Workplace Injury
5. Injury Management Process
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 03 Sep 2015
- An effective injury management process should include a program for the continual assessment of the employee’s needs and abilities.
- This step will require the employer to liaise with any relevant medical practitioners treating the employee. The employer will need to obtain written authority from the employee in order to communicate with these practitioners.
- It should also include:
- the development of a return to work (RTW) program that specifies a target date for the employee’s return to normal duties; and
- specific responses to the employee’s individual needs such as the implementation of a suitable duties plan and flexible working arrangements.
- There should be a requirement for all relevant parties to agree on the terms of the RTW plan. This should include the employee as well as supervisors, managers and medical practitioners.
- At all stages in the injury management process the employee should be involved and consulted as much as possible. An employee who is made to feel that they have no control over their own rehabilitation is not as likely to commit to working towards a successful outcome as an employee who is part of the decision-making process.
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