Best practice injury management

1. Best practice injury management Tim Meadows Industry Manager WorkCover Queensland

2. Legislative amendments • The Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 was passed in parliament in October 2013 • The main changes applying from 15 October 2013 • New method in determining permanent impairment • A > 5% common law threshold has been introduced • Requirement & training for a RRTWC has changed • The main changes applying from 29 October 2013 • The way psychological/psychiatric claims are determined • The insurer is responsible for rehabilitation (including common law) • Employers can now ask workers for disclosure of pre-existing injuries • We have a video of a webinar, and detailed presentations • Detailed information at workcoverqld.com.au/legislativeamendments

3. Common injuries across agriculture, construction and transport in 2013/14 • The main injuries in agriculture are 245 backs and 370 hand and fingers • The main injuries in construction are1675 backs, 1647 hands & fingers • The main injuries in transport are 899 backs and 547 shoulder/upper arm • Back injuries remain a common injury trend

4. Common mechanisms of injuries in 2013/14

5. Industry statistics – Stay at work percentage Data as at 31 August 2014

6. Industry statistics – average days to first return to work (RTW) Data as at 31 August 2014

7. Industry statistics – Final RTW percentage Data as at 31 August 2014

8. Hidden Costs • Damage to machinery, repairs or replacement • downtime • hiring and training new staff • cost to individual • costs to community • business reputation • WHSQ Cost calculator http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/ind-cost-calc.pdf

9. Health benefits of work • Early return to work reduces the risk of long-term disability • Injured workers who are offered suitable duties are twice as likely to return to work • Strong evidence suggests that work absence tends to perpetuate itself: that is, the longer someone is off work, the less likely they become ever to return • We encourage a stay at, or prompt return to work strategy. This is possible through a suitable duties program or host employment. • The longer someone remains off work the less likely it is they will ever return. If someone is off work for: • 20 days, the chance of ever getting back to work is 70% • 45 days, the chance of ever getting back to work is reduced to 50% and • 70 days, the chance is then again reduced to 35%. Realising the Health Benefits of Work

10. Best practice injury management • When a workplace injury occurs: • notify WorkCover Queensland within eight business days • encourage early medical attention and treatment • make suitable duties available to your injured workers where possible • work with WorkCover Queensland, the injured worker, their doctor and other health-care providers to develop an effective return to work program • do not dismiss an injured worker solely or mainly because of their injury within 12 months of the injury or illness occurring.

11. Suitable Duties • Where possible, a ‘stay at work’ approach is best for rehabilitation • Duties and hours at work are just as important as other treatments • Suitable duties allow people to develop confidence by: • -gradually increasing tasks back to their usual job demands • -maintaining social contact and support • -feeling valued for what they contribute • -creating a positive workplace culture • -contributing to productivity • Think about : • What tasks are required • Are there tasks within the persons role or not • Consider tasks with different positions (seated/standing).

12. What you can do • prevention is better than cure—keep your workplace safe and prevent injuries • be return to work focused and provide suitable duties—focus on what your worker can do, not what they can’t • work with us to help your worker stay at, or return to work as soon as possible • consider Recover At Work (RAW) opportunities • communicate regularly and openly with all parties—stay in contact with your worker and check their progress • utilise consultancy services.

13. Online services • Employer online • declare wages and pay your premium • view premium notices • produce a Certificate of Currency • find key dates for workers’ compensation • performance scorecards • useful links. Our online services are free, quick and easy to use. You can access your policy information at a time that suits you. You can also lodge information online and opt to receive your policy information and updates electronically– convenient and good for the environment.

14. Free services • Some ways we can help you: • forecast your premium • develop return to work strategies including suitable duties plans • provide individual and industry performance analysis • access online services • access industry pages, films and case studies • network opportunities with peers via industry forums • work with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to develop workplace health and safety initiatives • download the worker assist app.

15. Contact us workcoverqld.com.au • If you would like more information, please call or email me: • 3006 6841 • Agriculture • kylie.maras@workcoverqld.com.au • Transport tim.meadows@workcoverqld.com.au • Construction tammy.kangas@workcoverqld.com.au