Section 4 Description Text
A business’ first response to an injury is a major factor in determining the cost of a claim and the length of time a person may have off from work.
There are many employers running successful injury management systems each with their own procedures and methods. Common to all successful injury management systems however is early intervention. Early intervention means exactly what it says – acting on injuries immediately and ensuring that medical treatment and return to work processes are instigated quickly and efficiently.
The way an employee’s line manager reacts and deals with the injury and a worker’s perception of the business’ overall attitude to injuries and illness are also important factors. Employers with a consistent and fair approach to injuries and return to work have fewer injuries and less significant claims than employers with no system and a poor attitude to injuries.
An important thing to note is that early intervention is about providing support and options for your injured employees. It is not a process dependent on a claim for compensation being accepted by your ReturnToWorkSA claims agent. Your early communication with your employee and how you do it will have a major impact. Your care and concern is critical whether or not you like the person or understand precisely how the injury happened.
Date printed: 16 Dec 2025
