In the unfortunate event you have been involved in a work related accident, the following steps should be taken to ensure you are looked after and to protect your legal rights:
1. The immediate priority after any accident is to make sure you receive appropriate first aid and medical treatment.
2. Report the injury to your employer. Usually this notification will be to your immediate line supervisor.
3. Complete an Incident Report with your employer. It is very important that details of the accident are recorded so that the employer can investigate the cause of the accident and take any steps to prevent reoccurrence. From your point of view it is important that the details are recorded early so there is no dispute later as to what happened.
4. To lodge a workers’ compensation claim you will need to attend apon your doctor to obtain a workers’ compensation medical certificate. At the same time it is important to discuss with your doctor what suitable alternative duties may be available at your workplace, if you cannot return to your normal duties straight away.
5. Lodge an Application for Compensation with WorkCover Queensland (or the relevant self-insurer). You can telephone WorkCover or lodge the claim online. You will need the workers’ compensation medical certificate to lodge the claim.
6. Provide a copy of the workers’ compensation medical certificate to your employer for their records as well.
7. At all times during the claim process keep your employer and WorkCover advised of your progress. Open lines of communication are vital to ensure you are on the road to recovery and back at work at the earliest opportunity.
N.B. The Queensland legislation, being the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, stipulates in Section 131, that an application for compensation is valid and enforceable only if the application is lodged by the injured worker within 6 months after the entitlement to compensation arises. That is from the date of the injury.
