Putting you first at the centre of what we do. Keeping you healthy and safe at work. Supporting you when you are harmed at work. Ensuring your scheme works and is sustainable.
Mandatory and discretionary investigations
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 provides that some investigations are mandatory. Comcare has discretion in relation to all other investigations.
Mandatory investigations
- where an employer disputes a provisional improvement notice (PIN) issued by a health and safety representative (HSR)
- a request from a HSR for investigation of a PIN that has not been complied with, and
- a dispute between a supervisor and a HSR about whether imminent danger exists.
Discretionary investigations
Priority One Investigations
- incidents resulting in a death or serious bodily harm (eg. loss of a limb function), and
- incidents that expose employees or third parties (e.g. contractors, children or other members of the public) to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm.
Priority Two Investigations
- recurrent patterns of injury and/or incidents
- dangerous occurrences
- a request made on reasonable grounds, from an employee representative (if requested by an employee), HSR or an employer, that an investigation be conducted at a workplace
- an allegation relating to the adverse treatment of an employee for raising health and safety concerns
- a targeted investigation program (e.g. compliance with specific Regulations), and
- investigations concerning OHS policies and practices.