Preserving an incident site

Preserving an incident site plays a crucial role in identifying the cause of an incident at a workplace, as well as helping to prevent it from happening again.

If a notifiable incident occurs at a workplace, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must:

make the area safe to prevent any escalation of the incident
notify WorkSafe ACT, and
ensure that the incident site is preserved properly.

In a recent incident reported to WorkSafe ACT, a worker fell from a ladder whilst conducting roof cleaning and landed on his lower back and arm. The CCTV footage that WorkSafe ACT reviewed as part of its enquiries, showed someone collecting the fallen ladder prior to WorkSafe ACT’s attendance on the site.

Actions like this prevent WorkSafe ACT Inspectors from doing their jobs. Penalties apply if an individual or body corporate fails to preserve a site.

Following a notifiable incident any plant, substance or structure associated with the incident must be preserved. Only the immediate area where the incident occurred needs to be preserved, and if it is safe and practical, other areas of the workplace can continue to work.

A site may only be disturbed:

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, or
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. However, an inspector may issue a non-disturbance notice at the site as a requirement of ongoing investigations. This notice will specify the length of time the notice is in force.

WorkSafe ACT can provide advice and instructions on how to secure the site when you call to report the incident. You can also ask to be relieved of your legal obligations to preserve the incident site.

Notifiable incidents must be reported to WorkSafe ACT. You can call us on 13 22 81 during business hours and on 0419 120 028 after hours. Alternatively, you can email us at worksafe@act.gov.au or make a notification using the online form available on the WorkSafe ACT website.