Key activity between 1 February 2020 and 1 May 2020

Employers:

For this reporting period, 2,767 businesses purchased a workers compensation policy after SIRA commenced non-insurance investigations. This reflects $2.58 million in additional premium raised and 5,537 more employees now being covered by a workers compensation policy. This financial year, SIRA has generated $11.84 million in policy premiums and covered an additional 25,887 NSW workers by targeting uninsured businesses.
During this reporting period, $84,750 in penalty notices issued to businesses who were not insured.
During this reporting period, $62,320 was collected from businesses as a further penalty for failing to purchase a workers compensation policy.
7 referrals were made to Revenue NSW to commence recovery action for $210,330 of avoided premiums under s156 of the Workers Compensation Act 1987.
13 notices were issued to employers who had failed to establish a return to work program, failed to appoint a return to work coordinator, or not provided suitable work pursuant to the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.
231 visits were made by inspectors to employers with injured workers at risk of not returning to work (as identified through predictive modelling).
35 complaints regarding employers not providing suitable work were referred for investigation.
In response to complaints about not providing suitable work, 5 businesses were issued notices to provide information.

Insurers:

A quarterly conduct and compliance audit of the Nominal Insurer (icare) was undertaken under s202A of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 pursuant to implementation of the 21-Point Action Plan. The action plan is SIRA’s response to the Compliance and Performance Review of the Nominal Insurer (managed by icare).
SIRA requested information/data from the Nominal Insurer under s40C of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 in order to review PIAWE risk.
A self and specialised insurer self-assessment for weekly payments of compensation has been undertaken. The self-assessment reviewed actions taken by 10 insurers in response to a claim for weekly payment to ensure the appropriateness of actions taken to gather timely information to determine PIAWE, accuracy, timeliness and governance. SIRA is currently reviewing the results.

Providers:

Four allied health practitioners had approval to operate in the NSW workers compensation system revoked (as at 18 June 2020).
One referral to the Legal services commissioner regarding business practices of a legal firm in relation to industrial deafness claims.
Two referrals to the Health Professional Councils Authority regarding conduct of health practitioners.