Serious injury or illness

Admission into a hospital as an in-patient for any duration, even if the stay is not overnight or longer.

It does not include:

• out-patient treatment provided by the emergency section of a hospital (i.e. not requiring admission as an in-patient)
• admission for corrective surgery which does not immediately follow the injury (e.g. to fix a fractured nose).

Fractured skull, loss of consciousness, blood clot or bleeding in the brain, damage to the skull to the extent that it is likely to affect organ or face function.

Head injuries resulting in temporary or permanent amnesia.

It does not include:

• a bump to the head resulting in a minor contusion or headache.

Injury that results in or is likely to result in the loss of the eye or total or partial loss of vision.

Injury that involves an object penetrating the eye (for example metal fragment, wood chip).

Exposure of the eye to a substance which poses a risk of serious eye damage.

It does not include:

• eye exposure to a substance that merely causes irritation.

A burn requiring intensive care or critical care which could require compression garment or a skin graft.

It does not include:

• a burn that merely requires washing the wound and applying a dressing.

Separation of skin from an underlying tissue such that tendon, bone or muscles are exposed (de-gloving or scalping).

It does not include:

• minor lacerations.

Injury to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebrae including the discs and spinal cord.

It does not include:

• acute back strain.

Loss of consciousness, loss of movement of a limb or loss of the sense of smell, taste, sight or hearing, or loss of function of an internal organ.

It does not include:

• mere fainting
• a sprain or strain.

Deep or extensive cuts that cause muscle, tendon, nerve or blood vessel damage or permanent impairment.

Deep puncture wounds.

• tears of wounds to the flesh or tissues. This may include stitching to prevent loss of blood and/or other treatment to prevent loss of bodily function and/or infection.

Medical treatment is treatment provided by a doctor.

Exposure to a substance includes exposure to chemicals, airborne contaminants and exposure to human and/or animal blood and body substances.

Includes any injury or illness not specified previously that cannot be treated at or near the site of the incident.

A remote location is any location that is not served by ordinary ambulance services, and may include mines and offshore facilities, rail camps, geological surveys, and isolated holiday facilities.

A medical facility includes a hospital and any other facility that provides medical services.

Captures any illness or injury not specified previously that prevents a person from doing their normal work for at least 10 days.

This may only be determined by a medical practitioner and may be in the form of a medical certificate or letter.

Notification must be provided even if the worker is capable of light duties (e.g. a warehouse worker who is moved to desk duties for the duration of their recovery).