Work-Related Accidents and Injuries Policy

Application

1. This policy applies to all staff of the University of Waikato

Purpose

2. The purpose of this policy is to set out responsibilities with respect to identifying, reporting and investigating work-related incidents and hazards.

Related Legislation

3. This policy takes account of the following legislation:
   • Accident Compensation Act 2001 and amendments
   • Privacy Act 1993
   • Human Rights Act 1993
   • Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and amendments

Related documents

4. The following documents set out further information relevant to this policy:
   • The University of Waikato Record of Accident/Incident/Serious Harm form
   • The University of Waikato Fact Sheet: List of ACC Entitlements
   • The University of Waikato Fact Sheet: Collection and Release of Information with respect to work-related personal injuries

Definitions

5. The following terms are formally defined for legal purposes in the relevant legislation, and are summarised in general terms for the purposes of this policy as follows:
   • incident means an event that causes, or had the potential to cause, a work-related personal injury
   • hazard means an identifiable risk that causes, or had the potential to cause, a work-related personal injury
   • significant hazard means a hazard that is an actual or potential cause of serious harm
   • work-related personal injury means a personal injury that arises as a result of a person performing a work task at the University
   • work-related gradual process injury means a personal injury that develops slowly and progressively over time as a result of an activity that is carried out in the course of the person's work performed at the University
   • serious harm means a work-related personal injury that results in:
     1. permanent loss of bodily function including death, or
     2. temporary severe loss of bodily function, and/or
     3. the person being hospitalised for a period of 48 hours or more
   • lost time accident means a work-related personal injury that results in more than one day off work
   • University means the physical grounds and premises occupied by the University of Waikato, including the halls of residence and any areas leased by the University or through Campus Services Ltd, and also includes any vehicle owned or leased by the University of Waikato.

Partnership Programme

6. The University belongs to a partnership programme with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which gives it authority to provide injury management and rehabilitation services for work-related personal injuries.

Responsibilities

7. Line Managers are responsible for:
   1. taking all practicable steps to provide a safe and healthy work environment for their staff
   2. notifying their staff of health and safety procedures that apply with respect to their work
   3. taking all practicable steps to ensure that their staff are aware of the University's accident reporting system
   4. ensuring that their staff report any work-related personal injuries within 48 hours
   5. ensuring that work-station assessments are undertaken for staff who report suspected early warning symptoms of work-related gradual process injury, and actions are taken to prevent the suspected condition from deteriorating further
   6. arranging for appropriate first aid or emergency care to be provided where required, in the event of a work-related personal injury
   7. in the event of a work-related personal injury, ensuring that all details are recorded on the University's Record of Accident/Incident/Serious Harm and investigating the incident as soon as possible after its occurrence
   8. advising the University's Health and Safety Coordinator immediately in the event of a serious harm incident occurring, or significant hazard being identified, so that the Department of Labour can be advised
   9. ensuring that, consistent with the principles of the Privacy Act 1993, appropriate levels of confidentiality are maintained with respect to work-related personal injuries and associated records
   10. ensuring that the scenes of serious harm incidents are not accessed until permission has been granted by the Department of Labour and notified by the Health and Safety Coordinator
   11. ensuring that, within their area of responsibility, health and safety management is reviewed if there has been a serious harm incident, or a relevant change in work procedures or health and safety policy.
8. Staff are responsible for:
   1. observing any health and safety procedures that have been notified with respect to his/her work;
   2. participating in relevant health and safety training
   3. in the case of work-related personal injury, obtaining initial medical treatment from a registered treatment provider of their choice, provided that the registered treatment provider is:
      1. a registered medical practitioner if time off work is required, or
      2. a registered health professional such as a physiotherapist, chiropractor or other such professional if time off work is not required
   4. informing their registered treatment provider that the University of Waikato is the injury management provider
   5. reporting and documenting all work-related personal injuries, incidents and observed hazards to their line manager within 48 hours
   6. informing their line manager if there is any requirement for time off work resulting from a work-related personal injury
   7. reporting to their line manager as soon as practicable, any early warning symptoms of work-related gradual process injury
   8. in the case of work-related personal injury occurring, providing a copy of the the completed ACC forms and, if lost time is involved, a medical certificate from the registered medical practitioner, to his/her line manager and the Health and Safety Coordinator as soon as practicable.
9. The University's Health and Safety Coordinator is responsible for:
   1. providing information to staff about ACC entitlements
   2. providing information to staff about the collection and release of personal information for an ACC claim in relation to a work-related personal injury
   3. ensuring that the relevant consent form is signed where access to medical information us required for an ACC claim in relation to a work-related personal injury
   4. liasing with the ACC with respect to work-related personal injuries
   5. providing Health and Safety training opportunities for staff
   6. advising the Department of Labour in the event of serious harm or significant hazard incidents
   7. coordinating with the relevant Inspector from the Occupational Safety and Health Service in the Department of Labour in the event of a serious harm or significant hazard incident and advising the relevant line manager when a serious harm or significant hazard scene may be accessed
   8. coordinating the review of implementation and operation of this policy in consultation with the Health and Safety Representatives Forum
   9. monitoring compliance with this policy, and reporting cases of non-compliance to the Head of Human Resources.

Concerns and Complaints

10. A staff member who is dissatisfied with an action taken, or not taken, by a line manager in relation to:
    1. an identified hazard, or
    2. a work-related personal injury

    may refer the matter to the Health and Safety Coordinator, who will provide assistance in resolving the situation.

Breaches

11. Breaches of this policy may be reported to the Head of Human Resources any may result in disciplinary action under the Staff Code of Conduct.

Approved by the Vice-Chancellor
19 January 2010