Incident Investigation & Reporting

Staff A is walking out of the building where he works and towards the car park. When he got there, his foot hit a rock and he fell. His leg was sprained, and his knee was injured. He received MC from the doctor for two days following the incident. What types of incident class for this scenario?

• Class 1 (Serious bodily injury)

• Class 2 (Minor injury)

• Class 3 (First Aid)

• Non-occupational incident

Answer explanation

Company prking facilities are generally not considered part of the employer's premises. Therefore injuries to employees on these parking lots are not presumed to be work related, and are not reportable or recordable unless te employee was engaged in some work-related activity (source: NADOPOD guideline, DOSH)

Staff B finished work at 5.45 p.m. Due to the rain and to avoid traffic jams, he spent time playing table tennis in the office area. While playing, he fell and hit his head on the edge of the table. He got dizzy and got five stitches. He got MC for 5 days. What types of incident class for this scenario?

• Class 1 (Serious bodily injury)

• Class 2 (Minor injury)

• Class 3 (First Aid)

• Non-occupational incident

Answer explanation

For reporting and record keeping purposes, the definition of work premises excludes all employer controlled ball fields, tennis courts, golf courses, parks, swimming pools, gyms, and other similar recreational facilities which are often apart from the workplace and used by employees on a voluntary basis for their own benefit, primarily during off-work hours. Therefore, injuries to employees in these recreational facilities are not reportable or recordable unless the employee was engaged in some work-related activity, or was required by the employer to participate. (source: NADOPOD guideline, DOSH)

At lunch time, hot oil was spilled on the feet of a cafeteria staffer while he was cooking. His leg was burned, and he had MC for 6 days. What types of incident class for this scenario?

• Class 1 (Serious bodily injury)

• Class 2 (Minor injury)

• Class 3 (First Aid)

• Non-occupational incident

Answer explanation

Company restrooms, hallways, and cafeterias are all considered to be part of the employer's premises and constitute part of the work environment. Therefore, injuries occurring in these places are generally considered work related. (source: NADOPOD guideline, DOSH)

On working days. Staff C has left in a company vehicle to carry out audit work. On the way, he was involved in a road accident and suffered a bruise on his head and a broken arm. He has had MC for a month. What types of incident class for this scenario?

• Class 1 (Serious bodily injury)

• Class 2 (Minor injury)

• Class 3 (First Aid)

• Non-occupational incident

Answer explanation

Employees who travel on company business shall be considered to be engaged in work related activities all the time they spend in the interest of the company, including,but not limited to, travel to and from customer contacts, and entertaining or being entertained for the purpose of transacting, discussing, or promoting business, etc. (source: NADOPOD Guideline, DOSH)

During weekends, Staff D has used the company vehicle to bring his family together to a holiday destination. While traveling, he and his family were involved in an accident. He and his family were seriously injured. Staff D suffered a broken arm and head wound with four stitches. He has had MC for 20 days. What types of incident class for this scenario?

• Class 1 (Serious bodily injury)

• Class 2 (Minor injury)

• Class 3 (First Aid)

• Non-occupational incident

Answer explanation

However, an injury, poisoning or disease would not be reportable/recordable if it occurred during normal living activities (eating, sleeping, recreation): or if the employee deviates from a reasonably direct route of travel (side trip for vacation or other personal reasons). He would again be in the course of employment when he returned to the normal route of travel.