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Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Long Duration Claims and Delays in Return to Work 31 October 2013

Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Long Duration Claims and Delays in Return to Work 31 October 2013. Chris White A/Chief Executive Officer, WorkCover WA. Outline. About Workers’ Compensation in WA. Legislation: Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981

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Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Long Duration Claims and Delays in Return to Work 31 October 2013

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  1. Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Long Duration Claims and Delays in Return to Work 31 October 2013 Chris WhiteA/Chief Executive Officer, WorkCover WA

  2. Outline

  3. About Workers’ Compensation in WA • Legislation: Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 • No-Fault system • Privately underwritten

  4. Key objectives of the WA workers’ compensation scheme

  5. Differentiated regulation Information Advice Assistance Monitoring Enforcement • Communications & Education AdvisoryServices CustomerAssistanceUnit Standards& Monitoring(service providers) ComplianceServices(employers) Advice & Assistance Unit

  6. Communications and Education • Targeted education programs - e.g. insurance brokers • education • code of practice • Information sessions • Legislative obligations • Rights and responsibilities of key parties • Injury management • Return to work • Contractors and sub-contractors • Conciliation and Arbitration Services • WorkCover WA’s role and responsibilities • Presentations available on request

  7. Advice and Assistance Advisory Services • Trained, friendly staff • Private rooms for private conversations • Phone 1300 794 744 • Email postmaster@workcover.wa.gov.au Customer Assistance • Guidance to parties relating to claim issues • Can help resolve issues between parties if all agreeable • Assist parties to complete legislative requirements for Conciliation and Arbitration Services (CAS) applications

  8. Approved service providers

  9. Legal obligations for employers Workers’ compensation insurance policyMust cover ALL workers (including contractors & sub-contractors)  Claim Form & Medical Certificate to insurer within 5 daysIf submitted through an insurance broker, the broker must forward immediately  Make payments to injured worker  Implement an injury management systemNot complicated - templates are available on the WorkCover WA website  Prepare and implement a return to work programEmployers may discharge this obligation to their insurer 

  10. Injury management & return to work • Defined as: ‘the management of workers’ injuries in a manner that is directed at enabling injured workers to return to work’ • It is a legal requirement for employers to: • have an injury management system that describes the steps to be followed if a workplace injury occurs • implement a ‘return to work’ program if the treating doctor advises that the injured worker has a capacity to work • Code of Practice (Injury Management) 2005 and Guidance Notes for the Code of Practice (Injury Management) 2005

  11. Why is injury management required? • Workplace injuries have direct and indirect costs to workers and business: • direct financial costs • reduced productivity • personal costs to worker • Minimise impact of injuries with effective injury management • Facilitates recovery and injured worker’s return to work • Prepare for an injury before it occurs

  12. Reasons for not returning to work Source: Australian Institute for Social Research “The role of the workplace in return to work” (WorkCover SA) March 2010

  13. Helping people return to work – using evidence for better outcomes Key recommendations: • Use of evidence based medicine and evidence based policy making to form the basis of return to work approaches • Health outcomes of workers to be routinely collected/reported • Training for medical practitioners • Develop systems support for improved practitioner-workplace communication Source: http://www.racp.edu.au – AFOEM publications

  14. Return to Work is the “Healthiest Outcome” “For most people their work is a key factor in their self worth, family esteem and identity. So if they become sick and are not helped quickly enough, they can all too easily find themselves on a downward spiral into long term sickness and a life on benefits.” Dame Carol Black Professor of Rheumatology at the UCL Medical School;Former Director for Health and Work;Former President of the Royal College of the Physicians

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