Notifiable incidents in Victoria: WorkSafe and the 48 hours
Short answer
In Victoria, an employer or self-employed person phones WorkSafe on 13 23 60 straight away after a notifiable incident. Written notification follows within 48 hours, and a copy is kept for at least 5 years. Victoria isn’t under the harmonised WHS Act. The OHS Act 2004 applies.
Automatically checked against WorkSafe Victoria on 31 Oct 2026.
What counts, and who to call
Victoria still runs on the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, not the harmonised WHS Act that most other states use. WorkSafe’s list covers a death, a serious injury such as an amputation or a spinal injury, and events that put someone at serious risk. Think a collapse, an electric shock or an uncontrolled spill.
How Vic differs from the model law
Victoria is the main departure from the model law. It uses the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004: notification of incidents is in sections 37-38 and keeping the site undisturbed is section 39. In WorkSafe’s guidance, written notification within 48 hours is a standard step after the call, and a copy is kept for at least 5 years. Most harmonised states ask for written notice on request. The triggers are Victoria’s own. A death or serious injury counts. So does an incident that exposes someone to serious risk from a listed event like a collapse or an electric shock.
A worked example
An electrician gets a shock from a damaged lead on a Geelong site and is admitted to hospital as an in-patient. The site manager rings WorkSafe on 13 23 60 as soon as he’s in the ambulance. The area around the lead stays as found, apart from making it safe. Within 48 hours the manager sends the written record and files a copy somewhere it can be found in five years’ time.
How Haznote handles it
For a Victorian site, Haznote names WorkSafe Victoria on the flag. The manager confirms it. When the written record is due, the report’s timestamps give the times to fill in. The PDF keeps the record in one place.
What the regulator says
Each row shows the source’s own words, who published them and when they were last checked by script.
| Item | What it says | Source and check date |
|---|---|---|
| How to notify | Notify WorkSafe on 13 23 60 immediately when you become aware that a notifiable incident has occurred at a workplace under your management and control. Source says: | WorkSafe Victoria Checked 31 Oct 2026 |
| Site preservation | Section 39: make sure the site of a notifiable incident is not disturbed until an inspector directs that it can be. Source says: | WorkSafe Victoria Checked 31 Oct 2026 |
| Written notice | Provide written notification to WorkSafe within 48 hours. Source says: | WorkSafe Victoria Checked 31 Oct 2026 |
| Legislation | Notification of incidents is in sections 37-38 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. Source says: | WorkSafe Victoria Checked 31 Oct 2026 |
| Record keeping | Keep a copy of the written notification for at least 5 years. Source says: | WorkSafe Victoria Checked 31 Oct 2026 |
Plain answers.
Is the 48 hours counted from the phone call?
WorkSafe’s page says within 48 hours of finding out about the incident. Check the current page for the exact wording.
Does Victoria use the same definitions as the model law?
Not exactly. Victoria lists its own triggers under the OHS Act 2004, so use WorkSafe’s page rather than a national summary.
Does Haznote file the written notice?
No. It holds the record and the timestamps. You send the written notice.
Where this comes from.
- Notifiable incidents under the OHS Act 2004 · WorkSafe Victoria
- Summary of the OHS Act 2004: incidents · WorkSafe Victoria
General information, not legal advice. Check the current rules with WorkSafe Victoria.
Flag likely-notifiable reports with WorkSafe Victoria named. You confirm.
Run it on one site and see the first report land in the manager’s list.