Module 4 – Responding to Incidents and Emergencies

Despite effective risk management, incidents and emergencies may still occur in occupational therapy practice. This module examines the principles of incident reporting, emergency preparedness, incident investigation and the implementation of corrective and preventive actions. Students will learn how to respond appropriately to workplace incidents while supporting the safety and wellbeing of clients, assistance animals and other stakeholders. Emphasis is placed on organisational learning, system improvement and fostering a just culture that prioritises prevention over blame.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of timely and accurate incident, injury and near miss reporting within assistance animal practice.
2. Identify different types of WHS incidents that may occur within assistance animal environments, including human injury, animal-related incidents, equipment failures and environmental events.
3. Describe the purpose of incident, injury and near miss reporting systems in preventing future harm and improving workplace safety.
4. Apply appropriate processes for documenting and reporting WHS incidents in accordance with workplace policies and procedures.
5. Explain the importance of emergency preparedness and response planning within assistance animal practice settings.
6. Identify common emergency situations that may occur within assistance animal environments and describe appropriate response strategies.
7. Explain the roles and responsibilities of workers, supervisors and organisations during workplace emergencies.
8. Apply principles of effective emergency response, including communication, prioritisation of safety, evacuation procedures and seeking appropriate assistance.
9. Explain the purpose of incident investigation and how investigations contribute to preventing recurrence.
10. Describe the principles of root cause analysis and how underlying factors contribute to workplace incidents.
11. Identify corrective and preventive actions that may be implemented following incidents, hazards or identified risks.
12. Explain how reviewing and evaluating corrective actions supports continuous improvement and safer assistance animal practice.
13. Demonstrate a proactive approach to incident management by recognising that reporting, investigation and improvement processes contribute to a positive WHS culture.

Learning Outcome Mapping