What's my role?
This page explains the employer’s role and responsibilities following an injury or illness or motor accident injury.
As an employer, you have an important role in assisting your worker recover at/return to work following either a work related or motor vehicle accident.
Evidence shows a worker’s recovery is better when they are able to recover at work. To do this they may need changes to the way in which they work for a short period of time. You can support your worker to recover at work by doing the following:
- identifying work tasks which match their capacity for work
- modifying worker's hours or days of work (if needed)
- staying in contact with your worker
- working with your worker and their support team to understand your worker's recovery.
SIRA has resources available to guide you on how to help your worker recover at work and develop a plan.
As an employer you have certain responsibilities if your worker is injured at work
Provide first aid
If your worker is injured at work you must ensure they are provided first aid and appropriate care.
If it is a serious injury, illness or fatality you must notify SafeWork NSW immediately on 13 10 50. SafeWork Australia has a fact sheet on what a serious injury or illness includes.
Notify your insurer
Notify your insurer of any injury or illness within 48 hours
Provide workers compensation information
Provide information to workers that outlines how to notify an injury and make a workers compensation claim.
This information lets workers know what to do and who to contact if they get injured at work and should include:
- the name and address of your insurer (or inform them if you are a self-insurer)
- your business name and address
- the name of the person who manages recovery at work.
This information must always be available in the workplace either electronically such as on a company website or intranet or by using the If you get injured at work poster.
Giving your worker a copy of the Injured at work guide may also be helpful.
Record the injury in your register of injuries
- record it in your register of injuries
- Employers must keep a record of injuries regardless of whether there has been a workers compensation claim. This is called a register of injuries.
Each entry in the register must include:
- the name and details of the worker (including address, age and occupation at time of injury)
- the industry in which the worker was engaged at the time of injury
- details of the injury (including the time and date it occurred, the nature and cause of the injury).
The register of injuries may be kept in writing or be electronic (like on a computer) and should be readily accessible.
There are penalties for failing to keep a register of injuries.
There is a standard register template you can use.
Provide suitable work where possible
You also need to provide suitable work to help your worker to recover at work. The workers compensation guide for employers provides a step-by-step guide to identifying suitable work and developing a recover at work plan for your worker.
Communicating regularly with your worker’s support team (the insurer, doctor, and any other service providers involved) may help if you experience difficulty in identifying suitable work.
You may participate in a case conference with the nominated treating doctor and other parties to assist in planning recovery at work for your worker. A case conference is separate to the workers medical consultation, unless otherwise agreed by the worker and nominated treating doctor.
Participate in the worker's injury management plan
You are required to participate in the development of your worker’s injury management plan and comply with your obligations within it. The injury management plan will be developed by the insurer and identifies actions of all parties to assist your worker to recover at work.
Develop recover at work plan
A recover at work plan details the suitable work activities you have identified within your worker's work capacity. If you require assistance to develop a recover at work plan, the workers compensation guide for employers provides a step-by-step guide to help you.
Other things to know
There are a range of programs and other assistance available to help you and your worker recover. You may also like to read our resource Identifying personal and environmental risk factors with FACTORWEB which outlines known risk factors for long term disability associated with soft tissue injury that may affect your worker during recovery.