Recovery at work insider - February 2024

27 February 2024

Preparing for injury – establishing an effective return to work (RTW) system

Welcome back to the Recovery at work insider, designed for employers, workplace rehabilitation providers and other stakeholders who support recovery through work. As a subscriber, you will receive a monthly newsletter via email which will also be available on the SIRA website.

The Recovery at work insider provides you with useful information about recovery through work. Each issue will:

• be evidence-based
• explain why the information is important for your workplace
• provide practical tips on implementation, as well as resources and tools that you can tailor to your needs.

This issue: Preparing for injury – establishing an effective return to work (RTW) system

Employers are in the unique position of being able to prepare for and positively influence RTW outcomes before an injury occurs.

The proactive development of effective systems and procedures to manage injury and illness means that when there is an injury:

• everyone understands their role and what must be done
• the response is immediate, appropriate and supportive
• access to necessary treatment and supports can be provided
• outcomes following injury are better.

From the evidence

Good return to work systems produce better return to work outcomes. RTW is easier when people know what to expect, understand the process and their roles and responsibilities, and there is a coordinated approach.^{1, 2}

What you need to do

All NSW employers must have a RTW program outlining the systems and processes an employer will use to manage workers with work-related injuries or illnesses.

SIRA's Guidelines for workplace return to work programs:

• help employers understand their workers compensation obligations to develop a return to work program and support workers to recovery through work following injury
• provide a RTW program template that some (smaller) employers can use
• provide a step by step guide to developing a tailored RTW program for employers where this is required.

You need to:

• ensure you have a RTW program that meets requirements outlined in the guidelines
• review the RTW program in consultation with senior management and your workforce at least every two years
• implement your RTW program including:
  • ensure a safe workplace
  • maintain a current insurance policy
  • keep a register of injuries
  • display the SIRA ‘If you get injured at work’ poster in your workplace
  • have a nominated RTW representative or a training RTW coordinator
  • notify the insurer within 48 hours of becoming aware that there is an injury
  • provide suitable work to support recovery.

You can read more about your workers compensation and return to work obligations and the role of SIRA Inspectors (click on the ‘Key employer obligations and penalties’ drop down box).

Resources and tools

• SIRA Guidelines for workplace return to work programs
• If you get injured at work poster (available in five other community languages)
• Record the injury in your register of injuries - sample template
• SIRA's free RTW coordination eLearning
• SafeWork NSW Easy to do WHS toolkit

Next edition

Our March edition will look at when an injury occurs – early reporting and notification.

References

¹ Return to Work Matters. Workplace Systems to Improve RTW: A practical guide to implementing effective workplace systems. Return to Work Matters

² Collie, A., Lane, T., Di Donato, M. and Iles, R. August 2018. Barriers and enablers to RTW: literature review. Insurance Work and Health Group, Monash University: Melbourne, Australia.

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