Preventing workplace injuries is everyone’s business.
An injury or illness at work significantly burdens employees, their families, and employers through healthcare expenses, reduced work participation and loss of productivity.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics records through 2017 – 2018 show that of the 13.4m people who worked that year, 563,600 had a work-related injury or illness.
Technicians, trades, community, and personal service workers make up most of those numbers. Construction was the industry with the highest incidences, followed by manufacturing, health care and social assistance.
The data also showed:
- Lifting, pushing, pulling or bending were the most common causes (24.2%)
- 60% of those affected had time off as a result of prolonged impairment
- 27% people received worker’s compensation
The next ABS report is due for release in February 2023. It will be worth reviewing for comparison when it’s released. Here are a few tips for employers to prevent and handle workplace injuries.
Economic impacts of workplace illness and injury
Safe Work Australia and Deloitte Access Economics, using a groundbreaking model, released a report in October 2022 which showed that in the absence of work-related injuries and illnesses:
- Australia’s economy would increase by $28.6 billion annually
- 185,500 more jobs would be created
- Australian wages would increase by an average of 1.3% yearly
Over 120,000 workers receive compensation for work-related severe injuries or illnesses annually (Safe Work Australia (2021).
Rely on Red Health for workplace injury claims
Medico-legal claims are notoriously difficult and stressful, so we’ve made it our business to ease the complexity. The Red Health experience includes industry-leading guidance and support, vast medical practitioner networks, proactive booking management, and express report delivery which gives you clarity.
How to enhance a workplace injury claim process
- Pre-book appointments to reduce wait times
- Ask us for help if you need clarification on which expert would be best suited for your specific case.
- Prepare the letter of instruction and brief in advance, and ask for our assistance if you’re not sure!
- Clearly state the referral letter’s objectives and tailor your questions.
- Take the time to provide a thorough background as to why you are seeking the medical opinion and to describe the business hurdles that may be faced with RTW.
- Gather all the relevant information about your case and check for duplication of any records.
- Consider the order of assessments where multiple specialties are required. Talk to us for assistance with this if you need to.
- Provide your Letter of Instruction and medical brief two weeks before the assessment so we can process and review them to ensure all is in order.
Contact us to learn more about managing workplace injury claims.