Browsing: Workers' comp - research & reports | Page 10

Excessive prescription of opioid medication is doubling the risk of long-term disability among injured workers, and highlights the need for workers' compensation schemes to take urgent action, says a leading occupational health researcher.

Skin-damaging frictional trauma is one of the major causes of dermatitis in high-risk occupations identified in a major Canadian study. The researchers also found unexpectedly high rates of the debilitating skin condition in several occupations.

The first multi-jurisdictional study of injured Australian workers' claims experiences has found that a negative or neutral experience can have as much impact as poor health on return-to-work outcomes.

Uber and other gig economy companies will be forced to pay workers' comp premiums under a Queensland plan, while the State Government has revealed the average premium rate for 2019-20.

Due to a technical issue, some OHS Alert subscribers with an "instant" service might not have received articles over a 48-hour period. Click on this article to catch up with the latest developments from those days, including the new international approach to workplace "burnout".

Workers with injuries caused by workplace violence are at high risk of psychological distress and need different forms of workplace support than workers injured in other ways, a Canadian study of Australian incidents has found.

A major report, prompted by a public health emergency declared by US President Donald Trump, has found a high proportion of injured workers are prescribed opioids, often unnecessarily, exposing them to the risk of addiction within days of use and driving up employers' workers' comp costs.

• Man enters training undertaking in lieu of WHS prosecution;
  
• Workplace traffic management tips issued by OFSC; and
  
• SWA releases final part of major comparison report.

• ABCC launches safety and age discrimination cases;
  
• Labour-hire scheme with safety test commences in Vic; and
  
• Everything you need to know from January, February and March.

In this comprehensive report, OHS Alert reviews all the major WHS and workers' comp developments from the first quarter of 2019, including the unprecedented jailing of company directors, the outcomes of the national WHS review, and significant legislative changes in every jurisdiction.