Report a safety issue or incident
Fatalities and serious injuries on building sites have heightened the need for licensees to notify the QBCC quickly of safety incidents on-site.
If you don't tell us about safety incidents straight away, we can't do the enquiries needed, making it harder for us to reduce unsafe work practices.
What is a notifiable incident?
A notifiable incident is either:
- when someone dies or suffers serious illness or injury
- an incident that exposes a person to a risk of serious injury or illness.
A serious injury or illness requires the person to have either:
- immediate treatment as an inpatient in a hospital
- immediate treatment for the amputation of a body part, serious head injury, serious eye injury, serious burns, separation of skin from underlying tissue, spinal injury, loss of a bodily function, or serious lacerations
- medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance.
Who must report a safety incident?
A QBCC licensee who is in control of, or carrying out building work on a building site, must notify us if either:
- a notifiable incident occurs on the site
- a person on any site where they are carrying out building work fails to comply with a notice or injunction issued under the either the
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Part 10)
- Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Part 11A).
If the QBCC licensee on site is a company, an officeholder or senior employee must notify the QBCC on the company's behalf.
How to report a safety incident
Licensees must notify the QBCC in the fastest way possible. This means taking action as soon as you see or hear about a safety incident on-site.
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You will need some important information before you contact us, including:
- the time and date of the incident
- the address of the incident
- who is the QBCC licensee in control of the site
- who was injured or breached the notice or injunction from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland or the Electrical Safety Office
- was medical assistance required
- why the incident occured
- which other agencies (if any) have you notified of the incident.
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You can notify us by either:
- calling us on 139 333
- completing the online form.
Unsure if a safety incident needs reporting?
If a safety incident has occurred and you are unsure if would be considered a notifiable incident, it is best to contact us to find out.
Give us a call on 139 333 straight away. We can let you know and help you lodge a notification if required.
Offence not to notify us
We take safety seriously. It is an offence under s54A of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act for a licensee not to notify us of an incident in the fastest way possible.
If you don't notify us of a safety incident you may be prosecuted.
Report to other regulators
You may also have to report the matter to other relevant regulators such as:
You should contact their office directly for more information about when you need to report to other regulators.
Safety incidents involving non-conforming building products
Learn more about what you need to do if a safety incident involves a non-conforming building product.