YANKILILLA COMMUNITY CHLDREN’S CENTRE

ACCIDENT POLICY

This policy outlines the requirements for the investigation and reporting of accidents. It also outlines the requirements for the statutory reporting ofnotifiable work-related injuries and dangerous occurrences, a mandatory requirement under the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986.Staff members are always in attendance with the children either inside or outside. Every effort is made to prevent accidents, however, should an accident occur, the staff will take appropriate first aid action. All permanent, YCCC educators will hold a current approved First Aid Qualification, Anaphylaxis Training and Emergency Asthma Management Training.

DEFINITIONS:

1. NOTIFIABLE WORK RELATED INJURY:

An injury that falls under the following:

  • A work related injury that causes death
  • A work-related injury that has acute symptoms associated with exposure to a substance at work
  • A work related injury that requires treatment as an in-patient in a hospital immediately after the injury

2.IRMS – The Department for Education and Child Development, Injury Reporting and Management System

Medical Fees and Ambulance Cover

Parents are responsible for any medical fees or other costs which may arise from medical treatment. Ambulance costs are primarily the responsibility of parents. Parents who have private ambulance cover should recoup the costs from that source. Where a child is not privately covered and an ambulance is called, a request for payment can be made through:

Childcare Children – YCCC Governing Council (Centre has a SA Ambulancesubscription).

Preschool children -DECD Legislation and legal services unit. Applications for payment must include a statutory declaration, certification by the Centre Director, the invoice and a copy of the IRMS Accident / Incident report. Details and the necessary forms are at:

**PLEASE NOTE; the ability to submit a request for payment does not apply to ambulance attendance resulting from non centre related incidents eg diabetes, asthma

INJURY REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE:

CHILD INJURY:

Staff will:

  • Complete an accident report form as soon as possible after any accident, injury or illness. For children attending the childcare program this report must be read, signed and dated by the person collecting the child on the day of the accident, injury or illness.
  • Inform parents of all injuries to the head, face or mouth as soon as possible.
  • Contact parents if their child has an accident or sustains an injury that requires further action beyond immediate first aid.
  • Arrange for ambulance attendance: if staff decide emergency treatment is necessary and the guardian or the nominated emergency contact cannot be contacted or if staff believe that waiting for parent/emergency contact arrival could jeopardize the child’s safety.
  • Remain with the child until the child recovers or either the guardian, a person authorized by the guardian, or an emergency contact arrives.
  • Contact the Centre Director in all cases of serious injury

The Director will:

  • Undertake an investigation and complete the IRMS report for injuries thatrequire professional medical treatment, orin the opinion of the Directormay result in legal proceedings.
  • In the event of Notifiable Injury, telephone SafeWork SA1800 777 209 within 24 hours.
  • Review the accident / injury / illness reports at the end of each term measure trends and implement programs to reduce risks.

STAFF INJURY

REPORTING AN INJURY WITHOUT A WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIM

When an employee’s injury is unlikely to result in a workers compensation claim:

Employee will:

  • Report the injury or incident to their manager within 24 hours

Director will:

  • Conduct an investigation of the injury or incident.
  • Ensure the details of the injury or incident and investigation is recorded in the IRMS

within 48 hours.

  • Provide a copy of the submitted Injury Report to the employee

Health and Safety Representative will:

  • Complete the Health and Safety Representative section of the report in IRMS.

REPORTING AN INJURY WITH A WORKERS COMPENSATIONCLAIM

Employee will:

  • Report the injury or incident to the Director as soon as practicable.
  • Complete WorkCover SA Claim Form as soon as possible
  • Give approval to the worksite manager for the forms to be completed, if they unable

to do so themselves.

  • Attach a workers compensation medical certificate to the WorkCover SA Claim Form
  • Complete an Application for Leave of Absence form if absent from work due to an injury. (N.B. mark as WorkCover claim).

DECD Employees:

  • Forward accounts for payment to Health and Safety Services Level 3, 31 Flinders Street, ADELAIDE. 5000 (fax: 82261177) within 48hours.

YCCC Employees:

  • Forward accounts for payment to Employers Mutual, Level 15, 26 Flinders Street, Adelaide

The Director will:

  • Immediately complete the Injury Report directly into the IRMS (this notifies Health

and Safety Services).

  • Ensure the employee completes all relevant forms listed above.
  • Conduct a Site Assessment for Rehabilitation Assistance.
  • Ensure confidentiality of information (in accordance with the Workers Rehabilitation

and Compensation Act 1986 - Section 112 and 112AAA; OHS&W Act 1986 Section55;

OHS&W Regulations 1995, Division 6.3.1).

  • Provide a copy of the submitted Injury Report to the employee
  • Sign the WorkCover SA Claim Form and complete the manager section in the IRMS

within 48 hours.

  • Keep copies of all forms.

DECD Employees:

Forward the following documents to the Health & Safety Services Courier R11/7within 48 hours:

  • WorkCover SA Claim Form
  • Workers Compensation Medical Certificate
  • Application for Leave of Absence where appropriate

YCCC Employees:

Forward the following documents to Employers Mutual, Level 15, 26 Flinders Street, Adelaide. 5000 within 48 hours:

  • WorkCover SA Claim Form
  • Workers Compensation Medical Certificate

Health and Safety Representative, where present, shall:

  • Assist the worksite manager investigate the incident or injury
  • Endorse all injury reports unless requested otherwise by the person submitting the

report

VOLUNTEER INJURY

The Director will:

  • Notify SafeWork SA on Telephone: 1800 777 209 within 24 hours, in the event of a

notifiable injury.

  • Investigate and complete an Injury Report in the IRMS.
  • Inform volunteers and visitors that they are not eligible for Workers Compensation

benefits (if necessary).

  • Advise the volunteer they may lodge a claim with the DECD Legislation and Legal Services

Unit by forwarding a copy of the Injury Report (IRMS) and any accounts to the

Legislation and Legal Services Unit (R11/13).

INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF AN INJURY AND/OR INCIDENT

The purpose of incident/hazard reporting is to ascertain the root causes of the incident/hazard which will:

  • prevent any incident that may result from the hazard.
  • correct the problem to prevent recurrence.
  • obtain data which will allow trends to be measured and programs imp

The Director, in consultation with the Health and Safety Representative (where

present), shall investigate the cause of an injury. The extent of the investigation will

depend upon the seriousness of the injury or incident. The following factors should inform

the investigation:

  • The cause/contributing factors
  • The events surrounding it
  • The actions taken for the welfare of the injured employee
  • Actions to prevent recurrence.

The Director will:

  • Begin the investigation immediately after the injured person has received prompt

medical attention.

  • Not disturb the scene, except to help the injured person, until all relevant

information is gathered and the scene has been thoroughly inspected. SafeWork

SA inspectors may want to investigate the scene.

  • Maintain objectivity – gather all facts: i.e. What? Who? Why? When? Where?
  • Discuss the circumstances surrounding the injury or incident with the injured person

and/or any witnesses.

  • Consult any relevant documentation: e.g. procedures, guidelines, hazard/near miss

reports, maintenance records, etc.

  • Reconstruct the events that led to the injury taking into account all possible causes

including underlying or procedural failures or inadequacies.

  • Ensure remedial action is taken to prevent recurrence once all causes are clearly understood.
  • Use the IRMS to record the details of the injury and create additional notes if necessary.
  • Base remedial actions on the hierarchy of control i.e. elimination, substitution,engineering, administration and training and the use of personal protectiveequipment.

RECORDS

The Centre must keep copies of the appropriate forms they have used to record, investigate and report dangerous occurrences and injuries. As a guide, retain records relating to injuries in accordance with the following table: e.g.

Description of Record / Disposal Schedule
Records relating to the management of personal injuries to agency staff and volunteers not resulting in claims for compensation. Includes official accident and incident reports. / Destroy 45 years after action completed
Records relating to the management of personal injuries to visitors aged under 18 years, not resulting in claims for compensation. / Destroy when a person turns 25 years, or 7 years after the last action, whichever is later.
Registers of accidents and incidents. / Destroy 60 years after the last entry.
Dispose of appeals records as if they form part of the claim file. Records
relating to the management of claims under the Workers Rehabilitation
and Compensation Act 1986. Includes incident reports, medical records,
advice, appeals, litigation, payments and other information related to the
case. / Destroy 75 years after the workers date of birth or 7 years after the case is closed, whichever is later.

Source:

Licensee’s Handbook – A guide to Children’s Services (Child Care Centre) Regulations – DETE- 1998

Injury / Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedure – Department of Education and Children’s Services – April 2010

Adopted: June 2004Last Reviewed: March 2012To be reviewed: March 2013