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Home / New Zealand

Ouch! ACC staff claim over $65k for workplace injuries

Vaimoana Tapaleao
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·
28 Jan, 2017 04:00 PM4 mins to read

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Photo / Rod Emmerson

Photo / Rod Emmerson

They help thousands of Kiwis each year, but even staff at the Accident Compensation Corporation hurt themselves - with employees claiming more than $350,000 in the last financial year.

Between April 2015 and March 2016, a total of $65,474 was paid out to 82 people employed by ACC for work-related injuries.

Just over $293,000 of compensation was paid out to 1,738 staffers for non-work injuries that occurred between July 2015 and June 2016.

The information - released to the Herald under the Official Information Act - also shows what the top five work-related injuries staff members made claims for in the last five years were:

1. Sprain or strain,
2. Occupational overuse syndrome/ repetitive strain injury,
3. Contusion,
4. Fracture and
5. Superficial injury (not infected).

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The top non-work injury claims made by ACC staff were for soft issue injuries, followed by lacerations/ stings or punctures and fractures or dislocations.

Other most common non-work injuries staff made claims for related to dental issues and concussions.

The data also includes a break-down of staff injury claims from previous years.

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Just over $192,989 of compensation was paid out to injured staff during the 2014/15 period.

The year before that, $261,229 was paid out to staffers.

In 2012/13, that figure was $243,484 and the year before that it was $286,593.

The monetary figures, in total, relate to the payment of weekly compensation and lump sum or independence allowance.

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"Generally speaking, claimants are eligible for weekly compensation where their claim is accepted for cover by ACC and they were working as an employee, self-employee person or shareholder employee at the time of the accident or injury,'' the OIA reads.

"The latter type of payment may apply where there has been a permanent impairment as a result of the injury (or injuries) sustained by the claimant.''

The single largest claim, by cost, in the last five years falls between $100,000 and $150,000 - the cost of which includes all treatment, rehabilitation and compensation-related costs connected to that specific injury claim.

Details of the person's injury could not be revealed as it would be a breach of the staff member's privacy.

ACC spokeswoman Stephanie Melville said the organisation was committed to good health and safety practices.

She acknowledged there were three fewer workplace injuries in 2015/16 than the previous year bracket, but that the corresponding claims jumped by about $30,000.

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"Claim costs cover all treatment, rehabilitation, weekly compensation and any other compensation related costs connected to an injury claim,'' Melville said.

"The increase in costs could be attributed to a period of weekly compensation while recovering from an injury, surgical costs or ongoing medical treatment.''

In 2015, ACC launched a number of health, safety and wellbeing initiatives including the ACCtivate Wellbeing Portal. The platform includes news, information, resources and articles that relate to physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing.

Staff get access to advice on exercise, food, life skills and personal challenges.

The organisation also has annual flu vaccinations for staff as well as annual health checks.

Staff members also now have access to standing desks, chair neck massages, lunch-time yoga classes, mole mapping guest speakers on site and Random Acts of Kindness week.

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Total cost of compensation paid to ACC staff:
- 2010/11: $21,492 work-related injuries and $193,836 non-work-related injuries
- 2011/12: $74,515 work and $212,078 non-work
- 2012/13: $31,281 work and $212,203 non-work
- 2013/14: $50,068 work and $211,161 non-work
- 2014/15: $33,905 work and $159,084 non-work
- 2015/16: $65,474 work and $293,060 non-work

Number of injury claims by ACC staff:
- 2010/11: 79 work-related injuries and 1,495 non-work related injuries
- 2011/12: 88 work and 1494 non-work
- 2012/13: 85 work and 1578 non-work
- 2013/14: 97 work and 1593 non-work
- 2014/15: 85 work and 1489 non-work
- 2015/16: 82 work and 1738 non-work

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