Under the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (the Act), your legal obligations as an employer include:

• having workers’ compensation (including common law damages) insurance cover for all ‘workers’ (penalties apply for failing to do so)
• providing the worker's completed claim form and medical certificates to your insurer within five working days
• making weekly payments to the injured worker as soon as the claim is accepted or an order or direction is made to do so from WorkCover WA's Conciliation and Arbitration Services. Thereafter, a worker is to be paid on their regular pay day
• having an injury management system, and
• developing and implementing a return to work program if a treating medical practitioner indicates it is needed for an injured worker.

This section includes:

• the broad definition of ‘workers’ as per the Act
• maintaining a current workers’ compensation insurance policy
• managing a worker’s claim and return to work
• the costs of non-compliance with the Act
• frequently asked questions

Also, find out about injury management systems and return to work programs in the Returning to Work section, and about resolving disputes in the Conciliation & Arbitration section.