workers annual statistical report...2011/12 to 2014/15 annual statistical report workers'...

A workers' compensation and injury management scheme that works for all

2011/12 to 2014/15

Annual Statistical ReportWorkers' Compensation in Western Australia

WorkCover WA is the government agency responsible for overseeing the WA workers' compensation and injury management system. WorkCover WA undertakes a range of educational, advisory, enforcement and performance monitoring activities to ensure the WA workers' compensation scheme is fair, accessible and cost-effective for all participants.

@WorkCoverWA

(08) 9388 5555

[email protected]

workcover.wa.gov.au

© WorkCover WA, Government of Western Australia

Annual Statistical Report - 2011/12 to 2014/15Published: July 2016

WorkCover WALegislation and Scheme InformationBusiness Intelligence Services2 Bedbrook PlaceShenton Park WA 6008

There is no objection to this publication being copied in whole or part, provided there is due acknowledgment of any material quoted from the publication.

2 Annual Statistical Report | July 2016

http://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/

http://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/

SECTION PAGE

About This Report 4

Scheme Overview 5

Premium Rates 6

Claim Activities 9

Claim Management 17

Disputes 21

Scheme Exits 24

Claimant Characteristics 29

Injury/Disease Attributes 38

Glossary 44

Disclaimer 48

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Timeframe and standards of data

Purpose of report Where does the data come from?

Average recommended premium rates data is reported between 2007/08 and 2016/17.

Average actual premium rates data is reported between 2005/06 and 2014/15.

Claims data is reported between 2011/12 and 2014/15 for both finalised and unfinalised claims.

As claims develop over time, there is a higher proportion of unfinalised claims in the most recent financial year (2014/15p). The 'p' indicates preliminary data for this year.

Claim statistics are derived from data supplied by insurers and exempt employers in accordance with the Q2 specification found on WorkCover WA's website.

CLAIM STATISTICS

Data is reported between 2011/12 and 2014/15 for lost-time claims only.

Industry classification is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system 2006 published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Occupational classification is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

CLAIMANT CHARACTERISTICS

Data is reported between 2011/12 and 2014/15 for lost-time claims only.

Injury/disease attributes data is classified according to Type of Occurrence Classification System (TOOCS) 3rd edition published by Australian Safety and Compensation Council.INJURY/DISEASE

ATTRIBUTES

WorkCover WA's annual statistical report is designed to provide stakeholders with an understanding of the overall activity and key trends within the workers' compensation scheme of WA. The report contains information about:

workers' compensation premium rates claim activities (numbers and payments) claim management disputes

scheme exits claimant characteristics injury and disease attributes.

WorkCover WA collects data from approved insurers and self-insurers about all workers' compensation claims lodged in the WA scheme. This includes data from all current and former approved insurers, self-insurers and the Insurance Commission of Western Australia as at 31 January 2016.

WorkCover WA applies national classification standards to claims data supplied by insurers to obtain information about injury and disease attributes, industries where injuries and diseases occurred, and occupations of claimants.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

AVERAGE PREMIUM RATES


92 1,184 32,721

Claims with treatment and expenses only

DISEASE CLAIMS

92%8%LOST-TIME CLAIMS

INJURY CLAIMS

compensation system which comprised of 32,721 work-related injury and disease claims, 92 asbestos-related disease and journey claims and 1,184 disallowed claims.

For the purposes of this report, only work-related injury and disease claims are reported.2014/15

Asbestos-related diseases & journey claims

Work-related injury &disease claims

Disallowed claims

N O L O S T - T I M E C L A I M S

1 5 , 5 1 7 L O S T - T I M E C L A I M S

1 7 , 2 0 4

Claims with an absence of a day/shift or more off work

SCHEME OVERVIEW

x


Every year, WorkCover WA determines the recommended premium rates, taking into account the latest avai lable data on claims experience provided by insurers, as well as broader economic factors, such as movements in wages, employment rate, interest rates and inflation.

-0.3%from last year

RECOMMENDED PREMIUM RATES

2016/17

1.478%of total wages

Average

recommended

premium rate

The decrease in

premium rates was

driven by...

a decrease in incurred

cost of claims

a decrease in the future rate

of inflation

lower number of

claims

Over a ten year

period...

Factors

Trends

2006/07

2016/17

2013/14

2010/11

1.497 1.478

1.6682.117

-30% in average recommended premium rates

PREMIUM RATES

$

$


Recommended premium rates average percentage of payroll

PERCENTAGE 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 Trend

Recommended premium rates 1.668 1.556 1.483 1.478 ▼

Annual % change -1.4 -6.7 -4.7 -0.3

Recommended premium rates

Recommended premium rates annual percentage change

2.117

1.849

1.5821.738

1.497 1.5691.691 1.668

1.556 1.483 1.478

2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

% O

F P

AY

RO

LL

-8.6-12.7 -14.4

9.9

-13.9

4.87.8

-1.4-6.7 -4.7

-0.3

2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17

AN

NU

AL

% C

HA

NG

E

Increasing Stable Decreasing

Recommended premium rates are expressed as a percentage of remuneration (wages). An average premium rate of 1.48% means, on average, employers pay a premium of $1.48 for every $100 of remuneration (wages) paid to their employees.

PREMIUM RATES

📉


Actual premium rates average percentage of payroll

PERCENTAGE 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 Trend

Actual premium rates 1.334 1.399 1.411 1.362 ■

Annual % change -4.8 4.9 0.8 -3.5

Actual premium rates vs. recommended premium rates

Actual premium rates annual percentage change


2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Actual 1.880 1.913 1.600 1.432 1.439 1.401 1.334 1.399 1.411 1.362

Recommended 2.317 2.117 1.849 1.582 1.738 1.497 1.569 1.691 1.668 1.556

% O

F P

AY

RO

LL

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Actual -2.8 1.8 -16.4 -10.5 0.5 -2.6 -4.8 4.9 0.8 -3.5

Recommended 3.0 -8.6 -12.7 -14.4 9.9 -13.9 4.8 7.8 -1.4 -6.7

AN

NU

AL

% C

HA

NG

E

In addition to recommended rates WorkCover WA annually calculates the average actual premium rate. The average actual rate is total premiums paid as a percentage of total remuneration (wages) paid by employers in a given year.

PREMIUM RATES

📊


47% 36% 17%

NO LOST-TIME

1-59 DAYS LOST

60+ DAYS LOST

33% SERVICEPAYMENT

67% DIRECTCOMPENSATION

$953MILLION

DIRECT COMPENSATION

58% income payment

42% lump sums

Total payments increased by 21% over four years

SERVICE PAYMENT

43% medical and hospital

24% allied health & work rehab

33% legal & miscellaneous

Total payments increased by 6% over four years

PROPORTION OF CLAIMS

Between 2011/12 and 2014/15, the number of claims lodged decreased by 15.4% to 32,721 claims.

Claims with no lost-time fell by -21.8%, while the number of lost-time claims decreased by -8.8%.

32,721

CLAIMSlodged in 2014/15

8.6

FREQUENCY RATEclaims per million hours worked in 2014/15

CLAIM PAYMENTS

CLAIM NUMBERS

2014/15

CLAIM ACTIVITIES

? ⏰


Claim numbers number of claims lodged by days lost

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

0 days 19,831 18,696 17,721 15,517 ▼

1 - 4 days 5,136 4,776 4,262 3,782 ▼

5 - 19 days 5,470 5,553 5,041 4,774 ▼

20 - 59 days 3,524 3,471 3,332 3,184 ▼

60 - 119 days 1,619 1,719 1,756 1,910 ▲

120 - 179 days 784 730 859 1,181 ▲

180+ days 2,325 2,381 2,508 2,373 ■

All claims 38,689 37,326 35,479 32,721 ▼

Claim numbers number of claims lodged by lost-time


19,831 18,696 17,721 15,517

18,858 18,630 17,758

17,204

38,68937,326

35,47932,721

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

All claimsThe number of claims lodged over the last four years decreased to 32,721.

Lost-time claimsThere has been a drop in the number of lost-time claims, falling by 8.8% to 17,204 in 2014/15.

No lost-time claimsClaims with no time off work reduced by 22% from 2011/12 to 2014/15.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES


Frequency rate lost-time claims per million hours worked

Lost-time claims by days lost group

Lost-time claims 2011/12 to 2014/15p

2.3 2.3 2.4 2.7

7.0 6.5 5.9 5.9

9.3 8.8

8.2 8.6

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

1-59 days

60+ days

All claims

75% 74% 71% 68%

25% 26% 29% 32%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

1-59 days

60+days

25%

29%

19%

10%

5%

13%

1-4 days

5-19 days

20-59 days

60-119 days

120-179 days

180+ days

Over the last four years, the proportion of 1-59 days lost claims to all lost-time claims has reduced to 68%.

In contrast, the proportion of claims with 60+ days lost has increased to 32% in the current year.

Within the last four years, more than half (54%) of lost-time claims were for workers having less than 19 days off work.

The lost-time frequency rate decreased by -7.5%, from 9.3 to 8.6 over four years.

The frequency rate for claims with 1-59 days lost decreased over four years. However, the rate for claims with 60+ days lost has increased.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES


Claim payments unadjusted

$MILLION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Income payment 270.2 315.4 347.7 363.5 ▲

Lump sums 201.2 212.9 250.6 267.0 ▲

Medical and hospital 119.8 126.9 135.5 134.2 ▲

Allied health 54.4 56.9 54.7 43.0 ▼

Workplace rehabilitation 25.6 28.6 31.7 32.8 ▲

Legal & miscellaneous 67.3 70.1 81.9 102.6 ▲

Total claim payments 738.6 810.8 902.0 943.1 ▲

Claim payments adjusted

$MILLION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Income payment 302.3 334.0 361.3 367.5 ▲

Lump sums 225.2 225.5 260.3 269.9 ▲

Medical and hospital 134.0 134.4 140.8 135.7 ■

Allied health 60.9 60.2 56.8 43.5 ▼

Workplace rehabilitation 28.7 30.2 32.9 33.1 ▲

Legal & miscellaneous 75.4 74.2 85.1 103.7 ▲

Total claim payments 826.5 858.7 937.2 953.4 ▲

DIRECT COMPENSATION

SERVICE PAYMENTS

DIRECT COMPENSATION

SERVICE PAYMENTS



Claim payments (adjusted)

Claim payments (unadjusted)

Unadjusted payments do not factor in inflation and care should be taken when comparing over time.

Income replacement payments continue to be the highest payment type (39% of total claim payments) and stands at $363.5 million in 2014/15.

Payments are adjusted for inflation to allow for meaningful comparisons over time.

Over the last four years, total claim payments increased by 15% after adjusted for inflation.

In the same period, service payments for allied health was the only payment group to experience a decrease since 2011/12.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES


Total claim payments ($million) (adjusted) by payment group

Total claim payments proportions by payment group

$298.9 $299.1 $315.6 $316.0

$527.5 $559.5$621.6 $637.4

$826.5 $858.7$937.2 $953.4

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

64% 65% 66% 67%

36% 35% 34% 33%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

Direct compensationpayments made directly to the worker (either by income replacement or lump sums) increased by 21% since 2011/12.

Service paymentsincreased in over the last four years by 6% to $316 million.

Direct compensationpayments to workersaccounted for the majority of claim payments, and shows an increasing trend across four years.

Service paymentsin turn, have decreased over the last four years and currently accounts for a third of all claim payments in the current year.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES

Total claim paymentsadjusted for inflation show an increasing trend from 2011/12 to 2014/15.

$


Direct compensation payments proportions by payment type

Service payments proportions by payment type

57% 60% 58% 58%

43% 40% 42% 42%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

45% 45% 45%43%

20% 20%18%

14%

10% 10% 10% 10%

25% 25%27%

33%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

Income payments accounted for more than half of direct compensationpayments to workers over four years.

Lump sums accounted for 40% to 43% of direct compensationpayments to workers over the last four years.

`

Medical & hospitalservice payments account

for almost half of total service payments.

Allied healthservice payments decreased

from 20% to 14% of total service payments over four

years.

Workplace rehabilitationservice payments accounted for the lowest proportion of

service payments and continues to stand at 10%.

Legal & miscellaneousservice payments for legal

and miscellaneous cost increased from 25% to 33%

over the previous four years.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES


Claim costs* total claim costs by days lost

$MILLION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

1-4 days 15.9 22.5 13.8 9.6 ▼

5-19 days 41.3 42.4 37.7 38.3 ▼

20-59 days 77.5 80.4 76.7 77.9 ■

60-119 days 78.6 87.0 94.9 102.9 ▲

120-179 days 61.2 62.5 74.5 105.6 ▲

180+ days 475.8 505.2 519.5 413.6 ▼

Lost-time claims 750.3 800.1 817.1 747.9 ■

Claim costs* average claim costs by days lost

$ 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

1-4 days 3,102 4,715 3,230 2,547 ▼

5-19 days 7,559 7,637 7,479 8,021 ▲

20-59 days 21,980 23,168 23,034 24,470 ▲

60-119 days 48,565 50,608 54,030 53,857 ▲

120-179 days 78,008 85,602 86,721 89,381 ▲

180+ days 204,626 212,189 207,131 174,299 ▼

Lost-time claims 39,786 42,944 46,011 43,471 ▲



Total claim costsfor lost-time claims remained stable over four years.

Claims with lost-time between 120-179 days had the largest increase ($44 million) over four years, followed by 60-119 days lost ($24 million).

Average claim costsfor all lost-time claims increased by 9% over four years and currently stands at $43,731 for the current year.

Claims with 1-4 days lost had the largest movement in average claim costs, decreasing by -18% since 2011/12.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES

Data is subject to revision as claims experience mature, especially the most recent year.*

Data is subject to revision as claims experience mature, especially the most recent year.*

💵

💵


Claim costs ($million) by days lost group

Claim costs proportion by days lost group

18%

82%

2011/12

1-59 days 60+ days

17%

83%

2014/15p

18%

82%

2012/13

16%

84%

2013/14

$615.5 $654.7 $688.9 $622.0

$134.7$145.3 $128.2

$125.8

$750.3$800.1 $817.1

$747.9

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

60+ days lostThe total claim costs for long duration claims increased by 1% over four years.

1-59 days lostThe total claim costs for claims with shorter duration (lessthan 60 days lost) decreased by 7% since 2011/12.

Long duration claimsare claims commonly defined as workers' compensation claims which involve 60 or more days/shifts off work. Although these claims represent only a minor proportion of total claims, these claims account for the majority of costs.

In the current year, claims with shorter duration accounted for 17% of total claim costs, while 83% of claim costs were associated with long duration claims.

Over the past four years, the ratio between short and long duration claim costs has been stable at around 83% and 17% respectively.

CLAIM ACTIVITIES

Total claim costsfor lost-time claims remained stable over four years.

💵

📆

📆


👷INJURY

Worker sustains work-related injury and submits claim

EMPLOYER

average between employer receiving claim and lodging with insurer

INSURER

5days

months between insurer lodgement and initial finalisation of claim

FINALISATION

10.9AVERAGE

MEDIAN

5.5

average for insurers to make a make a decision about liability for a claim

13days

Over the last four years timeframes for claim lodgement by employers has been stable at around five working days, however, insurers take marginally longer to make a decision about liability for a claim.

Overall, it took longer for insurers to finalise income claims, increasing from a median of 4.9 months to 5.5 months over the last four years.

TIMEFRAME FOR INCOME CLAIMS

CLAIM MANAGEMENT

🏁


Claim management income claims

EMPLOYER LODGEMENT

average days between injury occurrence and lodgement of claim with employer

19 20 20 21

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

CLAIM DURATION

number of months between insurer lodgement and finalisation of claim

10.0 10.2 10.5 10.9

4.9 5.2 5.5 5.5

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

average median

INSURER LODGEMENT

average days between employer receiving and lodging claim with insurer

5.0 5.0 4.9 4.8

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

13.2 13.0 12.8 13.4

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

LIABILITY DECISIONS

average days for insurer to make a decision about liability for theclaim

AV

ERA

GE

DA

YS

AV

ERA

GE

DA

YS

AV

ERA

GE

DA

YS

MO

NTH

S

CLAIM MANAGEMENT


Claims with weekly payments income claims

CLAIMS 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

1 month 6,571 6,694 6,612 6,583 ■

3 months 4,279 4,415 4,533 4,437 ■

6 months 3,146 3,142 3,229 3,175 ■

12 months 2,005 2,105 2,113 n/a* ▲

Continuance rates income claims


* The12-month continuance rate for 2014/15 was not available at the time of publication.

Claims with weekly payments

with weekly payments at three months show an increasing trend, while claims with weekly payments at six months remained stable over four years.

Continuance rateprovides insight into claim duration and scheme exits.

It shows the number of claims involving weekly income replacement payments at three, six and 12 months as a proportion of claims involving weekly income replacement payments at one month.

Continuance rates at three, six and 12 months slightly increased since 2011/12.

* The12-month continuance rate for 2014/15 was not available at the time of publication.

CLAIM MANAGEMENT

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

3-month 65.1 66.0 68.6 67.4

6-month 47.9 46.9 48.8 48.2

12-month 30.5 31.4 32.0

PER

CEN

TAG

E

n/a*

💵

>>


Return to work status lost-time claims

PROPORTION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

Returned to work* 76.4% 76.5% 82.1% 83.2%

Not working 22.1% 21.6% 16.3% 13.5%

Unknown 1.5% 1.9% 1.6% 3.3%

Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

Return to work status lost-time claims lodged in 2014/15p

* Returned to work either at full or partial hours

70.1%

RETURNEDTO WORKfull hours

13.1%

RETURNEDTO WORK

partial hours

9.0%

NOT WORKINGinjury-related

4.5%

NOT WORKINGother reason

3.3%

UNKNOWNreturn to work

Return to workFor claims lodged in 2014/15, a total of 83% of claimants returned to work. This consisted of 70% returning back to full hours and 13% returning to work partial hours.

In the same year, 9% of claimants of lost-time claims had not returned to work due to injury and almost 5% did not return to work for other reasons.

Work statusThe number of workersreturning to work (either full or partial hours) as a proportion to all lost-time claims has improved over the last four years.

CLAIM MANAGEMENT

💼


Disputation rates increased by 25%

2.5%

3.1%

3.9%

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

number of disputes per 100 active claims

Disputes lodged increased by 16%

1,612

1,945

2,264

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

DISPUTE APPLICATIONS increased......

88.5% In 2014/15, 88.5 per cent of matters were resolved within six months

95% of matters were resolved within nine months

DISPUTES


Disputes applications number of accepted conciliations

2011/12* 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Conciliations n/a 1,612 1,945 2,264 ▲

Disputation rate n/a 2.5% 3.1% 3.9% ▲

Subsequent arbitrations proportion of conciliations to subsequent arbitrations

Arbitrations number of accepted arbitrations

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Arbitrations n/a 416 463 502 ▲


Data for 2011/12 is excluded due to the legislative change for conciliation and arbitrationfunctions on 1 December 2011. Given the differences between the old and new systems,the dispute data across the four year period is not comparable. For this reason, the trend ofdispute activities is not analysed.

*

DISPUTES

Disputation rateis the number of dispute applications as a proportion of active claims (claims with at least one transaction payment within the financial year).

Conciliationinvolves parties in dispute coming to their own agreement, with the assistance of an independent and impartial Conciliation Officer.

Arbitrationis a formal proceeding at which evidence is heard and a legally qualified Arbitrator makes a final determination.Increasing Stable Decreasing

Disputes

n/a

26%25%

23%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

must have been conciliated

Compensation Conciliation Service (or a certificate issued by the Director of Conciliation advising the matter is not suitable for conciliation) before an application can be made to

Arbitration Service.


Dispute resolution timeframes proportion of matters

6 months

90%

3 months

80%

9 months

96%

For disputes lodged in 2014/15, 80% of matters resolved within three months, 89% of matters resolved within six months, and 95% of matters resolved within nine months.

DISPUTES

89%80% 95%

2013/14

2014/15

Disputes resolved within...

The trend between 2013/14 and 2014/15 dispute resolution timeframes are consistent for matters resolved within three, six, and nine months.

⏰ ⏰


A higher proportion of claims were

finalised by way of

Memorandum of Agreements

compared to

Section 92(f) deeds.

92(f) MoA

2013/14

2014/15

4.9% 10.3%

10.8%5.5%

SCHEME EXITS

received weekly income

replacement

51%utilised

workplace rehabilitation

services

24%incurred legal

payments

15%

Over a four year period, the total number of finalised claims that exited the scheme remained stable. The number of claims finalised with lump sum payments increased over the same period.

The number of settlements and settlement payments increased since 2011/12.

In 2014/15, there were...

37,544claims exiting the scheme of which...

G

2 /

🚪


Finalised claims numbers by exit type

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Without lump sums 33,259 32,666 31,879 30,030 ▼

With lump sums 5,543 6,379 6,702 7,514 ▲

Total finalised claims 38,802 39,045 38,581 37,544 ■

Finalised claims numbers by exit type

Finalised claims proportions by exit type


5,543 6,379 6,702 7,514

33,259 32,666 31,879 30,030

38,802 39,045 38,581 37,544

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

All finalised claimsThe number of finalised claims across four years has remained stable.

Finalised claims without lump sumsOver four years, the number of finalised claims without lump sum payments has dropped by -10%.

Finalised claims with lump sumsClaims finalised with lump sum payments since 2011/12 increased by 36%.

SCHEME EXITS

86%

84%

83%

80%

14%

16%

17%

20%

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15p

Finalised claims without lump sumsThe majority of claims were finalised without lump sums. This proportion has decreased from 86% in 2011/12 to 80% in 2014/15.

Finalised claims with lump sumsThe proportion of claims finalised with lump sum payments to finalised claims has increased to 20% in the current year.

Lump sumis a single payment made for all outstanding liabilities, as opposed to having a number of smaller payouts or instalments. Acceptance of a lump sum generally finalises a claim.

💵


Workplace rehabilitation proportion of lost-time claims

Legal payments proportion of lost-time claims

20%21%

22%24%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

SCHEME EXITS

Workplace rehabilitation

The proportion of lost-time claims utilising workplace rehabilitation services increased from 20% in 2011/12 to 24% in 2014/15.

9%10%

11%

15%

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

Legal paymentsThe proportion of lost-time claims with legal payments increased from 9% to 15% over four years.


Settlements number of settlements

PROPORTION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

MoA 3,756 3,868 3,996 4,113 ▲

92(f) deeds 1,407 1,670 1,916 2,085 ▲

Total settlements 5,163 5,538 5,912 6,198 ▲

Settlement rate proportion of settlements to finalised claims

RATE 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

MoAs 9.6 9.9 10.3 10.8 ▲

92(f) deeds 3.6 4.3 4.9 5.5 ▲

Total settlements 13.2 14.1 15.2 16.3 ▲

whether the settlement relates to a statutory compensation claim or a common law action.

Section 92(f ) deeds allow for resolution of common law actions that do not proceed to judgement in a Court.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) is a legal instrument which, if registered with the Conciliation

compensation claim.



Settlements

Both pathways to settle a workers' compensation claim (MoAs and 92(f) deeds) have increased over the last four years.

Settlement rate

Along with the increase in settlement numbers, the settlement rates for both MoAs and 92(f) deeds increased since 2011/12.

SCHEME EXITS


Settlement payments $million

$MILLION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

MoAs 115.7 112.1 120.5 119.5 ■

92(f) deeds 88.3 101.4 121.0 138.4 ▲

Total payments 204.0 213.5 241.5 257.9 ▲

Settlement payments as proportion of finalised claim payments

PROPORTION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

MoAs 14.7 12.9 13.6 11.1 ▼

92(f) deeds 11.2 11.7 13.6 12.8 ▲

Total payments 25.8 24.7 27.2 23.9 ▼



Settlement payments

Settlement payments as a proportion of finalised claim payments show a decreasing trend over the last four years.

The decrease is largely attributed to the decrease in MoA settlement payments as a proportion of finalised claim payments.

Settlement payments

Overall, settlement payments increased over time, mainly attributed to payments relating to Section 92(f) deeds.

SCHEME EXITS


F E M A L E S

LOST-TIME CLAIMS

5,569 M A L E S

LOST-TIME CLAIMS

11,635

2014/15

9.5 7.2 frequencyrate

frequencyrate

705

1,674

3,723 3,655 4,201

1,729 1,105

410

Claim numbers by age group

8.3 7.6 6.6 8.4

10.3 10.9 12.2 11.5

Frequency rate by age group

TOP FOUR INDUSTRIES

CL

AIM

NU

MB

ER

SF

RE

QU

EN

CY

RA

TE

CONSTRUCTION

2,772

MINING

1,249

HEALTH CARE &SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

2,452

MANUFACTURING

2,179

AGRICULTURE

26.4

MANUFACTURING

15.7

CONSTRUCTION

13.7

HEALTH CARE &SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

11.8


🚧 ⛏

🏭🚜 🚧

🏭


Lost-time claims males by days lost group

MALES 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

1-4 days 3,515 3,172 2,772 2,466 ▼

5-19 days 3,827 3,792 3,481 3,291 ▼

20-59 days 2,502 2,478 2,342 2,245 ▼

60-119 days 1,108 1,199 1,230 1,273 ▲

120-179 days 504 473 567 778 ▲

180+ days 1,406 1,482 1,577 1,582 ▲

Lost-time claims 12,862 12,596 11,969 11,635 ▼

Lost-time claims females days lost group

FEMALES 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

1-4 days 1,621 1,604 1,490 1,316 ▼

5-19 days 1,643 1,761 1,560 1,483 ▼

20-59 days 1,022 993 990 939 ▼

60-119 days 511 520 526 637 ▲

120-179 days 280 257 292 403 ▲

180+ days 919 899 931 791 ▼

Lost-time claims 5,996 6,034 5,789 5,569 ▼



MalesThe overall trend for lost-time claims lodged by males decreased by -10% from 2011/12 to 2014/15.

The largest portion of claims lodged by males were for 5-19 days off work (3,291 claims in 2014/15).

FemalesOver the last four years, lost-time claims lodged by females decreased (-7%) to 5,569 claims in 2014/15.

Similarly to males, the largest portion of claims were for 5-19 days lost across four years.


👩

👨


Lost-time claims by gender

Frequency rate by gender

5,996 6,034 5,789 5,569

12,862 12,596 11,969 11,635

18,858 18,630 17,758 17,204

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

males

females

lost-time claims

10.2 9.4

8.8 9.5

7.8 7.7 7.2 7.2

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

Males lodged almost double the amount of lost-time claims than females. This pattern is consistent across four years.

In 2014/15, males lodged 11,635 claims, compared to 5,569 claims lodged by females.

Males the frequency rate of males lodging a lost-time claim shows a decreasing trend over four years.

Females the frequency rate of females lodging a lost-time claim also shows a decreasing trend over four years.

Frequency rate is the number of lost-time claims per million hours worked based on employed persons covered by workers' compensation.


⚤

👩

👨


Lost-time claims by age group

AGE GROUP 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

15-19 years 1,092 928 809 705 ▼

20-24 years 2,043 2,057 1,786 1,674 ▼

25-34 years 3,960 4,047 3,935 3,723 ▼

35-44 years 4,227 4,045 3,784 3,655 ▼

45-54 years 4,479 4,368 4,327 4,201 ▼

55-59 years 1,686 1,650 1,699 1,729 ▼

60-64 years 1,052 1,140 1,057 1,105 ■

65+ years 313 385 358 410 ▲

Unknown 6 10 3 2 ▲

Lost-time claims 18,858 18,630 17,758 17,204 ▼

Frequency rate by age group

AGE GROUP 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

15-19 years 12.0 10.2 10.2 8.3 ▼

20-24 years 9.1 8.9 8.0 7.6 ▼

25-34 years 7.8 7.3 6.9 6.6 ▼

35-44 years 9.1 8.3 7.7 8.4 ▼

45-54 years 9.9 9.5 9.2 10.3 ▼

55-59 years 10.0 9.7 9.7 10.9 ■

60-64 years 11.9 11.3 10.3 12.2 ▲

65+ years 8.3 10.3 8.2 11.5 ■

Lost-time claims 9.3 8.8 8.2 8.6 ▲



Age groups

Within the last four years, the 45-54 year old age group had the highest number of lost-time claims.

The youngest age group (15-19 year olds) had the largest movement in lost-time claims (-35%) since 2011/12.

Age groupsOver the four years, 60-64 year olds had the highest frequency rate, followed by 15-19 year olds.

The largest increase in the frequency rate was the 65+ years age group (38%), whereas the largest decrease was for the 15-19 year old age group (-31%).


🎂

🎂


Lost-time claims by industry

INDUSTRY 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Accommodation & food services 932 889 837 785 ▼

Administrative & support services 448 339 382 364 ▼

Agriculture, forestry & fishing 640 605 564 600 ▼

Arts & recreation services 458 431 424 441 ■

Construction 2,830 2,831 2,736 2,772 ■

Education & training 1,288 1,337 1,270 1,217 ▼

Electricity, gas, water & waste services 196 223 200 190 ■

Financial & insurance services 58 52 49 54 ▼

Health care & social assistance 2,527 2,558 2,466 2,452 ■

Information media & telecommunications 46 52 54 67 ▲

Manufacturing 2,829 2,586 2,221 2,179 ▼

Mining 1,427 1,566 1,500 1,249 ▼

Other services 505 486 556 485 ■

Professional, scientific & technical services 361 294 330 320 ▼

Public administration & safety 726 751 778 781 ▲

Rental, hiring & real estate services 181 218 176 159 ▼

Retail trade 1,363 1,451 1,284 1,196 ▼

Transport, postal & warehousing 1,265 1,195 1,171 1,163 ▼

Wholesale trade 778 766 760 730 ▼


The industry with the highest number of lost-time claims over four years is Construction. For 2014/15, 2,772 lost-time claims were lodged.

Manufacturing had the largest decrease (-23%) in lost-time claims since 2011/12. For the current year, 5,742 lost-time claims were lodged.


🚧 🏭


Lost-time claims proportions by industry

16%

14%

13%

7%

7%

7%

7%

5%

5%

4%

3%

3%

3%

2%

2%

1%

1%

0.4%

0.3%

Construction

Health care & social assistance

Manufacturing

Mining

Education & training

Retail trade

Transport, postal & warehousing

Accommodation & food services

Public administration & safety

Wholesale trade

Agriculture, forestry & fishing

Other services

Arts & recreation services

Administrative & support services

Professional, scientific & technical services

Electricity, gas, water & waste services

Rental, hiring & real estate services

Information media & telecommunications

Financial & insurance services

In 2014/15, the highest number and proportion of lost-time claims were associated with manual labour and high risk industries, such as Construction (16%), Health care and social assistance (14%) and Manufacturing (13%).



Frequency rate by industry

26.4

15.7

13.7

11.8

11.8

11.3

10.0

8.6

7.9

7.5

7.0

6.9

6.5

6.4

5.7

4.9

4.3

3.8

2.0

1.3

Agriculture, forestry & fishing

Manufacturing

Construction

Health care & social assistance

Transport, postal & warehousing

Arts & recreation services

Wholesale trade

All industry average

Accommodation & food services

Education & training

Retail trade

Electricity, gas, water & waste services

Other services

Public administration & safety

Mining

Administrative & support services

Information media & telecommunications

Rental, hiring & real estate services

Professional, scientific & technical services

Financial & insurance services

The risk associated with different industries are evident in frequency rates. In 2014/15, industries with the highest frequency rates were Agriculture, forestry and fishing (26.4), Construction (15.7) and Manufacturing (13.7).


🌿


Lost-time claims by occupation

OCCUPATION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Clerical & administrative workers 753 688 733 668 ▼

Community & personal service workers 2,609 2,670 2,687 2,564 ■

Labourers 4,333 4,159 3,771 3,755 ▼

Machinery operators & drivers 3,369 3,275 3,146 3,004 ▼

Managers 464 450 446 485 ■

Professionals 1,406 1,426 1,396 1,471 ■

Sales workers 833 859 904 768 ▼

Technicians & trades workers 5,091 5,096 4,675 4,484 ▼

Unknown Occupation 0 7 0 5 ▼

Lost-time claims proportions by occupation 2014/15p


Technicians and trades workers had the highest number of lost-time claims lodged over four years.

Labourers had the second highest lost-time claim numbers across four years. It also had the largest decrease in lost-time claims (-13%) since 2011/12.

Managers had the least amount of lost-time claims lodged in 2014/15 and increased slightly over four years.

26%

22%

17%

15%

9%

4%

4%

3%

Technicians & trades workers

Labourers

Machinery operators & drivers

Community & personal service workers

Professionals

Sales workers

Clerical & administrative workers

Managers

In 2014/15, Technicians and trades workers continued to have the highest proportion (26%) of lost-time claims across all occupations, followed by Labourers (22%), and Machinery operators and drivers (17%).


👔


Lost-time claims proportions by region

REGION 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Metropolitan 66% 65% 64% 64% ■

Pilbara 7% 9% 9% 9% ▲

South West 8% 7% 7% 7% ▼

Peel 3% 4% 4% 4% ▲

Goldfields-Esperance 4% 4% 4% 4% ■

Wheatbelt 4% 4% 4% 4% ■

Midwest 3% 3% 3% 3% ▼

Great Southern 3% 3% 3% 3% ▲

Kimberley 3% 3% 3% 3% ▲

Gascoyne 0.4% 0.4% 0.5% 0.5% ■

Lost-time claims map of regions


The map illustrates the geographic distribution of lost-time claims across Western Australia in 2014/15.

The Perth metropolitan area had the highest number of lost-time claims (64%), followed by the Pilbara (9%) and the South West region (7%).

This pattern is reflective of population and employment density in Western Australia.

Region is based on the address where the incident of injury or disease occurred.

Pilbara9%

Gascoyne & Midwest4%

4%

Kimberley

2%

Goldfields

4%

Great Southern3%

Wheatbelt

South West & Peel11%

Metro64%



🔪

Between 2011/12 and 2014/15, around 80% of work -related injuries and diseases resulted in temporary incapacity for claimants.

Injuries in permanent incapacity decreased, while fatal ities increased over the same period.

T E M P O R A R Y I N C A P A C I T Y

82%

The most common cause of work-related injury/disease 2014/15

TRAUMATIC

JOINT/LIGAMENT & MUSCLE TENDON

INJURY

55%

WOUNDS, LACERATIONS, AMPUTATIONS & INTERNAL

ORGAN DAMAGE

21%

FRACTURES

11%

Falls, trips &slips of a

person

Being hit by moving objects

Body stressing

Other mechanisms

24%

38%

21%

18%Head

6%

Neck 1%

Upper limbs

37% Trunk

21%

Lower limbs

24%Other locations

11%

M E C H A N I S MO F I N J U R Y / D I S E A S E

BODILY LOCATIONO F I N J U R Y / D I S E A S E

INJURY/DISEASE ATTRIBUTES


Level of incapacity lost-time claims

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Temporary incapacity 14,421 14,171 13,442 14,077 ■

Permanent incapacity - partial 4,186 4,333 4,248 3,014 ▼

Permanent incapacity - total 197 98 38 34 ▼

No incapacity at any time 51 26 26 74 ▲

Level of incapacity proportion of lost-time claims

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Temporary incapacity 76% 76% 76% 82% ▲

Permanent incapacity - partial 22% 23% 24% 18% ▼

Permanent incapacity - total 1% 1% 0.2% 0.2% ▼

No incapacity at any time 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% 0.4% ▲

Fatalities number of compensated fatalities



19

29 28

34

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p

In the current year, there were 34 compensated fatalities, and an average of 28 fatalities each year between 2011/12 and 2014/15.


Level of incapacity data is subject to revision as claims experience mature, especially the most recent year.*

⚠


Nature of injury/disease lost-time claims

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Traumatic joint/ligament & muscle/tendon injury 10,288 10,263 9,943 9,382 ▼

Wounds, lacerations, amputations & internal organ damage 4,132 3,832 3,778 3,572 ▼

Fractures 1,799 1,945 1,726 1,823 ■

Burn 419 428 339 370 ▼

Intracranial injuries 98 135 133 151 ▲

Other injuries 670 536 462 448 ▼

Musculoskeletal & connective tissue diseases 540 584 491 527 ■

Mental diseases 409 445 431 480 ▲

Digestive system diseases 242 218 198 217 ▼

Nervous system & sense organ diseases 126 123 118 88 ▼

Skin & subcutaneous tissue diseases 70 63 54 60 ▼

Infectious & parasitic diseases 24 25 36 30 ▲

Circulatory system diseases 9 7 8 14 ▲

Respiratory system diseases 13 9 14 7 ▼

Other diseases 19 17 27 35 ▲

INJURY

DISEASE


The nature of injury/disease classification is intended to identify the most serious injury/disease suffered by the worker.

In terms of work-related diseases, musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases was the most common type of disease for lost-time claims lodged in the previous four years.

Across the four years, traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injury was the most common injury (55%) for lost-time claims suffered by a worker.



Mechanism of injury/disease lost-time claims

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Body stressing 7,339 7,261 6,945 6,468 ▼

Falls, trips & slips of a person 4,307 4,284 4,158 4,140 ■

Being hit by moving objects 3,994 3,823 3,627 3,575 ▼

Hitting objects with a part of the body 1,464 1,525 1,419 1,342 ▼

Other mechanisms 520 505 510 508 ■

Mental stress 408 445 426 476 ▲

Heat, electricity & other environmental factors 407 389 297 331 ▼

Chemicals & other substances 329 301 278 255 ▼

Biological factors 72 72 77 81 ▲

Sound & pressure 18 25 21 28 ▲

Mechanism of injury/disease proportion of lost-time claims in 2014/15p


38%

24%

21%

8%

3%

3%

2%

1%

0.5%

0.2%

Body stressing

Falls, trips & slips of a person

Being hit by moving objects

Hitting objects with a part of the body

Other mechanisms

Mental stress

Heat, electricity & otherenvironmental factors

Chemicals & other substances

Biological factors

Sound & pressure

In 2014/15, the predominant causes of work-related injuries or diseases were due to body stressing (38%), falls, trips and slips (24%), and being hit by moving objects (21%).



Bodily location of injury/disease lost-time claims

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Upper limbs 6,865 6,745 6,355 6,356 ▼

Lower limbs 4,221 4,308 4,245 4,074 ■

Trunk 4,343 4,161 3,892 3,557 ▼

Head 1,114 1,082 1,013 1,020 ▼

Non physical locations 409 445 431 480 ▲

Neck 303 301 273 243 ▼

Systemic locations 124 105 90 113 ▼

Multiple/unspecified location 1,479 1,483 1,459 1,361 ▼

Bodily location of injury/disease proportion of lost-time claims in 2014/15p


37%

24%

21%

8%

6%

3%

1%

0.7%

Upper limbs

Lower limbs

Trunk

Multiple/unspecified location

Head

Non physical locations

Neck

Systemic locations

Lost-time claims statistics show that injuries/diseases predominantly occurred to the upper limbs (37%), lower limbs (24%), and trunk (21%) in 2014/15.



Agency of injury/disease lost-time claims

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15p Trend

Non-powered handtools, appliances & equipment 4,425 4,326 4,137 4,006 ▼

Environmental agencies 4,152 4,199 4,086 4,044 ■

Materials & substances 3,339 3,144 3,044 2,823 ▼

Mobile plant & transport 1,814 1,800 1,628 1,586 ▼

Animal, human & biological agencies 1,658 1,705 1,691 1,642 ■

Other & unspecified agencies 1,286 1,359 1,288 1,257 ■

Powered equipment, tools & appliances 1,031 1,029 968 925 ▼

Machinery & mainly fixed plant 907 839 709 725 ▼

Chemicals & chemical products 246 229 207 196 ■

Agency of injury/disease proportion of lost-time claims in 2014/15p


24%

23%

16%

10%

9%

7%

5%

4%

1%

Environmental agencies

Non-powered handtools, appliances &equipment

Materials & substances

Animal, human & biological agencies

Mobile plant & transport

Other & unspecified agencies

Powered equipment, tools & appliances

Machinery & mainly fixed plant

Chemicals & chemical products

The agency of injury or disease is intended to identify the object, substance, or circumstance which was the direct cause of the most serious injury/disease.

In 2014/15, environmental agencies accounted for 24% of work-related injuries or diseases, followed by non powered handtools, appliances, and equipment (23%).



TERM DEFINITION / EXPLANATION OF TERM

Act The Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 .

Age Chronological age (in years) of the worker at the date of injury or disease.

Agency of occurrence

Arbitration

Bodily location

Claimant A person who lodges a claim in the WA workers' compensation scheme.

Claim costs

Claims data

lost-time journey claims between home and work asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis

duplicated or disallowed (by an insurer).

Claim numbers are subject to revision as claims experience matures.

Claim management The Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 requires:

an approved insurer to give a worker and the respective employer notice of a

decision on a lodged workers' compensation claim within 14 days.

a self-insurer to give a worker and the respective employer notice of a decision

on a lodged workers' compensation claim within 17 days.

The object, substance or circumstance that was principally involved in or most

closely associated with the point at which things started to go wrong and which

ultimately led to the most serious injury or disease. A comprehensive list of this

classification is available from Safe Work Australia Type of Occurrence Classification System 3rd edition (safeworkaustralia.gov.au).

The part of the body affected by the most serious injury or disease. A

comprehensive list of this classification is available from Safe Work Australia Type of Occurrence Classification System 3rd edition (safeworkaustralia.gov.au).

An estimate of costs for unfinalised claims, and total cost of finalised claims

attributed to the year in which a claim was lodged. Claim costs are subject to

revision as claims experience matures; this is especially true for more recent years.

Claim costs are not adjusted for inflation.

WA by approved insurers and self-insurers. Information is collated based on the

financial year in which a claim was lodged with the insurer. For the purposes of this

report, certain types of claims were excluded:

an employer to lodge a claim with the insurer within five working days of

receiving a claim form and first medical certificate.

If an agreement cannot be reached through a conciliation, the dispute can proceed

to a more formal process where an independent and impartial lawyer (arbitrator)

will assess evidence presented by the worker and other parties at a formal hearing

or series of hearings.

GLOSSARY



Claim payments

Conciliation

Continuance rate

Days lost

Direct compensation

redemption payments made under Schedule 1 specific injury payments made under Schedule 2 fatal payments including funeral expenses common law and other Acts payments.

Dispute

Disputation rate

Extent of incapacity

temporary incapacity permanent incapacity - partial permanent incapacity - total.

The number of dispute applications as a proportion of all active claims for the

reference year.

The outcome of the injury or disease as assessed by the insurer and the treating

doctor. Categories include:

Claim payments are in contrast with claim costs as they do not reflect liabilities

incurred but not yet paid. Claim payment information is collated based on the

financial year during which payment was made, regardless of when the claim was

lodged with the insurer. In this report, claim payments are reported both in adjusted

and unadjusted formats. In relation to the former, payments are adjusted for

inflation to allow for meaningful comparisons over time.

Monitors claims over time from the date a claim was lodged with an insurer. The

continuance rate shows the number of claims involving weekly income replacement

payments at three months, six months and twelve months as a proportion of claims

involving weekly income replacement payments at one month. This indicator

provides insight into claim duration and scheme exits.

The number of hours off work divided by the number of hours usually worked each

day. If the claim is finalised, actual hours off work are used, otherwise if the claim is

not finalised, estimated hours off work are used.

Payments made directly to the worker either by income replacement (payments

made for absences from work) or lump sums such as:

A dispute over a workers' compensation claim by parties involved (e.g. insurer,

employer, worker). A dispute can occur at any stage of a claim in relation to a

number of matters.

Involves parties in dispute coming to their own agreement, with the assistance of an

independent and impartial Conciliation Officer.

GLOSSARY



Frequency rate

Industry

Journey claims

Liability decision period

Lodgement year The financial year in which the claim was lodged with the insurer.

Long duration claims

Lost-time claims

Occupation Based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It is a skill-based

classification which encompasses all occupations in the Australian workforce

(abs.gov.au).

The action, exposure or event that best describes the circumstances that resulted in

the most serious injury or disease. The full list of this classification is available from

Safe Work Australia's Type of Occurrence Classification System 3rd edition (safeworkaustralia.gov.au).

The most serious injury or disease suffered by the worker. The full list of this

classification is available from Safe Work Australia's Type of Occurrence Classification System 3rd edition (safeworkaustralia.gov.au).

Mechanism of injury or

disease

The number of lost-time claims per million hours worked and indicates the

worked by employed persons in Western Australia as supplied by the Australian

Bureau of Statistics.

Based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ANZSIC system

groups together businesses that carry out similar economic activities and structured

into a hierarchy of units reflecting different levels of description (abs.gov.au).

Up to 24 December 1993, workers' compensation claims could be lodged for injuries

sustained while travelling to and from work. Journey claims have since been

excluded from claims data.

The number of calendar days between the date the claim was lodged with the

insurer and the first date on which the insurer made a decision (accepted or

rejected) about liability for the claims.

Workers' compensation claims for which the injury or disease results in an absence

from work of at least 60 days or shifts.

Lost-time claims are claims for which the injury or disease results in an absence from

work of at least one day or shift.

Nature of injury or

disease

GLOSSARY



Service payments Service payments include:1. medical and hospital payments:

hospital expenses (hospital accommodation and hospital treatment)

2. allied health payments:

3. workplace rehabilitation payments:

4. legal and miscellaneous:

Settlement

Work status

Worker

a)

b)

A snapshot, as at 31 January 2015, of the work status of claimants with claims

lodged between 2011/12 and 2014/15. Work statuses are subject to revision as

claims experience matures, especially for the most recent year.

As defined in Section 5 of the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, a worker is defined as:

any person to whose service any industrial award or industrial agreement applies;

and

any person engaged by another person to work for the purpose of the other

person's trade or business under a contract with him for service, the

remuneration by whatever means of the person so working being in substance

for his personal manual labour or services.

medical practitioner and specialist payments (consultation and treatment

expenses rendered by general practitioners and medical specialists)

other treatment and appliance payments (comprises payments made under

clauses 17(1)(3), (4), (5) and (6) of Schedule 1 of the Act, other than medical and

hospital expenses)

workplace rehabilitation payments (comprises payments made under clause

17 (1a) of Schedule 1 of the Act in respect of counselling, occupational training,

work assessment, aids and appliances)

legal expenses (comprises the cost of legal advice and representation incurred

by approved insurers or exempt employers, witness fees and the costs of these

services incurred by the worker where the approved insurer or exempt

employer is ordered to meet the costs)

miscellaneous (includes general items that do not fit in any other category, for

example travelling, meals and lodgings, under clause 19 of Schedule 1).

A pathway to finalising a worker's compensation claim depending on whether the

settlement relates to a statutory compensation claim or a common law action. If a

worker enters into a settlement, they will not be entitled to any further

compensation under the Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.

GLOSSARY


1 Due to the dynamic nature of compensation claims, the interpretation of data contained within

this report (the data) must be undertaken with some caution. Data users are cautioned to consider

carefully the provisional nature of the data before using it for decisions that concern personal or public

safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences.

2 The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way. WorkCover WA has

made a reasonable effort to ensure that the data is up-to-date, accurate, complete, and comprehensive

at the time of disclosure. This data reflects data reported to this agency by insurers for the reporting

periods indicated. Data users are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy,

currency or completeness.

3 Neither WorkCover WA, or its agencies or representatives are responsible for data that is misinterpreted

or altered in any way. Derived conclusions and analysis generated from this data are not to be

considered attributable to WorkCover WA.

4 This data is provided as is and in no event shall WorkCover WA, its agencies or representatives be liable

for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from lost data or lost profits or

revenue, the costs of recovering such data, the costs of substitute data, claims by third parties or for

other similar costs, or any special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages, arising out of the use

5 Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of the data or concerning other

compensation data may be obtained by contacting WorkCover WA.

DISCLAIMER


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