In an effort to make sense of this continually developing area and to help fellow businesses and individuals within the industry, we asked a few OHS and workers? compensation specialists what workers? compensation claim challenges they have faced, to help you develop ways to avoid issues in the future.
What is the biggest challenge that you think businesses and individuals face when dealing with a workers? compensation claim and why?
Workers? compensation claims aren?t easy for anyone involved. Processes can seem confusing, overwhelming and take up a lot of time. Aside from the obvious impact on peoples lives, one of the biggest challenges we see with businesses is realising how much each claim goes beyond the premium payable and affects business operations, culture and the bottom line. We frequently work with employers who aren?t aware of how much can be done to prevent injuries or how to effectively manage claims when things don?t go right. Understanding these things and putting in place practical & sustainable solutions to minimise the impact of claims is critical to the overall success of a business.
Bernie Dean, General Manager, Prevention Strategy Division, Health and Safety, Worksafe Victoria
There are about 2 million businesses in Australia and more than 95% of these businesses employ less than 20 workers. Our workers compensation authorities report that annually about 120,000 Australian workers apply for and receive workers compensation. The facts are that for the vast majority of businesses, workers compensation claims are rare events. The reasons for this are another story and involve claims suppression, claim avoidance and a narrowing by governments of what is compensable. I think the biggest challenge facing workers is a lack of understanding of what are complex workers compensation systems. These are not easy systems to navigate. My advice to workers is always the same ? as soon as you are able to after a workplace injury ? get in contact with your union who can advise you of the best course of action for you to take.
Michael Borowick, Assistant Secretary, Australian Council Trade Union
The biggest challenge to a business is the variation in regulation around workers compensation and the impact it has on your financial position. The biggest challenge to the individual is the sense that the plan to recovery is out of your hands as the number of stakeholders can cloud the relationship.
Micheal Martin, National Safety and Risk Manager, Serco Sodexo Defence Services
Workers compensation is there to provide a safety net. By necessity it assumes that it is possible to separate work-related conditions from non-work-related conditions. The reality of the modern workplace is that the most common conditions: mental health problems and musculo-skeletal disorders can be caused by factors at work, environmental factors outside work and personal characteristics in combination. The biggest challenge for businesses and individuals when dealing with a workers? compensation claim is that workers compensation is unlikely to provide much of a solution, and may cause unintended harm.
Professor Niki Ellis CEO, ISCRR (Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research
The National Workers? Compensation Summit will be held on the 26th and 27th February 2013 in Surfers Paradise Queensland. Visit the official website for more information.
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