NSW workers compensation guidelines for the evaluation of permanent impairment
These guidelines explain permanent impairment assessment in the NSW workers compensation system. This is the fourth edition of these guidelines, reissued 1 March 2021.
Download a PDF of this document in full.
Click here to read the foreword
The State Insurance Regulatory Authority has reissued the 4th edition of the NSW workers compensation guidelines for the evaluation of permanent impairment (catalogue no. WC00970) (the Guidelines) for assessing the degree of permanent impairment arising from an injury or disease within the context of workers’ compensation. When a person sustains a permanent impairment, trained medical assessors must use the Guidelines to ensure an objective, fair and consistent method of evaluating the degree of permanent impairment.
The reissued Guidelines have been made to include some minor changes including changes consequent to the enactment of the Personal Injury Commission Act 2020 (PIC Act). No changes are made to the provisions in these guidelines relating to the evaluation of permanent impairment as developed in consultation with the medical Colleges under s 377(2) of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 and as set out in cl 13 of the Guidelines.
The Guidelines are based on a template that was developed through a national process facilitated by Safe Work Australia. They were initially developed for use in the NSW system and incorporate numerous improvements identified by the then WorkCover NSW Whole Person Impairment Coordinating Committee over 13 years of continuous use. Members of this committee and of the South Australia Permanent Impairment Committee (see list in Appendix 2) dedicated many hours to thoughtfully reviewing and improving the Guidelines. This work is acknowledged and greatly appreciated.
The methodology in the Guidelines is largely based on the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition (AMA5). The AMA guides are the most authoritative and widely used in evaluating permanent impairment around the world. Australian medical specialists representing Australian medical associations and colleges have extensively reviewed AMA5 to ensure it aligns with clinical practice in Australia.
The Guidelines consist of an introductory chapter followed by chapters dedicated to each body system.
The Introduction is divided into three parts. The first outlines the background and development of the Guidelines, including reference to the relevant legislative instrument that gives effect to the Guidelines. The second covers general assessment principles for medical practitioners applying the Guidelines in assessing permanent impairment resulting from work-related injury or disease. The third addresses administrative issues relating to the use of the Guidelines.
As the template national guideline has been progressively adapted from the NSW Guideline and is to be adopted by other jurisdictions, some aspects have been necessarily modified and generalised. Some provisions may differ between different jurisdictions. For further information, please see the Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand report, which is available on Safe Work Australia’s website.
Publications such as this only remain useful to the extent that they meet the needs of users and those who sustain a permanent impairment. It is, therefore, important that the protocols set out in the Guidelines are applied consistently and methodically. Any difficulties or anomalies need to be addressed through modification of the publication and not by idiosyncratic reinterpretation of any part. All queries on the Guidelines or suggestions for improvement should be addressed to SIRA at [email protected].
Chapters
Chapters
- Introduction
- Upper extremity
- Lower extremity
- The spine
- Nervous system
- Ear, nose, throat and related structures
- Urinary and reproductive systems
- Respiratory system
- Hearing
- The visual system
- Psychiatric and psychological disorders
- Haematopoietic system
- The endocrine system
- The skin
- Cardiovascular system
- Digestive system
- Evaluation of permanent impairment arising from chronic pain
- Appendix 1. Key definitions
- Appendix 2. Working groups on permanent impairment
19. Appendix 2. Working groups on permanent impairment
Permanent impairment coordinating committees
Permanent impairment coordinating committee 2013
Name | Position |
---|---|
Mr Gary Jeffery | Chair |
Mr Kim Garling | WorkCover Independent Review Officer |
Ms Alisha Wilde/ Mr Shay Degaura | Unions NSW |
Dr Mark Burns | Australian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
Associate Professor Michael Fearnside | Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Society of Australasia |
Dr John Harrison | Orthopaedic Surgeon, Australian Orthopaedic Association, Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons |
Dr Yvonne Skinner | Psychiatrist, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists |
Prof Ian Cameron | Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine |
Dr Roger Pillemer | Workers Compensation Commission, Senior Approved Medical Specialist |
Dr Michael Gliksman | Australian Medical Association |
Dr Neil Berry | Royal Australasian College of Surgeons |
Mr Kevin Gillingham | WorkCover WA |
Mr David Caulfied/Mr Phil Waddas | WorkCover SA |
Ms Meg Brighton | WorkSafe ACT |
Permanent impairment coordinating committee 2008
Name | Position |
---|---|
Mr Rob Thomson | Chair |
Ms Mary Yaager | Unions NSW |
Dr Ian Gardner | Workers Compensation and Workplace Occupational Health and Safety Council of NSW |
Associate Professor Michael Fearnside | Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Society of Australasia |
Dr John Harrison | Orthopaedic Surgeon, Australian Orthopaedic Association, Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons |
Dr Yvonne Skinner | Psychiatrist, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists |
Prof Roger Pillemer | Approved Medical Specialist |
Dr Michael Gliksman | Australian Medical Association |
Dr Neil Berry | Royal Australasian College of Surgeons |
Permanent impairment coordinating group 2001
Name | Position |
---|---|
Dr Jim Stewart | Chair |
Ms Kate McKenzie | WorkCover |
Mr John Robertson | Labor Council of NSW |
Ms Mary Yaager | Labor Council of NSW |
Dr Ian Gardner | Medical Representative to Workers Compensation and Workplace Occupational Health and Safety Council of NSW |
Dr Stephen Buckley | Rehabilitation Physician |
Prof Michael Fearnside | Professor of Neurosurgery |
Dr John Harrison | Orthopaedic Surgery |
Dr Jonathan Phillips | Psychiatrist |
Prof Bill Marsden | Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery |
Dr Dwight Dowda | Occupational Physician |
Associate Professor Ian Cameron | Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine |
Dr Robin Chase | Australian Medical Association |
2005 revisions | |
Dr Roger Pillemer | Orthpaedic Surgeon |
Dr John DIxon Hughes | General Surgeon |
Dr Yvonne Skinner | Psychiatrist |