Workplace Incident Reporting

Workplace incident reporting systems are usually judged on what they do with the data. They fail earlier than that, at the moment someone decides whether to bother.

The calculation a worker makes is quick. How long will this take, will anything come of it, and will it create trouble for me or a colleague? If the form takes fifteen minutes, sits on a desktop computer they do not have, and nothing visible ever follows, the rational answer is to mention it verbally and move on.

Reducing friction does more than any awareness campaign. Reporting on a phone, in under two minutes, with free text rather than forced categories, and an acknowledgement that a person has seen it.

Then close the loop publicly, because visible action is what makes the second report happen.

Safe Work Australia covers incident duties. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s incident reporting software and learning management system.