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ARTICLE · 27 OCTOBER 2014

Responding to a serious safety incident - a PCBU response plan

Cooper Grace Ward
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A PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) should have an incident response plan and train workers in the plan.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Belinda Winter
Belinda Winter
Annie Smeaton
Annie Smeaton
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The first few hours following a serious safety incident are critical.

As discussed at our recent HR forum in Brisbane, the following matters should be attended to immediately following a serious safety incident:

  • making the site safe, which may involve shutting down all or part of the workplace if necessary;
  • securing the site of the incident. The person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) should prevent anyone from interfering with the site until the PCBU has the consent of Workplace Health & Safety Queensland (WHSQ). If possible, the PCBU should take photos of the site without engaging in interference. 'Site' includes any plant, substance, structure or thing that is associated with the incident. There are criminal penalties for interfering with the site;

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