Workplace safety

All workers can contract illness or disease, or sustain injuries from accidents as a result of their day to day work activities. The management of occupational health and safety (OHS) in the workplace aims to reduce the likelihood and severity of illness and injuries at work.

Occupational health and safety legislation is administered by WorkCover in NSW.

WorkCover NSW is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Minister for Finance. 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.

Workers’ compensation

Workers’ compensation provides valuable protection to workers and their employers in the event of a workplace-related injury or disease. Through workers’ compensation, injured workers can receive weekly payments to cover loss of earning capacity and payment of medical expenses. They may also be eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation expenses, where necessary, to assist them return to work.

All NSW employers must have a workers compensation policy to insure themselves against compensation claims for workplace injuries.

WorkCover NSW  regulates the New South Wales workers compensation system. The system is comprised of:

• The New South Wales Workers Compensation Scheme
• Self and Specialised Insurers who bear their own liabilities and claims risk 
• Treasury Managed Fund