Accident and Incident Escalation and Reporting

What is happening?

Essential Energy would like to reinforce the accident and incident reporting requirements for all Accredited Service Providers (ASPs) undertaking contestable work on Essential Energy’s network.

Prompt reporting supports effective incident management, regulatory compliance and the safety of workers, customers and the public.

Any accident or incident that occurs while undertaking contestable construction work on Essential Energy’s distribution network must be reported promptly to Essential Energy. This includes injuries, near misses, dangerous incidents, safety breaches, damage to property or network assets, and events that could expose a person to serious risk.

Immediate Response:

1. Stop work and make the area safe without placing any person at further risk.
2. Arrange emergency assistance where required.
3. Preserve the incident site and evidence, except where disturbance is necessary to save a life, relieve suffering, prevent further harm or make the site safe.
4. Notify Essential Energy as soon as possible using one of the reporting channels below.
5. Record the known facts, including the time, location, people involved, work activity, immediate controls and any injuries or damage.

Report to Essential Energy

Report the accident or incident as soon as possible to:

• the appropriate Network Assurance Facilitator
• the ASP Connections Manager, or
• Essential Energy’s Customer Contact Centre on 13 20 80.

Provide the information available immediately. Do not delay the initial notification while waiting for a complete investigation or written report.

ASPs remain responsible for notifying all relevant authorities in accordance with their requirements, including SafeWork NSW, NSW Climate and Energy Action and NSW Fair Trading, where applicable.

A notifiable incident may involve:

• the death of a person;
• a serious injury or illness; or
• a dangerous incident exposing a person to a serious risk, even where no injury occurs.

These requirements can apply to workers, contractors and members of the public.

What do you need to do?

1. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
2. Review CEOP2015 - Contestable Works Guidelines (Terms and Conditions for Contestable Works) available on the Document Library.

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au.