STAR Industries
Policy and Procedures
POLICY TITLE:
REHABILITATION AND RETURN TO WORK
ADMINISTERED BY:
MANAGER HUMAN RESOURCES
APPLICABILITY:
ALL EMPLOYEES
Policy Statement
The rehabilitation and return to work of employees at STAR Industries recovering
from illness or injury, will conform to ‘best practice’ standards and comply with
relevant legislative and regulatory requirements. This policy covers activities such
as reporting illness and injury cases, processing workers compensation claims.
injury evaluation, deciding alternate duties and designing return to work
programs.
STAR's commitments
STAR Industries is committed to the provision of a safe and healthy working
environment, and to the effective management of any occupational illness or
injuries which do occur. STAR recognises that management has a responsibility to
assist workers to remain at work or to return to work as soon as is safely possible
following a work-related injury or illness.
STAR will undertake to do this by:

Ensuring procedures and practices encourage consultation, co-operation, and
co-ordination; and are standardised throughout the organisation

Ensuring that injury management activities commence as soon as possible
after injury and every effort is made to provide suitable and meaningful duties
consistent with the nature of the injury/illness, after seeking appropriate
medical assessment

Providing support throughout the return to work process to minimise the
effects of the injury/illness and ensure that an early return to work is a normal
practice and expectation

Preparing a return to work plan and providing suitable duties/employment for
an injured employee as soon as is safely possible, as an integral part of the
return to work process

Consulting with employees and where applicable any union representing them
to ensure that our return-to-work program operates effectively

Ensuring that participation in a return-to-work program will not, of itself,
prejudice an injured employee

Ensuring the confidentiality of an employee’s information in relation to workrelated injury or illness and the return to work process

Modifying work practices, duties or equipment, where practicable, in order to
assist employees to remain at work or to return to suitable employment after
injury, and to prevent re-injury or repeat injuries

Reviewing this program on a regular basis in the light of industry best practice
STAR INDUSTRIES IS A FICTITIOUS COMPANY CREATED FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING PURPOSES
JULY 2003
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STAR Industries

Allocating adequate resources to ensure the objectives of this policy are met.
Related documents
See also the following policies and forms available on the STAR Intranet:

Policy "Selecting suitable duties for injured workers"

Register of Injuries form

Return to Work Plan (template)
Procedures
When an injury occurs
1. It is the employee's responsibility to notify their supervisor of any workrelated injury/illness as soon as is practicable.
2. Once an injury is notified STAR will ensure that the injured person receives
appropriate first aid and/or medical treatment as soon as possible and will
conduct an investigation to prevent a recurrence.
3. Star will notify their insurer of any significant injury within 48 hours of the
above and within 7 days for any other type of injury. Injuries will be recorded
in the STAR Register of Injuries file as soon as practicable after notification.
Follow-up after injury
The designated Return-to-Work Coordinator will cooperate with the insurer and
consult with the worker and the treating doctor in developing and complying with
an injury management plan for an injured worker. The Return-to-Work
Coordinator will maintain a case file and protect the confidentiality of the
information on this file.
Finding suitable duties
When the injured employee is, according to medical assessment, capable of
return to work, an individual return to work plan will be developed offering
suitable duties which will be identified after consultation with relevant parties and
will be specified in writing. Appropriate assistance will be given to workers from a
non-English speaking background and to those permanently unable to return to
pre-injury duties.
The return to work plan, the workplace, work systems and tasks will be modified
as necessary, to the extent practicable, to assist with a worker’s recovery and
return to work.
Involving a rehabilitation provider
The following accredited rehabilitation provider(s) are available to assist when
required in the return to work of those employees who suffer a workplace injury
or illness:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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STAR INDUSTRIES IS A FICTITIOUS COMPANY CREATED FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING PURPOSES
JULY 2003
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STAR Industries
Injured employees will, however, retain the right to nominate an accredited
provider of their own choice.
Consultation
Employees will be informed of their rights and responsibilities and of Star’s
rehabilitation policy and program. Such consultation will be effected through
Occupational Health & Safety Committees/Representatives, and the relevant
unions of this organisation.
Disputes
Star accepts the need to consult with employees and any union representing
them regarding disputes and to contact the insurer, WorkCover, or an Injury
Management Consultant.
Glossary
Workers compensation
Compulsory employer financed, 'no-fault', occupational disabilities program for the treatment
of work-related illness or injury.
Return to work coordinator
Person or organisation responsible for the management of workers compensation claims
including negotiation, legal compliance and reporting responsibilities.
Injury management
This term encompasses all the activities associated with ensuring the safe and early return to
work of an injured worker to the workplace.
Injury management program
Developed by the insurer, the Injury Management Program is the “umbrella” with which an
employer’s return to work program must be consistent (NSW). It is a coordinated and
managed program that integrates all aspects of injury management including treatment,
rehabilitation, retraining, claims management and employment management practices.
Return to work procedures
Established by the employer, the return to work procedures includes rehabilitation policy and
obligations and is developed in consultation with workers and respective unions. Sets out how
injuries/illness will be managed in the workplace.. It is recommended that the RTW
procedures be reviewed every two years or when a need for review is indicated, for example,
a change in the legislation or when problems are identified. The timeframe for reporting
injuries will form part of the Return to Work Program.
Rehabilitation policy
The overall statement of intent (and philosophy) of the employer. It sets out the
organisation’s commitment to the process of injury management. It also mentions the
importance of consultation and cooperation with agreed procedures. In best practice
organisations, the rehabilitation policies include brief references to the systems and
procedures to be employed, and the key players and their duties.
Injury management plan
This is developed by the insurer in consultation with the worker, employer and treating doctor.
Development of the plan must commence within 3 days of being notified of a significant injury.
It sets out the plan relating to a specific individual, and is an evolving document.
Significant injury
STAR INDUSTRIES IS A FICTITIOUS COMPANY CREATED FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING PURPOSES
JULY 2003
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STAR Industries
A significant injury is when an injured worker cannot undertake their usual duties and/or
normal hours for a continuous period of more than a specified number of calendar days
(which varies across jurisdictions).
Return to work plan (sometimes known as rehabilitation plan or program)
The RTW plan is a ‘living’ document, agreed to by all parties and aimed at achieving ‘suitable
employment’ for the injured worker. The plan outlines ‘suitable duties’, with restrictions and
details about how these duties will be monitored and reviewed at the workplace.
Suitable duties (also known as alternative, selected or light duties)
Work that can be done by the injured worker while recovering from injury, if the worker is not
fit for the usual duties. Suitable duties can include parts of the job the worker was doing
before being injured; the same job but on reduced hours, or different duties altogether.
Rehabilitation provider
Providers may include an internal employee (return to work coordinator/rehab coordinator,
case manager) or external consultant (accredited rehabilitation provider or consultant). For
example, Health professionals who provide rehabilitation services to injured workers and their
employers. In NSW they are engaged in a small minority of complex cases; in some other
States they have a much wider role.
WorkCover agents or claims agents
In some States return to work coordinators need to liaise with WorkCover agents or claims
agents (as opposed to the insurer) in relation to injury claims
STAR INDUSTRIES IS A FICTITIOUS COMPANY CREATED FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING PURPOSES
JULY 2003
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