An ACT bus driver, who suffered nervous shock after witnessing what he believed was the gory aftermath of a machine-gun massacre, has been awarded more than $500,000 in damages.
In the final part of our complex workers' comp issues series, an employment lawyer has outlined the benefits of settling an injury damages claim out of court.
The restrictions placed on injured workers who want to claim common law damages against their employers are varied across jurisdictions. In this article, two employment lawyers highlight the facts employers should be aware of if faced with a negligence lawsuit.
Risk assessment overlooked during system change in WA; Carcinogens don't discriminate, says angered Green; and ACT appoints Industrial Magistrate for safety matters.
In determining whether an injured employee can perform the inherent requirements of a job, employers must ensure they rely on medical evidence and not their own assumptions, two employment lawyers have stressed.
Return-to-work plans with set stages, developed with employee input, offer employers and workers the best chance of a speedy and sustainable return to duties, says a RTW expert.
Communicating with employees who are absent on workers' compensation has benefits for both workers and employers, but it is vital employers find out how often a worker would like to be contacted, according to a regulator's customer services general manager.
Employers have limited opportunities to influence medical panel determinations in workers' comp disputes, but should always provide as much documentation as possible to advance their position, says Minter Ellison Lawyers partner Maria Billias.
An ACT employer that failed to ensure its loaded trolleys had handles, so workers didn't have to bend to push them, has been ordered to pay an injured worker more than $1 million in damages.