Incident investigations are only valuable if they result in meaningful improvements to workplace health and safety. Once contributing factors and root causes have been identified, organisations should implement corrective and preventive actions that address identified risks and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future.

Corrective and preventive actions should focus on strengthening workplace systems rather than simply responding to individual events. Effective actions improve safety for clients, Occupational Therapists, assistance animals and the wider community while supporting continuous quality improvement.

Occupational Therapists contribute to this process by recommending evidence-informed interventions, monitoring their effectiveness and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure changes are practical, sustainable and person-centred.

Corrective Actions

Corrective actions are measures implemented to address the causes of an incident or identified hazard after it has occurred.

The aim of corrective action is to prevent recurrence by addressing weaknesses in workplace systems, environments, equipment or procedures.

Examples include:

• repairing damaged equipment
• modifying unsafe environments
• updating workplace procedures
• providing additional education
• improving supervision
• revising client support plans
• replacing inappropriate equipment
• reviewing assistance animal task requirements.

Corrective actions should be implemented as soon as reasonably practicable following identification of the issue.

Preventive Actions

Preventive actions differ from corrective actions because they aim to prevent incidents before they occur.

Preventive actions are based on proactive risk management rather than responding to adverse events.

Examples include:

• conducting routine workplace inspections
• reviewing risk assessments regularly
• implementing preventative maintenance programs
• providing ongoing staff education
• introducing new safety procedures
• monitoring assistance animal welfare
• reviewing emergency preparedness plans
• encouraging early hazard reporting.

Preventive actions contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and addressing risks before harm occurs.

Selecting Appropriate Actions

Corrective and preventive actions should be proportionate to the level of identified risk.

When selecting actions, Occupational Therapists should consider:

• the seriousness of the identified risk
• the likelihood of recurrence
• legislative requirements
• organisational policies
• client goals
• assistance animal welfare
• available evidence
• available resources.

Whenever possible, higher-order risk controls should be prioritised in accordance with the hierarchy of risk control.

Developing an Action Plan

An action plan helps ensure that recommended improvements are implemented consistently and monitored over time.

Action plans should clearly identify:

• the identified issue
• recommended actions
• responsible persons
• required resources
• implementation timeframes
• review dates
• methods for evaluating effectiveness.

Clear planning promotes accountability and supports successful implementation.

Consultation During Implementation

Successful implementation requires collaboration with those affected by the proposed changes.

Occupational Therapists should consult with relevant stakeholders throughout implementation, including:

• clients
• families and carers
• assistance animal trainers
• veterinarians
• employers
• educators
• disability support providers
• workplace managers
• multidisciplinary team members.

Consultation encourages shared ownership of workplace improvements and helps ensure recommended changes are practical and achievable.

Monitoring Implementation

Implementation does not conclude once changes have been introduced.

Occupational Therapists should monitor whether:

• recommendations have been implemented as intended
• new procedures are being followed
• identified risks have been reduced
• unintended consequences have arisen
• additional modifications are required.

Monitoring allows organisations to determine whether corrective and preventive actions have achieved their intended outcomes.

Evaluating Effectiveness

Evaluation is an essential component of continuous improvement.

Methods of evaluation may include:

• workplace observations
• environmental reassessment
• stakeholder feedback
• review of incident data
• repeat risk assessments
• client outcome measures
• assistance animal welfare monitoring
• audits of workplace procedures.

Evaluation should determine whether implemented actions have effectively reduced risk while supporting safe occupational participation.

Documentation of Corrective and Preventive Actions

All corrective and preventive actions should be appropriately documented.

Documentation should include:

• identified issue
• actions implemented
• implementation date
• responsible person
• review outcomes
• any further recommendations.

Maintaining accurate records supports organisational accountability and demonstrates compliance with workplace health and safety obligations.

Supporting Sustainable Change

Long-term improvements require more than introducing new procedures.

Occupational Therapists should support sustainable change by:

• reinforcing safe work practices
• providing ongoing education
• encouraging stakeholder engagement
• promoting reflective practice
• reviewing workplace systems regularly
• responding promptly to emerging risks.

Embedding safety into everyday practice creates more resilient organisations and safer assistance animal partnerships.

Continuous Quality Improvement

Corrective and preventive actions form part of broader organisational quality improvement systems.

Information gathered through workplace health and safety activities should be used to:

• identify trends
• improve organisational policies
• strengthen workplace education
• guide resource allocation
• support strategic planning
• improve client outcomes
• enhance assistance animal welfare.

Quality improvement is an ongoing process that enables organisations to adapt to changing environments, legislation, evidence and community expectations.

Key Practice Principle

Corrective and preventive actions transform workplace health and safety from a reactive process into a proactive system of continuous improvement. Occupational Therapists play an important role in identifying practical solutions, implementing evidence-informed changes and evaluating their effectiveness. Through ongoing collaboration, monitoring and review, practitioners contribute to safer workplaces, improved client outcomes and the long-term wellbeing of assistance animals.