Safer firms benefit

Keith McLea from ACC. Photo / Northern Advocate

A business with a good safety record will be able to decrease its ACC levies by as much as 50 per cent under changes to the worker insurance scheme from April 1.

The new experience rating system gives discounts on levies for employers with a better claims history, similar to no-claims discounts offered by private insurers, and puts loadings on those with a poor safety record.

"Experience rating is all about encouraging better workplace safety and getting people safely back to work after an accidental work injury," Keith McLea, ACC general manager insurance and prevention services, said.

For businesses paying ACC levies of $10,000 or more, the levy will take into account the number of claims made by employees for work-related injuries, with medical costs of $500 or more over the previous three-year period, the length of time employees receive weekly compensation, and any fatal injury claim.

- NZPA