Massey University Accident Reporting Procedure

A flow chart detailing the reporting of an injury, accident or incident can be viewed here.

Accident reporting flowchart (25 KB)

Work Accident/Illness/Incident report form (135 KB)
Work Accident/Illness/Incident report form (78 KB)

Responding to an injury/accident

If an accident occurs, the injured person, or first person on the scene, is to:

• promptly seek first aid treatment and, if necessary, medical treatment,
• control any immediate risks to the injured person or others, and protect the scene if the injury constitutes "serious harm" (pending approval from the Department of Labour),
• notify his/her supervisor immediately of any injury, or any incident which may have required medical treatment,
• report the event and/or injury using the appropriate forms.

Terms of Reference for First Aiders (15 KB)

Staff absence due to injury

Definitions

Dealing with Immediate Risks

Treating people, making the area safe and initiating emergency procedures precede investigation and documentation.

For serious harm accidents, once the emergency has been dealt with, the accident scene must be left undisturbed until authorised clean up is allowed by the Department of Labour representative.

The only interference that should occur in a serious harm injury is to:

• save life
• prevent harm to or relieve the suffering of any person
• maintain access of the general public to a central service or utility
• prevent serious damage to or serious loss of property

If a serious harm injury has occurred, the injured person's manager is responsible for notifying the Department of Labour as soon as possible after the accident occurrence, and report formally to the Department of Labour within 7 days. The Regional Health and Safety Advisor must also be notified as soon as possible after the serious harm injury has occurred.

Claiming for Accident Insurance

University staff are insured through ACC. This section details processes and documents required if you are injured at work and need medical treatment, or need to take time off work due to your injury.

Work accidents

If you are claiming for a workplace accident you need to complete the internal incident/accident report form to enable collection of information required for the accident register. When you visit a treatment provider (e.g. doctor, physiotherapist), you will be asked to complete an ACC injury claim form. You need to give a copy of this form to your supervisor/manager who will send it to the Regional Health and Safety Advisor.

If you accident has caused a serious harm injury, then your manager is responsible for notifying, as soon as practicable, and reporting the event to the Department of Labour. The Regional Health and Safety Advisor, PVC or equivalent, AVC, and the University Registrar must also be advised of all serious harm accidents.

Non-work accidents

Non-work accidents are also to be reported to ACC. You need to keep your supervisor and manager informed of any impact that non-work accidents have on your work. The University has an active commitment to rehabilitation, and will assist with your rehabilitation as needed Any queries about your claim, entitlements, or absence should be directed to the ACC and Rehabilitation Administrator in the Health and Safety office.

Accidents to overseas visitors while in New Zealand

Accident Compensation legislation covers the medical treatment of overseas visitors who are injured while in New Zealand. However, there is no compensation for lost overseas income, and their cover does not continue once the injured person has left New Zealand. In the case of serious injuries, ACC will only assist visitors to the point where they are able to return home safely Other exclusions also apply.

As such, medical insurance to provide transport, ongoing care if needed, and protection of overseas income is strongly recommended.

The cover provided by ACC is paid by levies from wages if overseas visitors are paid while in New Zealand, or indirectly through charges for car rental, petrol purchases and so on. It is important to appreciate that in return for this cover, overseas visitors, like New Zealanders, forego the right to sue if they are injured here.

Internal reporting requirements

Serious harm or injury, major emergencies and fatal accidents must be reported to the following people as soon as possible:

• the Regional Health and Safety Advisor,
• Pro Vice Chancellor or equivalent,
• Assistant Vice Chancellor,
• University Registrar.

The forms and time frames for different types of incidents are detailed below. In some instances more than one form may be required.

Advice is available from Regional Health and Safety Advisors, or the Human Resources Section.

Managers are responsible for ensuring forms are completed and processed promptly to ensure statutory time frames are met. It is essential that arrangements are made to ensure that required actions are completed in the Manager's absence.

All media contact shall be through the AVC External Relations.

External reporting for accidents

If an accident has resulted in a serious harm injury, the accident scene must not be disturbed other than to provide assistance or make the area safe until the appropriate authorities arrive.

Managers are responsible for ensuring that the correct authority is notified, (see table below) that the Regional Health and Safety Advisor is notified, and that internal reporting requirements are completed.

Copies of forms are to be forwarded to the Regional Health and Safety Advisor.

All media contact shall be through the AVC External Relations.

Page authorised by Director, Human Resources Section
Last updated on Wednesday 07 March 2012