Musculosketal injuries are still the main trigger for compensation claims in the mining sector however psychological claims are on the rise, according to WorkCover Queensland data.
Research also found:
- Psychological claims cost much more per claim than average, mainly due to the increased time away from work
- An emerging issue is with mine workers now living interstate who are fly in fly out (FIFO) workers, which can be challenging when considering an early return to work due to geographical location from the place of work
- The mining sector which shows the highest cost of claims is mining, quarrying and exploration
- There is early evidence of a trend for journey claims attributed to fatigue, which may have an impact at common law level.
WorkCover Queensland Customer Services Manager, Mining, Jane Stevens, shared this information with a forum of representatives of major mining companies, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Workplace Health and Safety and Q-COMP.
“This information could help senior leadership understand the flexibility required to keep workers at work, or consider interstate arrangements as part of the planning process to encourage an early return to work for FIFO workers,” she said.
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