Safety Matters - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

Once the insurance company has provided the employer with a notification
number, the employee should get and keep a copy of this number.
Note: Workers have the right to choose their own doctors, rehab provider and
other health practitioners.
Nominated Treating Doctor – Their Role
If you are off work for more than seven days you will need to advise the
insurance company of the doctor who will be responsible for overseeing your
return to work plan.
SECTION THREE
Safety Matters A Guide for Workplace OHS Representatives
Under the law this person must be a registered medical practitioner and in
most cases this would be your treating doctor. The worker has the right to
nominate his or her own doctor. The insurance company or employer is not
able to override this decision.
The role of the nominated treating doctor is very important as they will be
responsible for ensuring that you return to work as safely as possible and there
is not a risk of the injury reoccurring.
Often a person can return to work on duties which are not suitable and they
run the risks of a further injury and more serious damage, therefore this has to
be carefully managed by the doctors and other health experts.
Your doctor will also liaise with the insurance company and employer over the
return to work plan to make sure that it is acceptable.
Your doctor and employer will be responsible for developing, managing and
signing off on the return to work plan. The return to work plan should be
developed between you and your doctor in the first instance, however there may
be occasions when another health profession could be involved – for example,
a physiotherapist who may have to visit the worksite and make an assessment
of the duties which are have been offered or alternatively find out what duties
available and then report back to your doctor.
The employer may also send a return to work plan to your doctor and your
doctor will discuss this with you and require any changes that they feel is
necessary or request the health professional to do a work place visit.
If there is a dispute over suitable duties or you or your doctor experience a
problem contact the union. Under the new laws a union can take unresolved
issues, that is, disputes to the Worker Compensation Commission.
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RAIL
A Summary of Workers Compensation in NSW
10
TRAM AND BUS
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