form must be
used.
(6) If the regulator receives a notice by telephone and a written notice is
not required, the regulator must give the person conducting the
business or undertaking—
(a) details of the information received; or
(b) an acknowledgment of receiving the notice.
(7) A person conducting a business or undertaking must keep a record of
each notifiable incident for at least 5 years from the day that notice of
the incident is given to the regulator under this section.
(8) Despite anything else in this section, if a notifiable incident for which
notice is required to be given is reported in accordance with the
Dangerous Substances Act 2004, the reporting under that Act is taken
to be adequate notice of the incident for the purposes of this Act.
(9) For a sexual assault incident, the person conducting the business or
undertaking—
(a) need only give the following details about the incident:
(i) the name and contact details of the person conducting the
business or undertaking;
(ii) a description of the workplace where the incident
happened;
(iii) whether or not the incident was reported to police; and
(b) must not give information disclosing the identity of any person
involved in the incident when notifying the regulator.