Volunteer Marine Rescue - Southport / Surfers Paradise
BY LAWS – (Policy Manual)
SECTION:-HEALTH & SAFETY
SECTION: 6
BY-LAW: 6.3
ISSUE: 5
DATE: 20/7/13
Page 1 of 3
BY-LAW 6.3:- INCIDENT / ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & REPORTING
Sponsor:- Search & Rescue Controller
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1.0
Approved by Management Committee
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Introduction
While the aim of the Association’s accident prevention program is to avoid accidents, unforeseen
circumstances, carelessness and bad luck can cause accidents. Further, incidents can occur that could
lead to an accident or shed light on a previous accident or incident. Should any such event occur, the
supervisor, member(s) involved and, if applicable, the Duty Skipper shall report the event as soon as
safety and prudence allows, using the appropriate forms, herein detailed. This By - Law covers
procedures for reporting and investigating accidents and incidents pertaining only to Active and Life
members of the VMR Southport – Surfers Paradise Association Inc. who are on official Association
duty and to the damage of property of the Association.
Nothing in this By - Law prevents the required submission of a VMR Incident Report Form.
Definitions
2.0
A.
Safety Incident. A safety incident is any occurrence that breaches one or more By - Laws or
Standard Operational Procedures of the Association. It does not involve injury, but may
affect the safety of a vessel or a person, damages the property of the Association or may throw
light on any previously unexplained incident or accident.
B.
Accident. An accident is any occurrence in which a person/s is injured.
C.
Investigation. A searching inquiry in order to obtain true facts. It is not the role of the
incident / accident investigation to place blame. Incident / accident investigations have the
role of discovering and recording facts and then making recommendationsto the the
Management Committee.
References
Rules
Workplace Health and Safety
Disciplinary Action
Incident / Accident Reporting
Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994
3.0
4.11 & 5.6
By-Law 1.1
By-Law 8.1
SOP
111
Part 11 Marine Incidents
Detailed information
3.1
Incident / Accident
A person/s involved in an Incident/Accident may be stood down until a review by the
Incident/Accident Investigation Sub-Committee is conducted.
Volunteer Marine Rescue - Southport / Surfers Paradise
BY LAWS – (Policy Manual)
SECTION:-HEALTH & SAFETY
SECTION: 6
BY-LAW 6.3
ISSUE: 6
DATE: 18/04/16
Page 2 of 3
BY-LAW 6.3:- INCIDENT / ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & REPORTING
Sponsor:- Search & Rescue Controller
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3.2
Approved by Management Committee
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The Incident/Accident Investigation Sub-Committee.
A Incident/Accident Investigation Sub-Committee responsible for incident and/or accident
investigation consists of between 3and 5 members (depending upon availability) made up of
the following position titles not involved directly in the incident/accident:
At least one:
 Senior Skipper
At least one of:
 the Vice-President; or
 Search and Rescue Controller; or
 the Operations Controller.
When considered necessary, this Incident/Accident Investigation Sub-Committee shall
without delay, appoint an Investigation Panel, nominating a Chairperson and consisting of at
least three and not more than five Active or Life Members, including a mimumum of one
Senior Skipper, to investigate the event and pass the Investigation Panel’s reports and
recommendations to the Management Committee together with their own Incident/Accident
Investigation Sub-Committee report and recommendations. To be clear, the Investigation
Sub-Committee can be the Investigation Panel if appropriate and meeting all abnove criteria.
3.3
The Investigation Panel
3.3.1
Responsibilities.
The Investigation Panel is responsible to the Incident/Accident Investigation SubCommittee for the timely and thorough investigation, report and recommendations of
the incident or accident which the Sub-Committee invites them to investigate. The
appointed Chair and the nominated secretary of the Panel shall sign all written
documents passed to the Sub-Committee indicating that the documents are a true and
correct account of the Panel’s actions.
3.3.2
Procedures.
a.
The objective of the Panel’s investigations is to ascertain all circumstances that
occurred during the event, relevant circumstances associated with the event and what
relevant actions were taken after the event. The Panel shall make a thorough report
of their findings to the Sub-Committee and include its recommendations concerning
procedures to prevent a re-occurrence of the event and any subsequent actions that
the Management Committee need to consider.
b.
While not intending to restrict the Panel’s efforts, statements should be taken from all
members involved in the event as soon as possible. The statements are to be written
and signed, or recorded then transcribed and certified as a true transcription by at
least two of the Panel. As far as possible, statements from members involved in the
event should be free of opinion.
Volunteer Marine Rescue - Southport / Surfers Paradise
BY LAWS – (Policy Manual)
SECTION:-HEALTH & SAFETY
SECTION: 6
BY-LAW 6.3
ISSUE: 6
DATE: 18/04/16
Page 3 of 3
BY-LAW 6.3:- INCIDENT / ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & REPORTING
Sponsor:- Search & Rescue Controller
Sponsor signature
Approved by Management Committee
President signature
c.
The Panel may, within legal and economic constraints, call any person to provide
consultancy in order to clarify unclear items of relevance. These might include
“eye” witnesses, and competency, mechanical, marine and communications
specialists.
d.
As far as possible, the Panel should encourage all interviewees not to discuss their
testimony with anyone, especially before providing evidence to the Panel.
e.
The Panel shall not obstruct or inhibit any official legal investigation, (e.g. Police).
f.
The Panel should take statements and make all interviews in private.
The following forms are to be used for the Incident / Accident Investigations and Reports.
FORM : F3071 ES
SSA Multimedia : Marine Incident Report
http://www.support.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/formsdat.nsf/forms/QF3071/$file/F3071_CFD.pdf
FORM : F 6.3 / 1
FORM : F 6.3 / 2
FORM : F 6.3 / 3
MSQ-Marine-Incident
-Report-Form.pdf
6.3_1 PANEL
APP.doc
6.3_2
STATEMENT.doc
6.3_3 REPORT.doc
Panel Appointment Form
Statement Form
Panel Report and Recommendation Form