NAME OF COLLECTION
Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Data, Western Australia
Contact
Executive Director
WorkCover Western Australia
2 Bedbrook Place
SHENTON PARK WA 6008
Telephone: Perth 08 9388 5555
Facsimile: Perth 08 9388 5550
Email: Harryn@workcover.wa.gov.au
Web site: <http://www.workcover.wa.gov.au>
Purpose
The workers' compensation system in Western Australia is regulated by WorkCover Western Australia. Eleven approved insurers and 26 self-insurers actively participate in the system. Statistics are collected from approved, former approved and self-insurers on workers' compensation claims following a work-related injury. These statistics provide valuable information to effectively administer the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 1981 (WA), advise government on appropriate policy and monitor the cost of the scheme and claim payments trends in the scheme.
Description
Every employer in Western Australia, with some exceptions, should obtain from an approved insurance office a policy of insurance. If an injury occurs in the workplace and the worker has time off, or incurs any costs because of a work-related injury or disease, the worker must complete a Workers' Compensation Claim Form (Employee's Report). The claim form is submitted by the worker to the employer, who forwards it to the relevant insurance company. A claim form contains characteristics of the injury and demographics of the injured worker. Approved insurers are required to provide details of the claim form to WorkCover Western Australia, which are then recorded on a statistical database.
Industry data items are coded using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification. Consequently, mining statistics are available from the collection. Occupation data items are coded using the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (second edition), and the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission’s Type of Occurrence Classification (second edition) is used to code nature of injury, bodily location, agency of occurrence and mechanism of injury.
Statistics are derived from over 48,000 claims lodged with the insurers or self-insurers in Western Australia each year and comprise claims involving a fatal injury or at least one full day or shift of lost time from work (lost time claims - each year around 21,000 lost time claims are lodged with insurers in Western Australia).
Main data detail
- age;
- sex;
- industry;
- occupation;
- mechanism of injury;
- agency of occurrence;
- nature of injury;
- bodily location;
- duration of claim; and
- claim costs.
Geographic coverage
Western Australia.
Frequency of data availability
Annual.
Reference period
Year ended 30 June.
Historical data
All of the data items listed above are available from 1994-95. Claim cost data are available from 1988-89.
Products and services
Publications
The type of reports available on the web site include:
- Workers' Compensation Statistical Report
- Workers' Compensation Work Related Stress Report
- Statistical Report on Female Workers
Other
- Other statistics can be obtained on request, subject to a release agreement by WorkCover Western Australia's Executive Director, on a 'fee for service' or free basis depending on the nature of the information and the Executive Director's decision.
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