��������Ƶ

An Incident and Non-Conformance Management Policy sets out how your organization handles unexpected events and compliance failures. It's your playbook for responding to workplace accidents, environmental incidents, or any situation where operations don't meet required standards under Australian WHS laws and ISO management systems.

This policy helps organizations track, investigate, and fix problems systematically - from a minor breach of procedure to a serious safety incident. It outlines clear steps for reporting issues, conducting root cause analysis, implementing corrective actions, and preventing similar problems in the future. Having this framework helps meet regulatory requirements while building a stronger safety culture and continuous improvement mindset.

Use an Incident and Non-Conformance Management Policy when your organization needs a clear system for handling workplace incidents, safety breaches, or compliance failures. This becomes essential after experiencing a serious incident, during safety audits, or when scaling operations across multiple sites where consistent incident reporting becomes crucial.

The policy proves particularly valuable when dealing with regulatory investigations, managing WorkSafe notifications, or demonstrating due diligence to stakeholders. It's a vital tool for organizations in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, or healthcare, where systematic incident management directly impacts legal compliance and operational safety under Australian WHS regulations.

• Basic Incident Reporting: Focuses on standard workplace accident reporting and investigation procedures, suitable for small to medium businesses
• Comprehensive HSE Management: Combines incident reporting with broader health, safety, and environmental non-conformance tracking - ideal for industrial settings
• Quality System Integration: Aligns with ISO 9001 requirements, emphasizing quality-related non-conformances and corrective actions
• Risk-Based Framework: Tailored for high-risk industries with detailed risk assessment matrices and escalation protocols
• Regulatory Compliance: Specifically structured to meet Australian WHS legislation and reporting requirements for notifiable incidents

• HSE Managers: Lead the development and implementation of the policy, ensuring it aligns with Australian WHS regulations and industry standards
• Senior Management: Review, approve, and champion the policy while ensuring adequate resources for its implementation
• Line Managers: Handle day-to-day incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action implementation
• Employees: Follow reporting procedures and participate in incident investigations when required
• Safety Representatives: Provide input on policy development and monitor its effectiveness
• External Auditors: Assess policy compliance during safety and quality management system audits

• Current Processes: Document existing incident reporting and investigation procedures in your organization
• Risk Assessment: Review past incidents and identify common types of non-conformances specific to your operations
• Legal Requirements: Gather relevant WHS regulations and industry standards that apply to your business
• Stakeholder Input: Consult with safety representatives, managers, and workers about practical reporting needs
• Response Protocols: Define clear escalation paths and responsibility matrices for different incident types
• Documentation System: Set up templates and forms for consistent incident recording and tracking
• Review Process: Establish timeframes for policy review and effectiveness assessment

• Policy Scope: Clear definition of what constitutes an incident or non-conformance under Australian WHS laws
• Reporting Procedures: Step-by-step process for incident notification and documentation requirements
• Legal Obligations: Reference to relevant WHS legislation and reporting timeframes for notifiable incidents
• Investigation Protocol: Structured approach to root cause analysis and evidence gathering
• Corrective Actions: Framework for implementing and monitoring improvement measures
• Roles and Responsibilities: Clear delegation of duties for incident management and reporting
• Review Mechanism: Scheduled policy evaluation and update procedures
• Record Keeping: Requirements for maintaining incident records and investigation findings

While both documents deal with safety management, an Incident and Non-Conformance Management Policy differs significantly from a Health and Safety Policy. Let's explore their key distinctions:

• Primary Focus: An Incident Policy specifically addresses response procedures after incidents occur, while a Health and Safety Policy outlines broad preventive measures and general safety standards
• Scope of Application: Incident policies target specific events and their management, whereas Health and Safety policies cover ongoing daily operations and workplace conditions
• Legal Requirements: Incident policies must align with Australian WHS incident reporting obligations and investigation requirements, while Health and Safety policies address broader compliance with general WHS duties
• Implementation Timing: Incident policies activate when problems occur, while Health and Safety policies operate continuously as preventive frameworks
• Documentation Focus: Incident policies detail investigation procedures and corrective actions, whereas Health and Safety policies outline risk controls and safety standards