WH&S Initiatives and Workers Compensation Claims Process

This document provides information on the WH&S initiatives implemented and the process of managing workers compensation claims. It includes details on how to lodge a claim, who needs to submit the claim, and what happens after the claim is submitted. The document also discusses the arrangements made with Craig's supervisor to cover his duties and responsibilities during his absence.

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
Module 5 Assessment Task
Part A
Your WH&S initiatives have been implemented and your review processes reveal 100% compliance, which is
great news!
You have been advised that Craig Turner is recovering well and he now requires your assistance with:
1. Managing compensation claims
2. Planning for his rehabilitation and return to work program
3. Monitoring and evaluating his return to work program
Access the workplace compensation authority for Queensland and research the process to find out how workers
compensation claims are managed.
Compile an information sheet for Craig to follow which will assist him in processing his compensation claim.
Topic Information or Guidance for Craig
a) Insert website reference of where you located
the following information
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au
b) How to lodge a claim Prior to lodging a claim, the workers have to
 Inform the employers about their injuries.
 Visit a physician and get a medical certificate.
 The claim should be made without any further
delay.
The claim could be made in the following ways:
 Through the website -
www.workcoverqld.com.au
 By reaching out through phone - 1300 362 128
 Fax - 1300 651 387
 The mailing address is GPO Box 2459,
Brisbane Qld 4001.
The claim can also be processed through a doctor.
c) Who needs to submit the claim? The worker has to submit the claim
d) Before making a claim, what does Craig need to
have done?
The following steps have to be done before making
the claim.
 inform the employers about the injuries
 Visit a doctor and obtain a worker’s
compensation medical certificate.
Make the claim at the earliest.
e) A claim has been made what happens now?
Reference where you found this information
Now each stakeholder has to perform functions
according to his/her responsibility. The employer
should not wait for the claim process initiation by
worker. Employer should immediately appoint a

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
rehabilitation provider and supervisor. Supervisor
must assist the work in the process of returning back
to work. The progress update should regularly be
checked by rehabilitation and return to work
coordinator.
Insurer must consider claim of compensation and
advise the employer with regard to same. Health
provider should start the process of providing work
capacity certificate to worker. Finally, the injury
management coordinator must assist employer
develop Injury management Plan.
This information has been retrieved from
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/rehab-and-
claims/stay-at-work-return-to-work/how-to-
return-to-work/help-your-worker-return-to-
work-guide-for-employers
f) What happens after the claim is submitted?
How many days does the authority have to make a
decision?
Once the claim has been made, Craig has to take
the necessary steps for recovery and rehabilitation.
According to the Workers' Compensation and
Rehabilitation Act 2003, after recovery, the injured
person has to return to work safely. The worker and
the employer have to work in tandem to ensure that
the injured person takes part in rehabilitation.
More details can be seen in the link:
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/service-providers/
return-to-work-services
After the claim has been submitted, it is allocated to
a WorkCover Queensland claims representative. The
claim is evaluated within three days and the worker
and the employer would be duly informed. The final
decision on the claim would be made within twenty
days. The number of days may get delayed if there is
any difficulty in getting the relevant information.
g) Explain the arrangements you have
implemented with Craig’s Supervisor to cover Craig’s
duties and responsibilities whilst he is absent
I made arrangements to hire a temporary worker on
a contract basis to fill in Crag's duties while he was
recovering from the injuries.
h) Each time an incident and injury occurs, it is
wasteful to repeat the information locating exercise.
As such, how would you ensure time
effectiveness by planning to, or incorporating,
return-to-work into a Work Health and Safety
Management System?
Time effectiveness can be ensured by devising a
rehabilitation management plan that keeps all the
relevant information handy. A few of the staff are to
be given special training on this so that once an
incident injury occurs again, time-effectiveness can
be ensured.

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
You have received notification from the workers compensation authority. The authority has decided that Craig’s
claim is valid and has been approved and assessed against the appropriate Workers’ Compensation and
Rehabilitation Act.
You have also received an email from Craig’s Doctor stating that Craig can start planning a return to work plan
and he only requires another 2 weeks absence from work.
Craig and his rehabilitation providers now need to be informed of the outcome of his claim.
Conduct research into the privacy laws to find out how Australian Wide Constructions should be storing Craig’s
information, and what they cannot do with Craig’s information.
Now, you are required to prepare an email to Craig and his Rehabilitation provider (Doctor) about the
return to work plan advising of the following points:
a. That Craig’s claim has been accepted and advise Craig that his Doctor has only approved 2 more weeks of
sick leave – ensure you advise what date Craig is to return to work.
b. Advise Craig that his duties will be revised and a return to work plan will be prepared in consultation with
him, his Doctor and his current supervisor before returning to work.
c. In your email response ensure that you make reference to the information you collected about the privacy
principles, laws and the need to maintain confidentiality and advise Craig and all associated parties how the
incident and return to work plan will be kept confidential and the importance of Privacy Laws.
d. The organisation values his role and is looking forward to seeing him return to work.
e. In your own words explain to Craig why the company has to have an effective return-to-work and injury
management policy, and that it is a key part of the Work Health and Safety management System.
f. Refer to the type of arrangements you have made to manage his duties and position role while he has been
recovering.
TO: Craig Turner
CC: Rehabilitation Provider
FROM: WHSMS consultant, Australian Wide Constructions
Subject: Return to work plan
Email Message: Hello Mr. Craig Turner. Greetings. This email is being sent to you to
make you aware that your doctor has advised you to return to work after 2 weeks; the
doctor has recommended only 2 more weeks as absence weeks for you after which you
are advised to return back to work.

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
Your compensation claim has been accepted by the designated authority so you would
provide monetary and non-monetary compensation for the injury you suffered and work
days you lost.
Along with this, it is notified by this mail that your returning plan will be made according
to the advice given by your doctor. The consultation from the supervisor will also be
taken along with incorporating your own views in the plan itself. So you participate in the
process and make a suitable plan; your cooperation will be highly appreciated.
Privacy is a human right that must be considered by each business organization. All the
issues enshrined in the guidelines of respective state will be taken care of and your
privacy is protected by storing your information in a computer system that has an end to
end encryption. Any third party requiring the information will have to take permission
from supervisor and supervisor can only allow such information to be passed to the third
party after your concurrence. Thus you will be notified about the person who would have
requested information about you. In addition to this, there would be an appropriate
mechanism so that no one can steal the data stored on the computer. There will be a robust
surveillance system so all information stored regarding you will be tempering-proof. This
is how the information regarding the incident and return plan of Craig would be stored.
Guidelines for standard of Rehabilitation provide clear approach to be followed for
rehabilitation purpose. These guidelines must be followed along with workers
Compensation Regulations, 2014 which regulate the issues related to compensation made
by the injured person. In addition to this, there is need to comply with the section 228 of
worker’s compensation and rehabilitation act, 2003. As per the act, the adequate number
of resources must be made available for injured worker which shows the employer’s
commitment towards its staff. Employer must provide Mr. Craig an opportunity to recover

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
at work. Keeping these two guidelines in mind, Craig will be given work according to his
capacity certificate produced by the health professional. As per other guidelines, the
employer is bound to take action for rehabilitation of worker injured during the working
hours. For this purpose, the employer must communicate with all relevant persons or
stakeholders as soon as possible. In addition to this, the role assigned to supervisor and
Injury and rehabilitation manager should be performed likewise.
Craig has given many years of his life to the organization concerned. It is with the
individual efforts of the worker that such large buildings are built. So each worker and his
or her health is valuable for us. The individual work of each worker bore results in the
form of cumulative effort made by the team or all employees of the organization. it is our
duty to care for you. The actual trusteeship of a business organization is actually in the
hands of workers. The workers are real owners of an enterprise as they perform the actual
task of production or service that leads to the growth of an organization. So Mr. Craig is
very valuable to us. We hope him to soon join the work.
The organization has an effective return to work policy so that the workers again get
assimilated into the working environment of the organization. There are robust policies to
make information about the concerned worker safe as mentioned above. The company
maintains the sanctity of worker in every situation so that they can work in an amicable
environment.
While Mr. Craig or you have been recovering, the organization made certain
arrangements regarding your duties and position. This is to tell everyone that you will
again be posted at the equivalent position of your earlier tasks. You will not be promoted
or demoted as a consequence of an incident that had happened on the site. You will be
taken care of regarding the health and will be provided suitable training so that you get

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
accustomed to the new role that would be offered to you. Keeping health issues in view,
there would be a proper mechanism to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
You will also be introduced to new areas of work so that you can work without any major
hiccups. Remuneration will be provided while training keeping in view the financial
health of a worker. All expenses related to a medical emergency will be incurred by the
organization itself. So you are advised to return back to work by the due date mentioned.
The work, which will be delegated to you depends upon the assessment provided by the
doctor, rehab provider and insurer. They have been provided an information report
according to which you will not perform a laborious task of placing the tiles. You will
perform the task of recording the details of work along with monitoring the work of
colleagues. Doctor and rehab provider have gone through your medical report and as per
the medical certificate duly signed by them, for next 3 weeks you will perform the task
mentioned above.

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
Module 5 Assessment Task
Part B
Craig is very pleased with the assistance that you have been providing him with, and he is now preparing himself
to return to work. As the WHSA you need to assist in compiling and preparing Craig’s return to work plan.
You are required to complete the following Return to Work Plan that has been adapted from WorkCover
Queensland. You will need to consult with your WHS Director, Craig’s Doctor (Dr Phil Maloney) and Craig’s
Supervisor (John Smith) to complete the sections of the plan.
Refer to Dr Maloney’s recommendation for suitable duties to compile this assessment.
Ensure you address Craig’s training needs both internally and through external providers as required.
Injured worker details Plan details
Worker Craig Turner Goal – long term: ……
Claim number Plan completed by: Employer/Provider/Insurer
Phone Objective of this plan: ……
Supervisor John Smith Duration of this plan
Phone xx-xxxx-xxxx From: 1 July To: 31 July
Treating medical practitioner Fit for suitable duties (restricted return to work)
Dr. Phil Maloney From: …… To: ……
Phone xx-xxxx-xxxx Job description: ……
Task details
Week Duties Restrictions
Week 1 – commencing:1st July Providing insights over day to
day work and helping
administration in tasks involving
only mental ability
No Physical or laborious
work
Days:7
Hours: 49
Week 2 – commencing: 7th July Guiding colleagues and juniors in the
process of work and providing employer a
glimpse over satisfaction of employees
No Physical Labour
Days: 7
Hours: 49
Week 3 – commencing: 14th July Guiding colleagues and seldom performing
physical tasks for demonstration but tasks
should not involve too much physical
strength
No Haulage
Days: 7
Hours: 49
Week 4 – commencing: 21st Julyt Start normal work with the same zeal No Restriction
Days: 7
Hours: 49
Treatment occurring during this plan (e.g.
physiotherapy): Training required: Yes No /
…… If ‘Yes’, given by: ……
Plan to be reviewed on: 31st July Training given on: ……

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
Module 5 Assessment Task
Part C
Now that you have completed the return to work plan you need to seek approval from all parties.
In doing so, compile an email to all parties involved in the return to work plan and address each of the headings
in the email. In your email response ensure that your make reference to the importance of privacy
principles, laws and the need to maintain confidentiality.
TO: Mr. Craig Turner
CC: Supervisor, Rehabilitation provider or doctor
FROM: WHSMS consultant
Subject: Approval for return to work plan
Email Message:
a) Overview and purpose of the return to work plan:
The plan is to make Turner again join the mainstream work in the concerned
organization by 1st July 2019. The plan is meant to address each aspect in detail as far
as the return policy of the organization is concerned. The plan has been formulated by
using the participatory approach whereby each stakeholder or concerned person’s
views have been taken and incorporated in the plan itself. There have been many
instances when views were diverging in nature so a consensus has been arrived at so
that a logical plan is made and executed in a randomized way.
b) Explain the regular contact and feedback processes that will happen between all parties
throughout the return to work program:
During the return to work program, there will be consistent contact with the
supervisor who will supervise the work and make sure that work is done in a right
way without any compromise with the safety of workers. The supervisor will make
Mr. Craig Turner get assimilated into work culture again and protect his privacy
rights. WHSMA will formulate the policy regarding the safety of workers and ensure
that these policies are followed by everyone. Along with this, there will be regular
contact with the rehabilitation provider or doctor so that the impact of work on the
health of Mr. Craig Turner can be assessed and according to suitable provisions are
made. There will be a robust mechanism to regularly update the information with the
latest remarks by the concerned persons like supervisor and doctor.

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
c) Explain the support mechanisms that will be made available throughout the return to work
program:
The support will be provided from workers along with organizational support. During
the implementation phase of the plan, Mr. Craig Turner will be provided with full
remuneration as he was provided before the incident occurred. So there would be
monetary support. along with this, emotional support will be provided by peers so as
to make Mr. Craig feel himself part of the team again. Support to maintain privacy has
already been mentioned above.
d) Explain the process to follow if modifications to the plan are required:
The plan is not rigid; it is flexible. That means the plan can be changed according to
exigencies. Whenever the need arises to modify the plan, first of all, WHSMS will be
consulted. He or she will make sure that message regarding modification of the plan is
relayed to all the concerned persons that include supervisor, worker, doctor, and
financier. Then, the plan will be sent for approval by a suitable authority.
e) Overview of how you will be assisting in the evaluation of the return to work program to
determine it has met its objectives (explain the processes you intend on following to evaluate
and ensure the plan is working):
The plan will be evaluated based upon a number of hours Mr. Craig is working. Along
with this, the outcome will be measured and efficiency will be evaluated. The
efficiency can be less in the beginning due to a health issue but eventually, it needs to
be increased. There will be an effective method to measure this efficiency.
f) Instruct all parties to sign (in the signature block provided below) and return:
All the stakeholders in the particular plan will be asked to sign it so that an
authenticated source is made which can be relied upon. A signature will make sure
that no party breaches the plan and suitable changes are made in the plan as per need.
There will be a signature by financiers as well so that compensation cost identified in
the plan can be made readily available to Mr. Craig while getting training to get
accustomed again with the work.
g) What will constitute a breach of the plan for both the employer and employee:
Breach of the plan for both the employee and employer in violation of any provision
made in the plan and duly signed by all concerned persons. For example, if the
employer does not get ready to pay during the training period, he or she will be taken
action against due to breach of the plan. The compensation mentioned in the plan must
be provided to Mr. Craig. In addition to this, Mr. Craig is also liable for breach of the
plan. For example, if he does not reach to work on intended day and time, he will be

Participant Name: Lawrence Yance
liable for his actions.