Recovery at work insider - April 2024

23 April 2024

Welcome to Recovery at work insider. This monthly email is designed for employers, workplace rehabilitation providers and other stakeholders who support recovery through work. You can view previous editions on the SIRA website.

Each issue deep dives into a different recovery at work topic. This month we are looking at the best way to respond to a worker's report of injury.

Responding to a worker's report of injury

Employers should aim to provide a proactive, supportive response to a worker’s report of injury. This type of response:

• demonstrates appropriate care and concern
• assures the person they won’t be treated differently or experience any negative consequences because of their injury
• increases the likelihood of effective engagement in the recovery and return to work process
• is associated with better return to work outcomes.

What you must do when notified of a work-related injury

• Notify your workers compensation insurer within 48 hours of becoming aware of a work-related injury or illness¹.
• Notify SafeWork NSW immediately on 131050 if a serious injury or illness occurs.

From the evidence

Workers who have a low level of concern about reporting an injury and making a claim are more than three times as likely to have a positive return to work (RTW) outcome^2,3.

A positive and supportive response from a worker’s supervisor when an injury is reported, is associated with better RTW outcomes^4,5.

Other actions you can take

• Ensure supervisors and managers know how to respond to a report of injury. This includes the need to provide assurance, and a positive, supportive response regardless of the circumstances.
• Where possible, ensure your worker is involved in decision making e.g. the need to seek medical advice.
• Let your worker know they will be supported in their recovery and return to work. Provide information about how to make a claim, and who can support them in the process.
• Make arrangements to follow up with them when appropriate e.g. after they have seen the doctor or the following day.
• Ensure messaging to others in the workplace expresses concern for the injured person and affirms the need and intent to support the person to recover.
• Talk to your insurer about any questions you might have about the process, your role, any concerns you may have, or support needs you anticipate.

Resources and tools

• When a worker is injured: A workers compensation guide for employers
• Injured at work: a recovery at work guide for workers
• Benefits of working while you recover
• Recovery at work insider - Issue 18: How to support your worker if they need time off work

Next edition

Our May edition will look at Early intervention – identifying risk factors for delayed recovery.

References

1. Section 44(2) of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.
2. Sheehan LR, Gray SW, Lane TJ, Beck D, Collie A. 2018. Employer Support for Injured Australian Workers: Overview and association with RTW. COMPARE project team. Insurance Work and Health Group. Monash University: Melbourne. Cited in SafeWork Australia. National RTW Strategy 2020-2030.
3. Wyatt, M. and Lane, T. 2017. RTW: a comparison of psychological claims and physical injury claims - analysis of the RTW Survey results. Commissioned by Safe Work Australia.
4. Safe Work Australia’s National RTW Strategy 2020-2030.
5. Wyatt, M. and Lane, T. 2017. RTW: a comparison of psychological claims and physical injury claims - analysis of the RTW Survey results. Commissioned by Safe Work Australia.

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