WorkCover NSW is a statutory authority within the Ministry for Commerce. Its primary objective is to work in partnership with the NSW community to achieve safe workplaces, effective return to work and security for injured workers.
The WorkCover vision WorkCover is committed to NSW workplaces being among the safest of the world's modern economies.
This will reduce the significant social and economic cost of occupational injury and disease for the individual, industry and the wider community ensuring that when injuries do occur, the injury management and workers compensation systems operate efficiently and effectively to provide security to those affected.
WorkCover administers and enforces compliance with occupational health and safety (OHS), injury management and workers compensation legislation, and manages the workers compensation system.
WorkCover objectives
promotes the prevention of work-related injury and diseases, and assists workplaces to become healthier and safer
- promotes the prompt, efficient and effective management of injuries to persons at work
- ensures the efficient operation of workers compensation insurance arrangements
- ensures the appropriate coordination of arrangements for the administration of the schemes to which the workers compensation legislation or the OHS legislation relates.
WorkCover's statutory functions
WorkCover's main statutory functions are to administer the following legislation:
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000
- Workers Compensation Act 1987
- Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998
- Dangerous Goods Act 1975
- Workers Compensation (Bush Fire, Emergency and Rescue Services) Act 1987
- Workers Compensation (Dust Diseases) Act 1942
- Sporting Injuries Insurance Act 1978
- Rural Workers Accommodation Act 1969
- regulations and codes of practice under these Acts.
Occupational Health and Safety Division
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Division promotes safer and healthier workplaces through its statewide 'one-stop shop' information on OHS, workers compensation, and injury prevention and management,
It enforces OHS and workers compensation legislation through inspections, investigations of incidents and complaints and, where necessary, the application of penalties and prosecutions. It also licences hazardous equipment and implements prevention and education programs.
To assist students with this section use the following website:
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/FAQs
Reporting Accidents to WorkCover
The incident report form is no longer used to notify WorkCover of work-related incidents.
For incidents that must be reported to WorkCover within 7 days you can use the online form at
www.workcover.nsw.gov.auor phone 13 10 50.
All work-related incidents that involve a worker, where workers compensation is or may be payable, must be reported to the employer's workers compensation insurer within 48 hours.
Incidents
From 1 September 2003, WorkCover NSW is simplifying the way incidents are notified.
Whether you are an employer and/or an occupier you are required by law to report work related incidents to WorkCover and/or your workers compensation insurer. An occupier (of premises/workplace) is someone who manages or has responsibility for a workplace or a particular operation at a workplace, even though they may not be the employer.
Depending on the type of incident you may need to notify WorkCover and/or your workers compensation insurer.
What do I need to notify immediately?
You will need to notify serious incidents to WorkCover NSW immediately, as an urgent investigation may need to be undertaken.
A serious incident includes:
. An incident where there has been a fatality. An incident where there has been a serious injury or illness such as when a person:
- Is placed on a life support system
- Loses consciousness
- Is trapped in machinery or a confined space
- Has serious burns.
An incident where there is an immediate threat to life such as major damage to machinery or buildings.