After getting insurance - what's next?
Now that I have workers compensation, what are my obligations?
Every employer is required to:
1. Have a workers compensation policy
If you missed this step, go back to how to get workers compensation insurance.
2. Give access to the 'If you get injured at work' information
This information must include the name and address of the insurer and must always be available in the workplace. The name of the person who manages recovery at work can also be included. This information lets workers know what to do and who to contact if they get injured at work.
The information can be displayed electronically such as on a company website or intranet or by using the If you get injured at work poster.
Download and print the poster.
This poster summarises the requirements of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 with regard to notifying injuries and making claims.
Need it in another language?
The 'If you get injured at work' poster is now available in Arabic, simplified and traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Download or print them yourself or order them from the publications store.
3. Have a return to work program
A return to work (RTW) program is the formal policy that outlines general procedures for handling work related injury or illness. It represents an employer's commitment to the health, safety and recovery of workers following an incident.
All employers in NSW must have a RTW program within 12 months of starting a business.
There is support available if you need help you develop your RTW program, such as the Guidelines for workplace return to work programs.
For more information visit return to work programs.
4. Maintain a register of injuries
A register of injuries is a record of each work related injury or illness sustained by your workers regardless of whether a claim for workers compensation has been made.
It may be kept in writing or be electronic (eg on a computer).
The register of injuries must include these details:
- name of the worker
- the worker's address
- the worker's age at the time of injury
- the worker's occupation at the time of injury
- the industry in which the worker was engaged at the time of injury
- the time and date of injury
- the nature of the injury
- the cause of the injury
There are penalties for failing to keep a register of injuries.
SafeWork NSW has a standard template you can use.
For more information on register of injuries, see SafeWork NSW.
5. Provide help if there's been an injury
- Help your worker get medical treatment, especially if it's serious (eg call an ambulance)
- If the injury is considered 'serious', 'dangerous' or has resulted in a death you must report it to Safework NSW immediately on 13 10 50
- Record it in your register of injuries
- Tell your insurer within 48 hours of being made aware of the injury
- Work with the insurer to help your worker return to or recover at work
For more detailed information visit what to do first and I'm an employer helping my worker recover.
A list of your key obligations
This table provides a summary of key employer obligations for workers compensation and workplace injury management. It isn't exhaustive and doesn't include the requirements specified in the SIRA Guidelines for workplace return to work programs.
Employer obligation prior to injury | Legislative reference | Issue of employer improvement notice | Penalty notice offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Have a workers compensation insurance policy | Section 155(1), 1987 Act | No | $1,250 | 500 penalty units or imprisonment for six months, or both |
Keep and supply wage records | Section 174, 1987 Act | No | $1,250 | 500 penalty units |
Have a register of injuries | Section 256 and 63, 1998 Act | No | $1,100 | 50 penalty units |
If you get injured at work information | Section 231, 1998 Act | No | $220 | 20 penalty units |
Have a RTW Coordinator (Category 1 employers) | Clause 19, 2016 Regulation Section 52, 1998 Act | Yes | n/a | 20 penalty units |
Establish a return to work program | Section 52, 1998 Act | Yes | $440 category 1 employer $110 category 2 employer | 20 penalty units for category 1 employer 5 penalty units for category 2 employer |
Display or notify the return to work program | Section 52(2)(c), 1998 Act | Yes | $220 for category 1 employer $50 for category 2 employer | 10 penalty units for Category 1 employer 2 penalty units for Category 2 employer |
Notify insurer of an incident or injury within 48 hours | Section 44(2), 1998 Act | Yes | $550 | 20 penalty units |
Immediately notify regulator (Safework) of notifiable incident | Section 38, 2011 Act | NA | $1,200 for an individual and $6000 for a body corporate | 115 penalty units for an individual and 575 penalty units for a body corporate |
Forward documents related to the claim to the insurer within seven days of a request | Sections 264(2) and 69(1), 1998 Act | No | $1,100 | 50 penalty units |
Provide name and address of employer and insurer to worker on request | Section 232(2), 1998 Act | No | $440 | 20 penalty units |
Comply with the obligations imposed by or under insurer’s injury management program | Section 43(5), 1998 Act | Yes | n/a | n/a |
Participate and cooperate in the establishment of, and comply with obligations imposed by, the injury management plan | Section 46, 1998 Act | Yes | n/a | n/a |
Provide suitable employment | Section 49, 1998 Act | Yes | n/a | 50 penalty units |
Tell insurer if they are unable to provide suitable employment | Schedule 3 Clause 20, 2016 Regulation | No | n/a | n/a |
Pass on compensation monies owed to worker as soon as practicable in line with usual pay cycle | Sections 264(3) and 69(1)(c), 1998 Act | No | $1,100 | 50 penalty units |
Must not dismiss a worker because of the injury within the relevant period (six months after the worker first became unfit for work unless otherwise specified) | Section 248, 1987 Act | No | n/a | 100 penalty units |
Must comply with an employer improvement notice | Section 59D, 1998 Act | n/a | $1,100 | 100 penalty units |
- 1987 Act = Workers Compensation Act 1987
- 1998 Act = Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998
- 2011 Act = Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- 2016 Regulation = Workers Compensation Regulation 2016
- A Category 1 employer is an employer:
- whose basic tariff premium exceeds $50,000, or
- who is self-insured, or
- insured with a specialised insurer and who employs more than 20 workers.
- A Category 2 employer is an employer who is not a Category 1 employer.
We conduct checks
We conduct compliance and education site visits, and write to employers from various sectors to make formal requests for information.
Site visits
Our education and compliance activities provide information, guidance, awareness and advice to help you comply with your obligations and understand the compliance risks associated with being uninsured or under-insured.
If we visit your business, we will ask you to provide a certificate of currency or current workers compensation insurance policy. We want to see your policy number, as well as the start or renewal date so we know your business and workers are properly covered.
If you don’t have a current workers compensation policy, you may be liable for an on-the-spot fine of $750. You may also be liable to pay up to double the cost of the workers compensation premiums you should have paid. In more serious circumstances, SIRA can prosecute you in court and you could receive a fine of up to $55,000, six months imprisonment, or both.
Wage audits
SIRA or your insurer may also conduct wage audits of employer records. We do this to make sure employers are paying the appropriate premiums. Under legislation, employers must keep and maintain records of all wages paid to workers they've employed (for at least five years after the last entry in the record).
Consider:
- Do you offer accommodation in lieu of wages? Housing payments (including a company house, free housing and housing loans) are counted as remuneration.
- Do you submit your final wage amounts at the end of the policy period? This is required by the insurer.
- Do you deduct money from your workers’ wages for workers compensation? This is not lawful.
Further information
As an employer, if you have an enquiry you can call your insurer or SIRA on 13 10 50 for assistance.
These resources may also help you meet your obligations: