Report a health or safety risk (SafetyNow)

A hazard or incident is any occurrence that has caused, or has the potential to cause, injury, illness, or harm to health of a person and/or danger to property or the environment.

Some examples of hazards that should be reported via SafetyNow include:

• A lifted floor tile, tear in the carpet, damaged pavement or water pooling on a pathway that could cause someone to trip and injure themselves
• The incorrect storage, labelling or disposal of chemicals that has the potential to cause harm to someone

Some examples of incidents that should be reported via SafetyNow include:

• Trips, slips or falls, even if no injury has occurred
• Laceration from use of lab or kitchen equipment resulting in first aid treatment
• A psychosocial incident, such as perceived bullying from a staff member or student
   

Psychosocial risks are elements of the work or study environment that have the potential to cause stress and can lead to physical and psychological harm. Psychosocial incidents are occurrences that have led to, or might lead to, psychological injury resulting from exposure to psychosocial risk.

Some examples of psychosocial risks are:

• Excessive workload demands
• Incivil or disrespectful interactions between staff or students
• Exposure to emotionally disturbing or demanding materials, events or situations
• Lack of opportunities for growth and development
• Lack of clear leadership or expectations
• Poorly managed change
• Lack of autonomy in the way work is carried out

Some examples of psychosocial incidents are:

• Incidents relating to concerns about work/study conditions, fairness, or lack of civility or respect
• Exposure to a traumatic event
• Exposure to behaviours that are unreasonable, offensive or intimidating
• Exposure to inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature
• Exposure to aggressive or violent behaviour
• Disclosure of suicidal ideation
• Death of a student or staff member

While exposure to psychosocial risk does not always lead to harm, frequent, prolonged, or severe stress can cause significant physical and psychological injury within and beyond the work or study environment.

Yes, a psychosocial hazard or incident can be reported in SafetyNow. These are handled confidentially so must be submitted as a “confidential” report. In the first instance though, it is recommended that:

• students speak to their course coordinator or program manager if they are comfortable to do so. For any disclosures of concerning, threatening or inappropriate behaviour, you may contact Safer Community
• HDR candidates speak to your HDR delegated authority / coordinator if they are comfortable to do so. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to your HDR delegated authority / coordinator, you may contact Safer Community
• staff speak to their line manager or People Partner if they are comfortable to do so. See the staff Psychosocial Risk page on SharePoint for more information.

Anyone in the vicinity where an incident has occurred resulting in harm to a person or damage to property, should:

• If required, call Emergency Services (000), contact RMIT Security on 9925 3333, or push the Emergency or First aid button on the SafeZone* App on your smart phone to obtain assistance. RMIT Security can provide or co-ordinate the provision of first aid, arrange access for emergency services and preserve the incident scene
• If needed and safe to do so, move injured people away from danger
• Provide first aid, if trained and within your capability
• Make the area as safe as possible (e.g. keeping people away from the area)

Details that may be required by emergency services:

• The emergency service required (e.g. Ambulance Fire, Police, State Emergency Service)
• The type of incident (e.g. medical, fire, explosion, assault, etc.)
• The exact location of the emergency (i.e. address and campus)
• Your name and contact number
• If people are injured; how many people are injured
• Any further information as requested  

*SafeZone is a smart phone app for RMIT Staff and Students to use in the case of an emergency. The SafeZone app is currently only available at RMIT campuses in Victoria, Australia. Find out more and download the SafeZone app here.
 

If you notice a building maintenance issue, such as a spill, a fault with one of the lifts, or a bird in the building, please get in contact with property services.

See Campus Security for details.

Once the hazard or incident is reported in SafetyNow, it will be routed to the appropriate person or team to rectify or manage.

All reports and information are treated in accordance with the RMIT Privacy Statement. We may be in touch if we require additional information.
 

Confidential incidents are automatically routed to the Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing for triage and follow-up with appropriate RMIT personnel, bypassing the usual escalation and notification of incidents.

If you are a new manager, supervisor, or a responsible person for a student or Higher Degree by Research candidate for the first time, you will be required to submit a request in IT Connect to be added to the Senior Manager profile in SafetyNow. Equally, if you are a new staff member and require a higher level of access for the role you perform, you will be required to submit a request in IT Connect.

At RMIT we set high standards for delivering transformational education experiences for our students and a safe and productive work environment for our staff. We understand that sometimes we may not get it right. If you need to raise an issue, please refer to the RMIT Complaints webpage.