Skip to main content

What is a work-related accident

You need to report work-related accidents, Dangerous Occurrences and Occupational Diseases. Find out what needs to be reported.

A work-related accident is any unintended event that occurs in the course of work (excluding domestic work) that leads to an injury or condition.

It can also be a Dangerous Occurrence, an Occupational Disease or:

  • Traffic accidents that happen at the workplace or in the course of work, e.g. a traffic accident while commuting to work on company transport.
  • Accidents that are incidental to or from work, e.g. slipping and falling within the workplace but when not performing official work duties.
  • Conditions of a medical nature, such as heart attacks or strokes, that may be triggered by work.

Dangerous Occurrence

A Dangerous Occurrence is one that is found in the list of Dangerous Occurrences.

Occupational Disease

An Occupational Disease is one that is found in the list of Occupational Diseases. Any disease not found in the list but which results from exposure to chemical or biological agents at work is also an Occupational Disease.

List of Occupational Diseases for reportingShow

Diseases caused by physical agents
1. Barotrauma
2. Cataract due to infra-red, ultraviolet or ionising radiation (previously “Cataracts due to infra-red, ultraviolet or X-ray radiation” and not in WSHA)
3. Compressed air illness or its sequelae, including dysbaric osteonecrosis 
4. Diseases caused by excessive heat
5. Diseases caused by ionising radiation
6. Noise-induced hearing loss (previously “Noise-induced deafness”)
Diseases caused by chemical agents
7. Poisoning by aniline (previously not in WICA)
8. Poisoning by arsenic
9. Poisoning by benzene or a homologue of benzene
10. Poisoning by beryllium (previously not in WICA)
11. Poisoning by cadmium
12. Poisoning by carbamates 
13. Poisoning by carbon disulphide
14. Poisoning by carbon monoxide gas
15. Poisoning by cyanide
16. Poisoning by halogen derivatives of hydrocarbon compounds
17. Poisoning by hydrogen sulphide
18. Poisoning by lead
19. Poisoning by manganese
20. Poisoning by mercury
21. Poisoning by organophosphates
22. Poisoning by oxides of nitrogen
23. Poisoning by phosphorus
24. Toxic anaemia (previously not in WICA)
25. Toxic hepatitis
Diseases caused by biological agents
26. Anthrax
27. Glanders (previously not in WSHA)
28. Leptospirosis or its sequelae
29. Occupational infectious disease (previously “Tuberculosis”)
Musculoskeletal disorders
30. Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (previously “Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb”)
Respiratory disorders
31. Asbestosis
32. Byssinosis
33. Occupational asthma
34. Silicosis
Skin disorders
35. Occupational skin disease
Cancers (Malignant diseases)
36. Malignant mesothelioma (previously “Mesothelioma”)
37. Occupational liver angiosarcoma (previously “Liver angiosarcoma”)
38. Occupational skin cancer

Unsafe acts or work conditions

This is any act or work condition that appears unsafe and may cause damage to life or property.