The second edition of the WorkCover WA Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment will be in use from 26 November 2007.

Issued under section 146R of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, the Guides evaluate the degree of permanent impairment that arises from an injury, as defined in section 5 (1) of the Act. Assessments of permanent impairment are made in accordance with the Guides by medical practitioners designated by WorkCover WA as approved medical specialists.

WorkCover WA wishes to advise our stakeholders that the second edition has some changes that will affect the work practices of approved medical specialists from 26 November 2007. The first edition will no longer apply from this date, so all assessments for injuries occurring after 14 November 2005 must be made in accordance with the second edition.

Changes include additional or amended information and instructions, and further clarification to maintain consistency with the New South Wales Guides. The NSW Guides form the basis of the WorkCover WA Guides as they incorporate modifications of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment fifth edition to reflect Australian clinical practice.

The WorkCover WA Guides aim to provide a transparent, consistent and objective method of assessment providing certainty for workers and other parties as to the level of permanent impairment.

The amendments are relatively minor and were made in response to feedback from experiences with the operation and application of the Guides in recent years.

The second edition of the WorkCover WA Guides apply to all assessments that occur from the commencement date in the Guides (26 November 2007) - irrespective of when the worker was actually injured.

Please note, assessments for injuries occurring prior to 14 November 2005 should continue to be conducted with reference to items 1-39 of Schedule 2 of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 or, if this is not possible, the “Western Australian Medical Association’s Assessment of Disability Guides under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act”.

The Guides and a fact sheet outlining the changes will be available on our website on 26 November.

For queries relating to the amendments in the Guides please call Rick Barker on 9388 5662 or email rick.barker@workcover.wa.gov.au 

General enquiries about procedures and registration should be directed to our Standards and Monitoring Branch on 9388 5555.