What to do if you are injured at work
In the event that you are injured at work or have become ill because of your work, the following steps should be followed:
- Inform your employer as soon as possible that you are injured and how long you are likely to be off work. If you have an illness that you believe is work related, you should report it as soon as you become aware of it. Record the injury in the Register of Injuries at your workplace.
- You must obtain a completed WorkCover medical certificate from your doctor and give it, along with any bills or receipts for treatment, to your employer.
- Request that your employer contact HEM to notify us of your injury. This may be done by telephone, fax, email, or online.
- You are not required to complete a claim form at this stage. However, you are entitled to make a claim and we may request that you complete a claim form. You should return this form to your employer.
- You have the right to nominate a treating doctor who will actively manage your injury in consultation with your employer and HEM.
- You should discuss a return to work program with your employer. Large employers have a staff rehabilitation coordinator whose job is to assist injured workers return to work.
- Within three days of receiving your employer’s advice, we will contact you, your employer and your nominated treating doctor to discuss and develop your return to work and injury management plan. You are obliged to comply with the agreed injury management plan.
- The plan will include details of the treatment required for the injury, when you can return to work, identify suitable duties you can perform in lieu of your normal duties and whether your employer can make these duties available.
- HEM will then be able to pay for medical and other treatment expenses included in this plan.
- You are obliged to make all reasonable efforts to return to work as soon as possible.
If you fail to comply with any of the above obligations, weekly benefit payments may be delayed or suspended.