Under Australian law, any time a physical or psychosocial hazard is identified in the workplace, it must be reported.

This means that if you see a hazard at work, you have a responsibility to yourself and your colleagues to report it so that the hazard can be addressed.

However, while it is everyone’s responsibility to report hazards, it’s your employer’s responsibility to assess and rectify them.

Here are the 3 steps you need to take right now to ensure you have fulfilled your responsibility and protected yourself:

1. Make an appointment with your GP
This is a critical step to ensure that you are looking after your health and to have a medical record of what is happening at work.

2. Lodge an incident report
This is another critical step to ensuring something is done about the hazard. Your employer should have a form you can fill out to formally lodge an incident report. It is important that you do this while the situation is fresh in your mind. If your employer doesn’t immediately give you the form, make your own note about what happened.

Include the following information:

• Time
• Date
• Location of the incident
• What happened Was any injury caused?
• What was the cause of the incident?
• Any witnesses
• Your signature and the date

3. Contact your Organiser
It’s a good idea to have a chat with your Organiser about what has happened and what steps you have taken. They can’t give you medical advice but they can provide you with support through the process and help assess if this is an issue that affects your colleagues too.

If you don’t know who your Organiser is, email [email protected]

Head to the TIA WHS Hub for more information about identifying and addressing hazards at work.

Go to TIA WHS Hub

As T&Is our work is often solitary, but as union members, we are never alone. If you require immediate emotional support, call lifeline any time on 13 11 11.