If you are injured at work (or develop an illness as a direct result of your work), there are a number of steps you should take. Ensuring you follow all Work Safe guidelines will increase your chances of making a successful claim if needed, or addressing an issue or risk in the workplace. Prior to an incident, you should always ensure you are informed of your workplace policy regarding reporting incidents that occur at work, while travelling to and from work, while on a break from work, or regarding injuries suffered while visiting other workplaces or sites as part of work duties.
Please note the following:
- Immediately following an injury in the workplace you should report the injury in writing to your employer with specific details of the injury suffered and how it occured. The incident report is NOT the same as lodging a claim for compensation.
- Separately a workers compensation claim needs to be lodged. You should not be dissuaded from lodging a claim by your employer it is your statutory right to do so.
- If you are having difficulties having a claim lodged talk with your Union or contact the Insurer directly.
- Seek medical assistance whether it be emergency services or applying first-aid depending on the severity of injuries.
- You DO NOT have to use a company approved nurse or Doctor for treatment. We recommend you use your own Doctors and other treatment providers.
- Your employers and its representatives such as a store manager HAVE NO RIGHT to participate in a medical appointment.
To lodge a workers compensation claim, you will need to provide WorkCover or the self-insurer with details of:
- Your name, date of birth and personal contact information
- Your employer’s name and location
- A work capacity certificate from your initial consult for this injury from your doctor
- Your bank details
- A Tax File Number declaration
- Details of your injury and a brief description of when and how it occurred (often documented in an incident report)
- If you are dealing with a self insurer make sure you have written proof that the claim has been lodged and allocated a claim number. Don’t take the employers word for it.
- Whenever possible, always have a written record of anything said to you by a compensation claim manager. Use email to confirm what was said in a telephone conversation. Put it on the record.
If you are concerned about making a claim or reporting your work-related injury, it is vital to see your doctor, contact your union and consult a Personal Injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you have evidence to build your case.
YOU MUST LODGE A CLAIM WITHIN 6 MONTHS of INJURY or within 20 business days of being assessed and certified by a Doctor with an incapacity for work.
Worker’s Compensation claims are reviewed on a case-to-case basis based on the facts at the time. Get in touch with our team at Optimum Compensation Lawyers for further assistance in making a Compensation claim.
info@optimumcompensationlawyers.com.au
1800 000 625