And Hear it is

One of our client’s injured workers has been offered over $20k for a hearing loss claim. I’m wondering how they could have managed this better and what we can learn.

Clearly you need to begin with noise level testing at all workplaces, and then undertake health monitoring for all employees. Pre-employment hearing testing is critical. You also need to consider appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). It probably would also be a good idea to have a tool-box talk about incident notification as well, just to reiterate the point that if someone is having problems with something at work, whether it’s a near miss, hazard, incident or…

Don’t just pay your premium invoice!

Premium notices have been flooding into the office over the last few months and I’m continually surprised with the information, or lack thereof, that is provided to employers to allow them to actually understand what it is they are paying and why.

There seems to have been a conscious decision to provide as little information as possible, as these notices do not allow employers to assess or understand their performance, review their industry classification or develop goals to assist in premium reduction for the year ahead.

So what do you need to know?

The key factors that drive the premium you are paying, or have just paid, are…

Medical Certification – GP v Physiotherapist

When it comes to RTW where do the best results come from?

My role requires me to attend many “fitness for work reviews” (FFWR) with injured workers who see both a GP and Physiotherapist regularly. Many of these injured workers only see their GP to obtain their certificate of capacity (COC).

I have left many FFWR conducted with GP’s feeling a little underwhelmed with the lack of constructive conversation and lack of movement on the worker’s capacity to undertake suitable employment. It has resulted in me asking myself the following questions;

1. Is the GP the best person to be talking to about RTW?

2. Is the GP the…