Preserving a site

If a notifiable incident occurs at a workplace, the PCBU must make sure the site of the incident is not disturbed until an inspector arrives.

You will need to preserve the incident site including any plant, substance or structure associated with the notifiable incident. This will help our inspectors to determine the cause of the incident.

The only times a site may be disturbed include:

• to assist an injured person
• to remove a deceased person
• to make the site safe or to minimise the risk of a further incident
• to enable a police investigation
• when an inspector has given permission either in person or by phone

The sooner WorkSafe ACT is notified, the sooner the site can be released.

An inspector may issue a non-disturbance notice at the site, to continue their investigations. This notice will specify the length of time the notice is in-force.

Penalties apply if an individual or body corporate fails to preserve a site.

Only the immediate area where the incident occurred needs to be preserved, not the whole workplace.

When you call us to report the incident, ask us how to preserve the site if you’re not sure.  You can also ask to be relieved of your legal obligations to preserve the incident site at this point (even if you don't meet the strict criteria above).