THE SILENT REVIEW_SPRING EDITION 2021_WEB

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COVID-19 AND WORKERS COMPENSATION ENTITLEMENTS by Michael Hyland To date forty-eight members of the Flight Attendant’s Association of Australia have submitted workers compensation claims for Covid-19 infection. The majority of the members who were employed by Qantas were Sydney based. Qantas accepted liability for the claims. Thereafter the members were paid weekly compensation for certified periods of total or partial incapacity for work and injury treatment expenses were paid on their behalf. Most of the relevant members were infected with Covid-19 during the first wave of the virus. Early symptoms of the disease differed on a case to case basis. Commonly reported symptoms included but were not limited to a loss of taste and smell, rapidly increasing levels of fatigue and myalgia, shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent headaches and flu-like symptoms. The inherent Covid-19 high risk contagion environment of the cabin of a commercial aircraft crystallised for the cabin crew of QF28 operating from Santiago to Sydney on 27 March 2020. Of the fourteen crew, eight were infected with Covid-19. The vagaries of Covid-19 were chillingly illustrated by its impact on two of the infected QF28 crew, referred to hereafter as FA1 and FA2. FA1 began suffering from respiratory symptoms, including a cough and fever, during the flight from Santiago to Sydney. Following arrival into Sydney, FA1 undertook a Covid test which was reported as positive. On NSW Health Department directions FA1 self-isolated at home. His respiratory symptoms gradually improved over a 10-12 day period. However, in mid-April 2020 FA1’S condition rapidly deteriorated and he developed acute urinary retention requiring home attendance by paramedics for insertion of a catheter. Within 24 hours FA1 developed disturbing neurological symptoms including increasingly poor balance and difficulty walking. An ambulance was again called and FA1 was conveyed to a public hospital. Emergency Department investigations, including an MRI scan, established that FA1 was suffering from post-infectious transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord. As a result of the diagnosis, FA1 was hospitalised for 11 days. Following his discharge, FA1 was required to use a walking stick for 5-6 weeks. Although it is now 18 months since FA1 was Covid 19 infected, he continues to suffer balance problems and his long term prognosis remains uncertain. FA2 began to suffer symptoms of fatigue and body aches on 2 April 2020. The severity and range of symptoms suffered dramatically escalated within a 24-hour period. On 5 April 2020, test results established that FA1 was Covid- 19 infected. On NSW Department of Health directions, FA2 was required to isolate at her residence with her husband and two children. In the early stages of her isolation FA2 began suffering from high levels of stress and anxiety due to the Covid-19 infection risk she posed to her children and husband. The basis for FA2’s stress and anxiety was the life-threatening risk to her children and husband if they contracted Covid-19. Both children were asthmatics and FA2’s husband also suffered from an underlying health condition. 6 SPRING EDITION 2021
COMPENSATION LAWYERS 1800 455 725 NO WIN - NO FEE * lhd.com.au PLEASE CONSIDER US FOR ALL YOUR COMPENSATION LEGAL NEEDS INCLUDING: WORKERS COMPENSATION | MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT | SLIP AND FALL MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE | SUPERANNUATION | CONTESTING WILLS OTHER SERVICES: WILLS & ESTATES | CONVEYANCING | EMPLOYMENT LAW | FAMILY LAW SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | BRISBANE | PERTH | HOBART *EXCLUDES DEFENDANT COSTS SPRING EDITION 2021 7
Page 1 and 2: SPRING EDITION 2021 THE SILENT REVI
Page 3 and 4: EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to the 2021
Page 5: ele works” se and informatio paym
Page 9 and 10: The worker travelled to New York fo
Page 11 and 12: QANTAX Public Accountants & Taxatio
Page 13 and 14: Income Protection Looking for peace
Page 15 and 16: SPRING EDITION 2021 15
Page 17 and 18: Neale Murphy, John Hill and the Tea
Page 21 and 22: incorporated by reference in the ag
Page 23 and 24: We’re a not-for-profit health fun
Page 25 and 26: Qantas Cabin Crew Reunion Event 202
Page 29 and 30: CGR ELECTRICAL FULLY LICENSED RELIA
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THE SILENT REVIEW_SPRING EDITION 2021_WEB

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