Browsing: Return to work and rehabilitation | Page 34

With South Australia's new workers' comp laws taking effect in a matter of weeks, ReturnToWork SA's chair has outlined three areas employers should focus on to ensure they're ready for the new scheme.

• Prevention of adverse action claims better than cure; and
  
• Capacity certificates to speed up RTW in SA.

The Federal Court has rejected an injured worker's claim that his employer took adverse action against him by exposing him to a manager's abusive "dressing down" and failing to offer him a return-to-work plan.

• WA announces record-low WorkCover premiums;
  
• GP trial to speed up RTW process;
  
• Sun safety doesn't end with autumn, says WorkCover Qld; and
  
• NSW issues drowning alert.

• Workers waiting too long to report back pain; and
  
• Generous wellbeing providers offered free publicity in ACT.

South Australia's workers' comp regulator has wiped out its $1.132 billion unfunded liability, and has set a record-low average premium rate for 2015-16.

A Victorian employer that directed an incompetent truck driver to conduct a hazardous unloading task has been ordered to pay the "lion's share" of another worker's $1.3 million damages bill.

The Northern Territory has introduced a Bill that establishes "fit notes", caps injured workers' weekly and medical benefits, and follows South Australia's lead by changing the name of its workers' comp statute to the Return to Work Act.

A successful return-to-work (RTW) trial hinged on the development of the "EAST" framework, a workers' comp expert says.

A major UK study has identified a link between "fit notes" - which are being introduced in some areas of Australia - and a "downward trend" in long-term sick leave taken by workers.