In workers compensation schemes, illnesses not injuries now account for the highest number of working days lost according to Professor Niki Ellis, CEO of the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) at Monash University.
This is linked to the increase in jobs that don’t require physical work and better OHS policies.
However, with illness, as compared to injury, it is difficult to prove working is the cause and therefore appropriately compensate workers.
For example, noise-induced hearing loss is a frequently accepted workers compensation claim, but that this often happens naturally in old age. Where as, coronary heart disease is a common condition, which is rarely compensated, yet we know that occupational stress is an important risk factor.
A research plan that will drive further improvements to Victorian compensation systems will be launched by the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) this week.
Read more at Monash University