In Australia, WorkCover is a government scheme that provides insurance coverage to employees who suffer a work-related injury or illness.

The scheme is designed to provide financial support and medical assistance to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. However, most employees don’t really know how it works, or if they need to make a claim, what to do. In this article, we’ll explain this from an employee’s perspective.

How the Scheme Works:

WorkCover Queensland provides financial and other support to employees who have been injured at work. It's important to note that WorkCover benefits are designed to provide temporary financial support to injured workers while they recover from their injuries and are unable to work. The ultimate goal is to help injured workers return to work as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so.

The amount of compensation and how it is paid out can vary depending on a range of factors, including the severity of the injury and the impact it has on the employee's ability to work.

When a claim is lodged with WorkCover Queensland, the first step is usually an assessment of the claim by a claims officer. The claims officer will gather information from the employee, their employer, and any medical professionals involved in the employee's treatment.

If the claim is accepted, the employee may be entitled to a range of benefits, including:

• Income support: If the employee is unable to work due to their injury, they may be entitled to a weekly payment to replace their lost income. The amount of this payment is based on the employee's pre-injury average weekly earnings.
• Medical and rehabilitation expenses: WorkCover Queensland may cover the costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and other related expenses.
• Lump sum compensation: If the injury has resulted in a permanent impairment, the employee may be entitled to a lump sum payment based on the level of impairment.

The amount of compensation paid out by WorkCover Queensland can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the claim. WorkCover Queensland uses a range of factors to determine the amount of compensation, including the employee's pre-injury earnings, the severity of the injury, and the impact on the employee's ability to work.

It's important to note that WorkCover Queensland has strict time limits for lodging a claim, so employees should seek advice and lodge their claim as soon as possible after their injury.

Notifying SiteForce Recruitment Or Your Employer:

If an employee wants to make a WorkCover claim, they should notify their employer as soon as possible after the injury occurs or as soon as they become aware that they have a work-related injury or illness.

For SiteForce Recruitment employees, our policy is that no matter how big or small, you need to report any concerns, and the link to lodge a notification is below. All reports are treated with strict confidentiality and personally managed by one of our Risk Managers. This could include concerns or issues that include a:

·        Workplace injury

·        Near miss

·        Unsafe work conditions

·        Site hazard

·        Equipment damage

·        Safety improvement

The notification should include:

·        The employee's name and contact information

·        The date and time of the injury or illness

·        A brief description of how the injury or illness occurred

·        The location of the injury or illness

·        The names of any witnesses to the injury or illness

·        The type of medical treatment that has been or will be received

·        The name of the treating doctor or hospital

·        The anticipated length of absence from work

It's important for the employee to keep a record of the notification, including the date, time and who they notified, in case there are any issues with the claim. The employer is then responsible for lodging the claim with WorkCover Queensland.

SiteForce Recruitment Safety Incident or Hazard Report Form, can be found at:
https://www.siteforcerecruitment.com.au/safety

What is the Process of Making a WorkCover Claim:

Typically this involves the following steps:

1.      Report the injury or illness: If an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness, they should report it to their employer as soon as possible. This is important because there are strict time limits for making a claim.

2.      Seek medical attention: If the injury or illness requires medical attention, the employee should seek treatment from a doctor or medical professional. It is important to keep all medical records related to the injury or illness.

3.      Lodge a claim: The employee should lodge a WorkCover claim with their employer or the relevant state or territory WorkCover authority. This can typically be done online or by completing a form.

4.      Investigation: Once a claim has been lodged, the WorkCover authority will investigate the claim and determine if it is eligible for compensation.

5.      Compensation: If the claim is approved, the employee will be eligible for compensation, which may include payments for medical expenses, loss of income, and rehabilitation costs.

6.      Return to work: WorkCover may also provide assistance to help the employee return to work, either in their current role or in a modified capacity if they are unable to perform their usual duties.

It is important for employees to be aware of their rights and obligations under the WorkCover scheme, as well as the process for making a claim. Employers are also required to provide a safe working environment and to take steps to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.

What WorkCover Pays:

The income support payments offered by WorkCover Queensland to employees who make a workers' compensation claim will depend on several factors, including the severity of the injury, the employee's pre-injury income, and whether the employee can work while recovering from their injury.

In general, income support payments will be a percentage of the employee's pre-injury income, subject to a maximum weekly amount set by the government. The percentage of pre-injury income that an employee can receive in income support payments will vary depending on whether the employee is classified as totally or partially incapacitated.

There are some limitations to the amount that WorkCover will pay in income replacement benefits. For example, there is a maximum weekly amount that can be paid, and this amount is adjusted annually. Additionally, if an injured worker is able to return to work but at a reduced capacity, WorkCover may provide ongoing income support to make up for the difference in earnings.

Currently, WorkCover Queensland pays income replacement benefits to injured workers at a rate of 75% of their pre-injury average weekly earnings (PIAWE). PIAWE is calculated based on the worker's average weekly earnings over the 12 months before the injury occurred.

For example, as of 1 July 2021, the maximum weekly compensation rate for a worker with no dependents and total incapacity is $2,248.70. This means that if an employee has no dependents and is totally incapacitated due to their work-related injury, they may receive up to this maximum weekly amount in income support payments. However, if the employee has partial capacity to work, the amount of income support they can receive may be reduced.

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