When a piece of scaffolding fell and injured the arm of Kalgoorlie worker Ray Woods, it sent him into unfamiliar territory associated with workers’ compensation and dispute resolution.
But thanks to Ray’s initiative in contacting WorkCover WA for advice to help him in a dispute with his contracting employer, his claim was resolved and his injury is now improving.
“I’m over the moon and extremely happy with what WorkCover WA has done for me,” Mr Woods said.
“Without their help I don’t know where I’d be because things have changed so much in worker’s compensation, particularly for someone like me in their fifties.”
Mr Woods is a building labourer who subcontracts to various building firms in Kalgoorlie. When he was hit in the arm by scaffolding in June 2006, he lodged an initial worker's compensation claim, which was accepted by his contracting employer.
However, when his claims for loss of income continued indefinitely, the employer disputed there had been enough medical evidence to support continuing his payments.
“I needed to lodge a dispute claim through WorkCover WA so they could review the case and make a decision about whether I was entitled to payments,” Mr Woods said.
Although there were other workers nearby, nobody witnessed the injury. Regular medical assessments made from the time of his injury continued to state he was unfit for work. Over time, his status changed from being unfit for a number of days, to weeks, eventually becoming a long duration claim.
Mr Woods was in a very distressed state by the time he called WorkCover WA’s new Advisory Services, and didn’t feel equipped to deal with the situation.
“The support and guidance that I received through WorkCover WA staff helped me get through a stressful situation and complete paperwork and other requirements to get the dispute claim to an arbitrator,” he said.
“WorkCover WA’s Advisory Services helped me fill out forms and paperwork, and to understand my rights and responsibilities.”
In a thank you letter to WorkCover WA, Ray’s wife Mary said she did not know how Ray would have coped – both physically and mentally - without their assistance.
WorkCover WA General Manager of Regulation and Compliance, Peter King, said Ray’s case showed the many advantages of enlisting WorkCover WA’s assistance in making and progressing claims through the Dispute Resolution process.
“Many workers need help in this process because of the enormous amount of strain an injury can place on them,” he said.
WorkCover WA staff are trained to help people through this process, providing much needed technical support that in turn helps them cope physically and mentally.
Mr King said while WorkCover WA provided information on changing legislation to workers and employers throughout the State, people didn’t tend to take it in unless it directly affected them.
“When people like Mr Woods are faced with issues, they need to contact us for advice, and we can similarly assist employers through the same process too,” he said.
The release of a new industry DVD resource – Understanding Dispute Resolution – now provides workers like Ray and their employers with clear guidance on WorkCover WA’s dispute resolution process.
The DVD covers four real life case studies and processes used to resolve a dispute. It takes the viewer through emotions experienced by injured workers from the time of their injury through to dispute resolution, but also provides the employer’s perspective to provided a balanced view.
Understanding Dispute Resolution includes examples of how WorkCover WA arbitrators handle disputes through teleconferencing, conciliation conferences and arbitration. Supporting literature is also available through other WorkCover WA publications.
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