Critical injuries

Some injuries are serious enough for a worker to be taken straight to the hospital for treatment. If an injury is severe, it will likely need immediate hospitalisation.

Depending on the injury, a worker could be in hospital for a long time and/or need a number of surgeries or treatments.

These types of injuries can include but aren’t limited to:

• crush injuries that involve multiple broken bones and damage to internal organs
• spinal cord injuries
• traumatic brain injuries
• full thickness burns
• inhalation burns that cause permanent respiratory damage
• blindness
• loss of a limb.

Injuries like these are often complex and life changing. Experiencing any work-related injury can be challenging, however injuries this serious can be especially difficult for a worker and their family.

An insurer will work closely with a worker who has experienced life-changing injuries and with their family, with the aim of helping a worker return to independent living.

This includes working together with employers and medical or allied health professionals to ensure successful rehabilitation and early and safe return to work.

An insurer may work in partnership with the National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ) to manage a claim for a serious work-related personal injury. Insurer’s have an obligation to refer a worker to NIISQ if they meet or are likely to meet the eligibility criteria.

Employer’s have an obligation to notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland critical or serious injury happens at work.