Farm injuries spark action

$190 mp aid to workers in compo claims

CONCERNS about injury rates and sexual harassment in the state’s agricultural sector prompted WorkCover Tasmania to fund three training projects to increase safety and stomp out bad behaviour last financialyear.

WorkCover Tasmania paid out $190.2 min worker compensation claims in the 2019-20 year–up $17.3 mon the year before and 4 per cent higher than projected.

Its annual report released this week shows 7555 new claims were lodged, which was 313 fewer than the year before.

Most successful claimants were paid weekly, while almost $60m was paid out in lump sum claims.

WorkCover Tasmania’s Incomings were still higher than outgoing with $192 min written premiums collected in the year.

The state service made up 20 per cent of all worker compensation claims and the most common disorders reported were musculoskeletal.

The report showed there were concerns about safety and sexual harassment in the farm sector.

Fruit Growers Tasmania received a grant to put together video inductions to reduce the risk associated with language barriers as foreign workers returned to the state to harvest berries, apples, pears and other fruit.

Primary Employers Tasmania will establish a pre-farm employment induction program to reduce injury rates and Rural Business Tasmania will use printed and electronic tools to provide guidance and reduce sexual harassment in theindustry.

“National surveys have shown a high rate of sexual harassment experienced by women in the agricultural industry ,” the annual report said.

Where a worker is incapacitated for more than 26 weeks, their weekly payments are 90-95 per cent of their normal earnings. This drops to 80-85 percent if they are off work for more than 78 weeks.

Work Cover Tasmania has also received 175 applications for compensation due to asbestos- related illness since 2011.

Seventeen new claims were made last financial year and 94 per cent were for imminent fatal asbestos-related diseases.