Type of Occurrence Classification System - Safe Work Australia

B. Coding GuidelinesSTEP 2 - CODING THE BODILY LOCATION OF INJURY/DISEASEStep 2 - Identify the part of the body affected by the most serious injuryor disease identified in Step 1 and allocate an appropriate code fromthe Bodily Location of Injury/Disease Classification.15. The bodily location of injury/disease classification is intended to identify the part of thebody affected by the injury or disease. For certain types of diseases, the bodilylocation is necessary to provide more precise information on the nature of the disease- for example, most types of cancer can only be precisely identified through acombination of the nature and bodily location codes.16. The bodily location injury/disease code should only be allocated to the part ofthe body affected by the most serious injury or disease. Parts of the bodyaffected by other injuries or diseases should be ignored for coding purposes.17. The classification includes an alphabetical index that lists many of the technical andcommon usage terms that will be encountered for most of the bodily locationsdescribed. As for the nature of injury/disease classification, the alphabeticalindex should be the first point of reference where there is some doubt aboutthe code or area of the classification that is relevant. Coders will find thealphabetical index of most use when searching for a code for body parts described intechnical anatomical terms.MORE THAN ONE PART OF THE BODY18. Generally the description of bodily location will state only one body part that wasaffected and coding should be relatively straightforward. Where more than one partof the body can be coded to the most serious injury or disease, the appropriatemultiple bodily location code should be allocated. This principle is different to thenature of injury/disease classification, where the multiple injuries code is only used asa last resort. Rule 5 applies to cases involving multiple locations.Rule 5If more than one specific part of the body can be coded tothe most serious injury or disease, the appropriatemultiple location code should be allocated.AMPUTATIONS19. Care needs to be taken with the coding of bodily location where the most seriousinjury is an amputation. Rule 6 applies to cases involving amputations.Rule 6Amputations are to be coded to the site of amputation, notto the parts of the body amputated.Exceptions are: ears, eyes, nose, fingers and toes, whichshould be coded to the part lost.8 National Occupational Health and Safety Commission