National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics...national data set for compensation-based statistics was developed. Following a series of consultative meetings, the National Data

National Data Set for Compensation-based

Statistics

Second Edition

May 1999

National Occupational Health and Safety Commission Sydney

Commonwealth of Australia 1999 ISBN 0-642-39963-8 First Edition 1987 Second Edition 1999 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth available from AusInfo. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Legislative Services, AusInfo, GPO Box 1920, Canberra, ACT 2601. National Occupational Health and Safety Commission GPO Box 58 Sydney NSW 2001 Telephone: (02) 9577 9555 Facsimile: (02) 9577 9202 Internet: http://www.worksafe.gov.au

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Foreword The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) is a tripartite body established by the Commonwealth Government to lead and coordinate national efforts to prevent or reduce the incidence and severity of occupational injury and disease by providing healthy and safe working environments. In seeking to improve Australia’s occupational health and safety (OHS) performance, NOHSC works to:

• support and add value to efforts in the jurisdictions to tailor approaches to prevention improvement;

• facilitate, through strategic alliances, the development and implementation of better approaches to achieving improved prevention outcomes; and

• integrate the needs of small business into its work.

NOHSC’s priorities, as endorsed by the Labour Ministers’ Council (LMC) at its meeting on 27 November 1998, are:

• providing comprehensive and accurate national data, particularly to support LMC’s comparative performance monitoring;

• facilitating and coordinating research efforts;

• developing and updating a nationally consistent standards framework (subject to LMC agreement);

• coordinating and disseminating information including industry specific practical guidance material; and

• developing a National OHS Improvement Framework.

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Contents

Foreword iii Introduction vii 1. OBJECTIVES AND USES OF THE NATIONAL DATA SET 1

Analysis and dissemination 2. CONCEPTS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING DATA 3

Scope; unit of enumeration; status of the claim; period of enumeration; basis of recording; date of extraction; updating of cases; definitions of occupational injury and disease

3. NATIONAL DATA SET INCLUSIONS 5

Summary of inclusions; detailed data items 4. NATIONAL DATA SET DATA SPECIFICATIONS FOR UNIT RECORD FILE 25

Summary of NDS data items and specifications APPENDICES A. National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics Review Working Group 27

(NDSRWG) Members B. Summary of Changes between the First Edition of the National Data Set for 28

Compensation-based Statistics (NDS) April 1987 and the Second Edition, May 1999

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Introduction From its establishment, the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) has been concerned to ensure relevant, timely and comparable national statistics on occupational health and safety (OHS) are available. Therefore, in 1986 NOHSC undertook an investigation of potential data sources. Following this investigation it was determined that State and Territory workers’ compensation systems offered the best data source for facilitating improvements in OHS in terms of scope and coverage considerations, ease of collection and cost. Since workers’ compensation has always been the responsibility of the States and Territories, claims legislation was not consistent across Australia and, therefore, the resultant statistics were not collected in a comparable way. To overcome this lack of uniformity in data collection, a national data set for compensation-based statistics was developed. Following a series of consultative meetings, the National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics (NDS) was endorsed by NOHSC in 1987. This original NDS listed a standard set of data items, concepts and definitions for inclusion in workers’ compensation systems operating in Australia. Its primary purpose was to enable the production of national and nationally-comparable workers’ compensation-based data. Since its release, the NDS has been implemented in workers’ compensation-based collections administered by State, Territory and Commonwealth agencies. A review of the NDS had been planned to be undertaken by NOHSC five years after implementation in the various jurisdictions. This was to enable data items, concepts and definitions to be adjusted to take account of difficulties and ambiguities revealed once the system was in place and to reflect changes in the types of uses made of the data. The Industry Commission, in its inquiries into workers’ compensation and OHS in Australia in the mid 1990s, had also identified a review as being of high priority. The review was deferred to ensure it encompassed the OHS data needs emerging from the Comparative Performance Monitoring project of the Labour Ministers’ Council for which workers’ compensation-based statistics are currently the major component. These data needs became clearer in 1998 and the review incorporated these. This second edition of the NDS represents the outcome of the review and the changes to the parameters of the original NDS, the results of which are expected to be incorporated in jurisdictions’ systems from 1 July 2000. It is intended that the NDS parameters be reviewed more regularly in the future to ensure they remain relevant while also maintaining data comparability over time. Throughout the review of the NDS, NOHSC received considerable co-operation from all government, union, industry and expert representatives approached for assistance. NOHSC wishes to express its appreciation to all of these bodies for their valuable contribution to the development of this report.

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1. Objectives and Uses of the National Data Set 1.1 The overall objective of the NDS is to assist in the prevention of occupational injury and

disease by the production of uniform national and nationally comparable indicators of occupational health and safety performance and experience.

ANALYSIS 1.2 The national data will be analysed in a variety of ways by a number of different users.

Some of the more important types of analysis are:

• calculation of measurement rates; • jurisdictional comparisons; • time series analysis; • industry and occupational analysis; and • analysis of causal factors.

Calculation of Measurement Rates 1.3 The value of the NDS is enhanced by the availability of suitable denominator data to

enable the production of incidence and frequency rates. The incidence rate is the number of injuries per thousand workers at risk; the frequency rate is the number of injuries per million hours worked. These rates enable more precise analysis of NDS data by removing the effect of fluctuating and differing employment levels. This is particularly the case for time series analysis and jurisdictional comparisons.

1.4 The ABS has developed labour force denominator data suitable for use in calculating rates

using NDS-based data. The methodology used to estimate the labour force denominators is regularly reviewed by the ABS to take account of the impact of changing working arrangements (for example, contracting out) on the denominator data.

Jurisdictional Comparisons 1.5 The calculation of measurement rates for State and Territory jurisdictions enables

comparisons of OHS performance between the jurisdictions. The data are used as high level indicators of OHS performance for the purposes of comparative performance monitoring.

Time Series Analysis 1.6 Time series analysis will be used mainly to monitor the occupational health and safety

experience of individual groups. A time series analysis of the rates for a particular group can help in the evaluation of the success or otherwise of specific occupational health and safety strategies.

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Industry and Occupational Analysis 1.7 An analysis of industry and occupation data enables:

• identification of high-risk (and emerging high-risk) groups; and • jurisdictions and employers to compare their performance.

Analysis of Causal Factors 1.8 Analysis of the type of occurrence data items, that is, nature of injury/disease, bodily

location of injury/disease, mechanism of injury/disease, and agency helps in the identification of the nature and causes of the problem, enabling research, resources and risk reduction strategies to be better targeted.

DISSEMINATION 1.9 NOHSC will disseminate the NDS data through:

• hard copy publications; • information placed on the NOHSC Website; • an interactive database available on the NOHSC Website; and • contribution to the Comparative Performance Monitoring project.

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2. Concepts and Methods for Collecting Data SCOPE 2.1 In this second edition of the NDS the scope has been determined as all new cases (that is,

all new ACCEPTED workers’ compensation claims made by or for a worker in relation to a single initial claim) reported in the reference year which involved the following:

2.1.1 a death or permanent incapacity (whether or not payments have already been

made); or 2.1.2 a temporary incapacity for which payments were made (including common law

payments) other than those cases where payments made related only to medical and like services (that is, payments for goods and services - see list at Items E3b and E3c [not including Damages and Common Law] on page 23).

2.2 Note that in relation to cases involving payments (as defined in 2.1.2 above), information

should be collected if payment was made by any party (for example, employer, insurer, Workcover Authority) and for which the relevant workers’ compensation authority received a report.

UNIT OF ENUMERATION 2.3 The statistical unit of enumeration is the case as defined at 2.1 above. STATUS OF THE CLAIM 2.4 Cases where liability has been accepted as at 31 December (that is, six months after the

end of the reference year - see Section 2.7) are to be included. Cases which are pending, in dispute, withdrawn, or rejected should be excluded.

PERIOD OF ENUMERATION 2.5 The period of enumeration for the collection is the year ending 30 June (that is, the

reference year). BASIS OF RECORDING 2.6 The basis of recording is all new cases with a date of lodgement with the insurer

(including self-insurers) in the reference year.

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DATE OF EXTRACTION 2.7 Jurisdictions are to extract data from their claims database as at 31 December (that is, six

months after the end of the reference year) with the status of the claims as accepted and in scope of the NDS as at 31 December.

2.8 Jurisdictions are to supply the unit record file to NOHSC by 31 March in the next

calendar year. UPDATING OF CASES 2.9 Cases should be updated for all new NDS data. It is expected that this may involve

changes to nature of injury/disease, bodily location of injury/disease, mechanism of injury/disease, time lost and compensation paid data. Cases reopened within five years of the original claim would need to be linked to the original case so that updating could occur.

2.10 Jurisdictions are to supply unit record files containing updated NDS data for the five years

prior to the reference year to NOHSC at the same time as the reference year unit record files are supplied.

DEFINITIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURY AND DISEASE 2.11 Occupational Injuries are defined as all employment-related injuries which are the result

of a single traumatic event occurring while a person is on duty or during a recess period and where there was a short or non-existent latency period. This includes injuries which are the result of a single exposure to an agent(s) causing an acute toxic effect.

2.12 Occupational Diseases are defined as all employment-related diseases which result from

repeated or long-term exposure to an agent(s) or event(s) or which are the result of a single traumatic event where there was a long latency period (for example, the development of hepatitis following a single exposure to the infection).

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3. National Data Set Inclusions SUMMARY OF INCLUSIONS 3.1 Data items included in the second edition of the NDS are listed below. A. Employer Description Data Items A1 Industry of Employer

A2 Size of Employer B. Personal Characteristics of Employee B1 Date of Birth

B2 Sex C. Job Characteristics of Employee C1 Occupation

C2 Duty Status C3 Number of Hours Usually Worked Each Week

D. Occurrence Details D1 Date of Occurrence/Report

D2 Date of Lodgement of Claim D3 Nature of Injury/Disease D4 Bodily Location of Injury/Disease D5 Mechanism of Injury/Disease D6 Agency of Injury/Disease D7 Breakdown Agency

E. Outcome of Incident

E1 Time Lost E2 Severity Indicator E3 Payments Made

E3a Compensation Payments E3b Payments for Services/Goods E3c Non-compensation Payments

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DETAILED DATA ITEMS A. EMPLOYER DESCRIPTION DATA ITEMS Item A1 Industry of Employer

Description: Industry of employer relates to the main activity of the establishment at which the worker was employed at the time of reporting the occupational injury or disease. For incidents occurring away from the establishment it relates to the main activity of the establishment at which the worker was based.

Purpose: To enable between-industry and within-industry comparisons of

occupational injury/disease experience. Classification/ Coding: The establishment, at the time of reporting the employment injury, coded to

the four-digit level of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC, ABS Cat. no. 1292.0). Numeric format.

Length: 4 Position: 1-4 Comment: The ANZSIC Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry division codes have

a leading zero. For example, the ANZSIC industry class code for Plant Nurseries is 0111. The unit records of cases in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry division should include the leading zero in the Industry of Employer data item in order to correctly specify the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry division.

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A. EMPLOYER DESCRIPTION DATA ITEMS Item A2 Size of Employer

Description: The size of employer is the number of workers (with part-time workers to be counted as one worker and NOT converted to full-time equivalents) employed by the enterprise.

Purpose: To enable investigation of size of business factors on occupational

injury/disease experience. Classification/ Coding: The total number of workers employed by the enterprise. Numeric format. Comment: The total number of workers should be the total as at the time of reporting of

the injury/disease occurrence. However, if this information is not immediately available, jurisdictions may use other means to derive this figure. For example, the remuneration figure provided by the employer for the purpose of premium calculation could be divided by an average industry salary per employee to give a measure of the number of employees. (Average industry salary at the industry division level can be derived from average weekly earnings multiplied by 52, obtained from the ABS publication Average Weekly Earnings - ABS Cat. no. 6302.0 - using August average weekly earnings figures for all employees by ANSZIC industry division by state.)

The second edition of the NDS refers to employer size at the enterprise

rather than the establishment level which was recommended in the first edition.

Length: 6 Position: 5-10

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B. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS DATA ITEMS Item B1 Date of Birth

Description: The date of birth of the worker making the claim for an injury or disease. Purpose: To facilitate analysis of occupational injury/disease experience by age of

worker. Classification/ Coding: Date of Birth. Numeric format specified as DDMMYYYY. Comment: Age will be derived from the date of birth and the date of occurrence/report. Length: 8 Position: 11-18

Item B2 Sex

Description: The sex of the worker. Purpose: To facilitate analysis of occupational injury/disease experience by sex of

worker. Classification/ Coding: Alphanumeric format. To be recorded as male or female coded according to

the following classification: ‘M’ Male ‘F’ Female Length: 1 Position: 19

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C. JOB CHARACTERISTICS DATA ITEMS Item C1 Occupation

Description: The worker’s occupation at the time of the injury or reporting of the occupational disease.

Purpose: To enable between-occupation and within-occupation analysis of

occupational injury/disease experience. Classification/ Coding: Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, Second Edition (ASCO2,

ABS Cat. no. 1220.0) at the four-digit unit group level. Numeric format. Length: 4 Position: 20-23 Comment: The ASCO2 classification together with a windows-based, computer-assisted

coding system are available from the ABS on CD-ROM (ABS Cat. no. 1220.0.30.001). Occupation data should not be confused with activity at the time of the incident or report. The activity at that time may have been entirely unrelated to the worker’s occupation.

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C. JOB CHARACTERISTICS DATA ITEMS Item C2 Duty Status

Description: The worker’s duty status at the time of the injury or disease. Purpose: To enable separate analysis of injuries according to the level of control the

employer had over the working environment. Classification/ Coding: Numeric format. To be recorded using the following classification: 1 At work - working at normal workplace

2 At work - road traffic accident 3 At work - on break 4 Commuting / journey 5 Away from work during recess period 6 At work - working away from normal workplace

Length: 1 Position: 24 Comment: Occupational diseases of long latency should be coded to duty status ‘1’

unless sufficient information is available which will enable coding to either ‘1’ or ‘6’. For occupational diseases of short latency (for example, a needle stick injury leading to a hepatitis infection) the duty status at the time of the occurrence that lead to the disease should be coded.

The definitions for the Classification are:

At work: Is where the worker’s activity is under the control of the employer. That is, he/she is being paid but is not on an authorised break from work. ‘1’ At work - working at normal workplace: The injury or disease

occurred while the worker was working at their normal workplace or base of operations.

‘2’ At work - road traffic accident: The worker is at work and sustains

an injury or disease (short latency) that occurred as a result of an accident involving a motor vehicle, bicycle or other vehicle on a public road as defined under relevant motor accidents legislation. For example, a truck driver’s vehicle is involved in a road traffic accident while moving a load from one location to another on a public road. This code applies whether the case is a driver, passenger or pedestrian but does not apply to commuting or any other prescribed journey claims nor to accidents occurring where the worker is absent from the workplace during an authorised work break.

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C. JOB CHARACTERISTICS DATA ITEMS

‘3’ At work - on break: Refers to the paid or unpaid period within the

shift during which the worker has taken an authorised break from work and is still covered for compensation.

‘4’ Commuting/journey: Injury or disease (short latency) that occurred

while the worker is travelling directly between home and workplace or place of pick-up. This code may also apply to situations where the worker is travelling for work-related educational purposes or for treatment in relation to a compensable injury (legislation may vary across jurisdictions).

‘5’ Away from work during recess period: Injury or disease (short

latency) - including vehicle accidents - that occurred where the claimant has gone to work, but is temporarily absent from the workplace, during an ordinary recess or authorised absence.

‘6’ At work - working away from normal workplace: Injury or disease

that occurred while the worker is working at a location other then the worker’s normal workplace or base of operations.

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C. JOB CHARACTERISTICS DATA ITEMS Item C3 Number of Hours Usually Worked Each Week

Description: The number of hours and minutes usually worked each week by the injured worker.

Purpose: To enable separate analysis of injuries sustained by workers engaged in non-

standard employment arrangements. Classification/ Coding: The number of hours and minutes usually worked each week (including

overtime) by the injured worker up to a maximum of 90 hours. Format numeric specified as HHMM. If number of hours usually worked each week are reported in whole hours and parts thereof then the decimal place should be converted to minutes (for example, 37.5 hours equates to 37 hours and 30 minutes). If minutes are not known the MM columns should be zero filled.

Length: 4 Position: 25-28 Comment: Recording the number of hours and minutes usually worked each week will

enable: (i) the comparability of the data across jurisdictions to be increased through the application of a standard method for treatment of part-time workers; and (ii) analyses based on varying risk exposure thresholds to be undertaken. For example, the OHS experience of employees who work less than 35 hours each week (part-timers) could be examined.

Overtime - Overtime (defined as work undertaken which is outside, or in

addition to, ordinary working hours of the employee in their main job, whether paid or unpaid) which is usually worked each week should be included in the calculation of number of hours usually worked.

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D. OCCURRENCE DETAILS DATA ITEMS Item D1 Date of Occurrence/Report

Description: The date on which the injury occurred or the occupational disease was first reported to the employer.

Purpose: To enable provision of time series data and provide a basis of investigation

of any seasonal variation of occurrences. Classification/ Coding: Date of occurrence/report. Format numeric specified as DDMMYYYY. Length: 8 Position: 29-36

Item D2 Date of Lodgement of Claim

Description: The date on which a claim for compensation was made with the insurer. Purpose: To enable the identification of cases to be included in a year’s statistics. Classification/ Coding: Date of lodgement of claim. Format numeric specified as DDMMYYYY. Length: 8 Position: 37-44

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D. OCCURRENCE DETAILS DATA ITEMS Items D3-D8 Type of Occurrence Data Items The type of occurrence data items should be coded to the Type of Occurrence Classification System, First Edition (TOOCS1, NOHSC 1990) for the years 1997/1998, 1998/1999, and 1999/2000 and to the Type of Occurrence Classification System, Second Edition (TOOCS2, NOHSC, 1999) for the years 2000/2001 onwards. Item D3 Nature of Injury or Disease

Description: The nature of injury/disease is intended to identify the most serious injury or disease sustained or suffered by the worker. The injury or disease suffered is generally physical although the classification includes categories for mental illness.

Purpose: To enable the analysis of the distribution of types of injury or disease and to

relate specific types of injury or disease to the processes leading to them. Classification/ Coding: The nature of injury/disease classification given in TOOCS2 is to be used

from 1 July 2000. Format numeric. Length: 3 Position: 45-47 Comment: The classification should be used for coding both injuries and diseases.

The classification was developed as an aggregated version of the International Classification of Diseases (9th revision). The classification has been structured hierarchically and consists of eleven divisions (first digit level) which are divided into a number of codes at the two digit level. In order to provide a capacity to expand on the number of codes available, a third digit level has been incorporated.

The classification relies on sufficient detail being available to allow the allocation of appropriate codes. Where the description given on the report form is inadequate, coders should use any other information that is available, for example, medical certificates or other information given in the report, or, where possible, by directly querying the injured worker to determine the required information.

Nature of injury codes 010 to 090 can only be correctly specified by including the leading zero.

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D. OCCURRENCE DETAILS DATA ITEMS Item D4 Bodily Location of Injury or Disease

Description: The bodily location of injury/disease is intended to identify the part of the body affected by the most serious injury or disease.

Purpose: To enable analysis of employment injuries affecting specific bodily locations

to assist in the development of programs to counteract such injuries (for example, eye injuries via an eye protection program). To enable more detailed analysis of the nature of the employment injury.

Classification/ Coding: The bodily location of injury/disease classification given in TOOCS2 is to be

used from 1 July 2000. Format numeric. Length: 3 Position: 48-50 Comment: The classification has been structured hierarchically and consists of nine

divisions (first digit level) divided into several major groups (two digit level) which in turn consist of a number of sub-group codes (three digit level). The classification relies on sufficient detail being available to allow the allocation of appropriate codes. Where the description given on the report form is inadequate, coders should use any other information that is available, for example, medical certificates or other information given in the report, or, where possible, by directly querying the injured worker to determine the required information.

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D. OCCURRENCE DETAILS DATA ITEMS Item D5 Mechanism of Injury or Disease

Description: The mechanism of injury/disease is intended to identify the action, exposure or event which was the direct cause of the most serious injury or disease.

Purpose: To facilitate analysis of the circumstances and events leading to the

employment injury enabling the identification of hazardous work practices or environments and development of suitable prevention strategies.

Classification/ Coding: The mechanism of injury/disease classification given in TOOCS2 is to be

used from 1 July 2000. Format numeric. Length: 2 Position: 51-52 Comment: The classification consists of a summary classification and a detailed listing

that incorporates a comprehensive set of inclusions and exclusions for all of the codes. The classification has been structured hierarchically and consists of nine divisions (first digit level) which are divided into a number of groups (two digit level). The classification relies on sufficient detail being available to allow the allocation of appropriate codes. Where the description given on the report form is inadequate, coders should use any other information that is available, for example, other information given in the report, or, where possible, by directly querying the injured worker to determine the required information. The mechanism of injury/disease codes with a leading zero (for example, those for Falls, Trips and Slips of a Person) can only be correctly specified by including the leading zero in unit records.

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D. OCCURRENCE DETAILS DATA ITEMS Item D6 Agency of Injury or Disease

Description: The agency of injury/disease refers to the object, substance or circumstance directly involved in inflicting the most serious injury or disease.


employment injury enabling the identification of hazardous work practices or environments and, ultimately, the development of suitable prevention strategies.

Classification/ Coding: The agency classification given in TOOCS2 is to be used from 1 July

2000.

Length: 3

Position: 53-55 Comment: The classification consists of a summary classification and a detailed

listing. The classification has been structured hierarchically and consists of nine divisions (first digit level) divided into a number of major groups (two digit level) which in turn consist of a number of individual sub group codes (three digit level).

The classification relies on sufficient detail being available to allow the allocation of appropriate codes. Where the description given on the report form is inadequate, coders should use any other information that is available, for example, other information given in the report, or, where possible, by directly querying the injured worker to determine the required information. The agency classification given in TOOCS2 is also used to code data item D7 Breakdown Agency. The agency of injury/disease was not included in the first edition of the NDS. It is anticipated that it will be implemented by jurisdictions from 1 July 2000 onwards.

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D. OCCURRENCE DETAILS DATA ITEMS Item D7 Breakdown Agency

Description: The breakdown agency is intended to identify the object, substance or circumstance that was principally involved in, or most closely associated with, the point at which things started to go wrong and which ultimately led to the most serious injury or disease.


employment injury enabling the identification of hazardous work practices or environments and, ultimately, the development of suitable prevention strategies.

Classification/

Coding: The agency classification given in the TOOCS2 is to be used from 1 July 2000.

Length: 3 Position: 56-58

Comment: The classification consists of a summary classification and a detailed

listing. The classification has been structured hierarchically and consists of nine divisions (first digit level) divided into a number of major groups (two digit level) which in turn consist of a number of individual sub group codes (three digit level).

The classification relies on sufficient detail being available to allow the allocation of appropriate codes. Where the description given on the report form is inadequate, coders should use any other information that is available, for example, other information given in the report, or, where possible, by directly querying the injured worker to determine the required information. The agency classification given in TOOCS2 is also used to code data item D6 Agency of Injury or Disease.

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E. OUTCOME OF INCIDENT DATA ITEMS Item E1 Time Lost

Description: The number of hours and minutes lost for which compensation was paid by any party (for example, employer, insurer, Workcover Authority). This data item should be collected for all cases included in the scope outlined at paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 in Part 2 Concepts and Methods for Collecting Data on page 3.

Purpose: To provide an indication of the severity of injury/disease occurrences and to

enable data to be analysed on a more comparable basis. Classification/ Coding: The number of hours and minutes lost for which compensation was paid.

Format numeric, specified as HHHHHMM, right justified and zero filled. If number of hours lost are reported in whole hours and parts thereof then the decimal place should be converted to minutes (for example, 37.5 hours equates to 37 hours and 30 minutes). If minutes are not known the MM columns should be zero filled.

Length: 7 Position: 59-65 Comment: Collection of the number of hours and minutes lost for which compensation

was paid will enable NDS-based data to be presented on a more comparable basis across jurisdictions. In combination with data item C3 number of hours usually worked each week, part-time, casual and other non-standard employment arrangements will be able to be accounted for in the collection.

Cases not finalised at the end of the reporting period will NOT require an

estimate of future time lost to be included. However, time lost should be updated each year until the case is finalised.

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E. OUTCOME OF INCIDENT DATA ITEMS Item E2 Severity Indicator

Description: The severity indicator categorises cases as either fatal, total or partial permanent incapacity (as defined by jurisdictions), or temporary incapacity.

Purpose: To provide indicators of the severity of work-related injury and disease. Classification/ Coding: Format numeric. To be coded according to the following classification:

1 Fatal 2 Total or partial permanent incapacity 3 Temporary incapacity

Length: 1 Position: 66 Comment: The severity indicator differs from the one which was included in the first

edition of the NDS in that category ‘2’ no longer includes cases where the duration of absence was greater than or equal to 60 days.

Collection of the number of hours time lost for which compensation was

paid will enable flexibility in the classification of the severity of cases.

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E. OUTCOME OF INCIDENT DATA ITEMS Data Items E3a, E3b, E3c Payments Made

Definition: All payments made in respect of the injury or disease. This includes payments below any non-compensable payments thresholds operated by workers’ compensation authorities.

Purpose: To provide an indicator of the economic cost of employment injuries and

provide a basis for evaluation of planned preventive strategies. Classification/ Coding: To be collected in whole dollars. Format numeric, right justified, zero filled. Comment: Cases not finalised at the end of the reporting period will NOT require an

estimate of future payments to be included. However, payments should be updated each year until the case is finalised.

Payments, as they are individually recorded by workers’ compensation

authorities, are to be reported for NDS purposes as:

compensation or sustenance payments to worker or worker’s family; payments (mainly to others) for goods and services provided to or

on behalf of the injured worker; and non-compensation payments.

The following is a list of the types of payments classified to these three categories.

Item E3a Compensation or sustenance payments to worker or worker’s family This category includes payments for: • Death • Lump sums for permanent injury • Lump sums for pain and suffering • Lump sums for redemption • Partially incapacitated compensated as fully incapacitated • Weekly payments for total incapacity • Weekly payments for partial incapacity Length: 8 Position: 67-74

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E. OUTCOME OF INCIDENT DATA ITEMS

Item E3b Payments for goods and services This category includes payments for: • Ambulance services • Accommodation expenses • Attendance by a nurse • Funeral expenses • Medical treatment • Hospital treatment • Rehabilitation services • Physiotherapy services • Chiropractic services • Damaged artificial limbs etc • Damaged clothing Length: 8 Position: 75-82

Item E3c Non-compensation payments This category includes payments for: • Transport and maintenance • Damages and common law • Investigation expenses • Interpreter services • Legal costs Length: 8 Position: 83-90 The following exclusions apply: Accounting item only (unit record data obtained from primary record) • Shared claim payments Receipt items (not payments) • Recoveries for any purpose

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4. National Data Set Data Specifications for Unit Record File

1. Medium NOHSC uses DOS/Windows compatible software and PC hardware for analysis of compensation-based statistics and requires that data from each jurisdiction be provided as an ASCII file that can be loaded directly onto their equipment from either of the following media:

• 1.4 Mb 3.5” diskettes; or • internet email (an appropriate address will be provided on request).

Compression software should be used when necessary, for example, WINZIP or PKZIP. 2. Content The data will contain details in respect of all new cases reported in the reference year for which payments were made other than those cases where payments made related only to medical and like services. This would include information on all work-related injury/disease occurrences for which some payment was made by any party (for example, employer, insurer, Workcover Authority) in respect of:

• death; • total or partial permanent incapacity; or • time lost due to temporary incapacity.

The information collected in respect of each of these should include:

• number of hours time lost for which compensation was paid ; and • number of hours usually worked each week.

The content of each data item will be as defined in this document. Any data item that is not being supplied for any claim must be left blank for that field, alphanumeric or numeric. Each year’s data is to be accompanied by control totals of the number of claims recorded for the year, the total time lost in hours, the total of all the numbers included in the nature of injury/disease field, and a grand total of all the payments made for the year. These totals will be reconciled on the receipt of the data by NOHSC to ensure that all claims have been read correctly. 3. Format

• The data are to be provided in fixed length fields; and • all numeric fields are to be right justified and zero filled.

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4. Summary of NDS Data Items NDS second edition unit record files (URFs) supplied to NOHSC will need to be backward compatible with NOHSC’s existing database system. The NDS data items are listed below together with the length of the data item, the position the data item should occupy in a record, and the classification to be used (where applicable).

Data Item Position Length Format Classification A. Employer Description Data Items A1 Industry of Employer 1-4 4 Numeric ANZSIC (ABS Cat. no. 1292.0) A2 Size of Employer 5-10 6 Numeric Total number of workers employed by

the enterprise B. Personal Characteristics B1 Date of Birth 11-18 8 Numeric DDMMYYYY B2 Sex 19 1 Alphanumeric Character ; ‘M’ or ‘F’ C. Job Characteristics C1 Occupation 20-23 4 Numeric ASCO Second Edition (ABS Cat.

no.1220.0) C2 Duty Status 24 1 Numeric 1. At work, working at normal work-

place 2. At work, road traffic accident 3. At work, on break 4. Commuting/journey 5. Away from work during recess period 6. At work, working away from normal workplace

C3 Number of Hours Usually Worked Each Week

25-28 4 Numeric HHMM

D. Occurrence Details D1 Date of Occurrence 29-36 8 Numeric DDMMYYYY D2 Date of Lodgement of Claim

37-44 8 Numeric DDMMYYYY

D3 Nature of Injury/ Disease

45-47 3 Numeric TOOCS Second Edition (from July 2000)

D4 Bodily Location of Injury/Disease


D5 Mechanism of Injury/ Disease


D6 Agency of Injury/ Disease


D7 Breakdown Agency 56-58 3 Numeric TOOCS Second Edition (from July 2000)

E. Outcome of Incident E1 Time Lost 59-65 7 Numeric HHHHHMM E2 Severity Indicator 66 1 Numeric 1. Fatal

2. Permanent incapacity 3. Temporary incapacity

E3a Compensation Payments

67-74 8 Numeric Whole dollars only

E3b Payments for Goods/ Services


E3c Non-compensation Payments


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Appendix A NATIONAL DATA SET FOR COMPENSATION-BASED STATISTICS REVIEW WORKING GROUP (NDSRWG) MEMBERS Mr Tim Williams, Chairperson, Manager, Statistics Unit, National Occupational Health & Safety Commission. Ms Ros Burke, Manager, Health & Safety Systems, Telstra Corporation Ltd. Ms Sriyani Dias, Acting Manager, Statistics Branch, New South Wales Workcover Authority. Mr Phil Dunkley, Manager, Business Information Unit, Comcare Australia. Ms Louisa Bowes, Research Officer, OHS Services, South Australian Workcover. Ms Julie Evans, Assistant Director, Labour Statistics Analysis Unit, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Mr Robert Gotts, Manager, Legislation and Research, ACT Workcover. Mr Mark Jones, Business Analyst, Strategic Information, Victorian Workcover Authority. Mr Neale Kucks, Team Leader, Administrative Statistics, Qstats, Office of Economics & Statistical Research, Queensland. Ms Myrna McHugh, Senior Statistician, Workplace Standards, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Tasmania. Mr Ridge Meredith, Manager, Workers’ Compensation, Insurance Council of Australia Ltd. Mr Peter Moylan, OHS Coordinator, Australian Council of Trade Unions. Ms Sue Nixon, Acting Manager, Education and Promotions, Northern Territory Work Health Authority. Mr Vic O'Driscoll, Consultant, Injury Prevention & Management, Human Resources Group, Australia Post. Ms Camille Ryan, SEACARE, Australian Shipowners Association. Ms Peta Scott, Assistant Director, OHS Policy, Department of Defence. Mr David Shaw, OHS Advisor, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Mr Chris White, Director of Information, WorkSafe Western Australia. Secretariat Mr Brad Cole, Secretary, Senior Project Officer, Statistics Unit, National Occupational Health & Safety Commission.

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Appendix B

SUMMARY OF CHANGES BETWEEN THE FIRST EDITION OF THE NATIONAL DATA SET FOR COMPENSATION- BASED STATISTICS (NDS) APRIL 1987 AND THE SECOND EDITION, MAY 1999

Concept/Data Item Original NDS Second Edition of NDS Scope All new workers’ compensation cases reported which resulted in

a fatality, permanent disability or a temporary disability resulting in an absence from work of one week (5 working days) or more.

All new workers’ compensation cases reported in the reference year for which payments were made other than those cases where payments made related only to medical and like services. Information should be collected in respect of all work-related injury/disease occurrences for which some payment was made by any party (for example, employer, insurer, Workcover Authority) in respect of (i) death (ii) total or partial permanent incapacity, or (iii) time lost due to temporary incapacity. The information collected in respect of each of these should include: a) number of hours time lost for which compensation was paid, which

could be zero for (i) and (ii); and b) number of hours usually worked each week.

Unit of Enumeration Cases which are rejected to be excluded. The statistical unit of enumeration is the case which comprises all workers’ compensation claims made by or for a worker in relation to a single initial claim.

Status of the Claim Cases which are rejected to be excluded. Cases which are pending, in dispute, withdrawn or rejected to be excluded.

Period of Enumeration The period of enumeration for the collection is the year ending 30 June (that is, the reference year).

Remains the same.

Basis of Recording The basis of recording is all new cases with a date of lodgement with the insurer (including self-insurers) in the reference year.

Remains the same.

Date of Extraction Not included. Jurisdictions are to extract data from their claims database as at 31 December (that is 6 months after the end of the reference year) with the status of the claims as accepted and in scope of the NDS as at 31 December. Jurisdictions are to supply the unit record file to NOHSC by 31 March in the next calendar year.

Updating of Cases Jurisdictions are to supply unit record files containing updated NDS data for the 5 years prior to the reference year to NOHSC at the same time as the reference year unit record files are supplied.

Remains the same.

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Employer Description Industry of Employer The main activity of the establishment at which the worker was

employed at the time of reporting the occupational injury or disease. For incidents occurring away from the establishment it relates to the main activity of the establishment at which the worker was based.

Remains the same.

Size of Employer The number of workers covered by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance who were employed or based at the establishment at the time of reporting of the employment injury.

The size of employer is the number of workers employed by the enterprise. Can be collected from claim form or other means for example, calculated using enterprise remuneration (reported by employer for premium setting purposes) and average salary for that industry.

Employer Location The location of the establishment at which the worker was employed or based at the time of reporting the employment injury.

Not included.

Basis of Employment Full or Part-time Employment

Full-time workers are those who usually work the award or agreed hours for their occupation or profession. If no award or agreement exists, then full-time workers are those who usually work thirty-five hours or more each week.

Not included. New data item on hours worked per week.

Employment Status The employment status of the worker at the time of occupational injury or reporting of the occupational disease.

Not included.

Personal Characteristics Date of Birth The date of birth of the worker making the claim for an injury or

disease. Remains the same.

Sex The sex of the worker. Remains the same. Country of Birth* Country of birth of injured worker. Not included. Language Spoken at Home*

Language spoken at home by injured worker. Not included.

Job Characteristics Occupation The worker's occupation at the time of the injury or reporting of

the occupational disease. Remains the same.

Duty Status The worker's duty status at the time of the injury. Not applicable for occupational diseases.

Classification has been expanded to include working away from normal workplace.

Number of Hours Usually Worked Each Week

Not included. The number of hours and minutes usually worked each week by the injured worker.

Occurrence Details Narrative A description of the process leading to the employment injury. Not included. Time of Occurrence The time when the occupational injury occurred. Not applicable

for occupational diseases. Not included.

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* included subsequent to release of the first edition of the NDS (1987).

Date of Occurrence/ Report

The date on which the injury occurred or the occupational disease was first reported to the employer.

Remains the same.

Date of Lodgement of Claim

The date on which a claim for compensation was made with the insurer.

Remains the same.

Nature of Injury/Disease The most serious injury or disease reported by the worker. Classification revised.Bodily Location of Injury/ Disease

The bodily location of the most serious original injury or part of the body affected by disease.

Classification revised.

Mechanism of Injury/ Disease*

The action, exposure or event which was the direct cause of the most serious injury or disease.


Agency of Injury/Disease Not included. The object, substance or circumstance directly involved in inflicting the most serious injury or disease.

Breakdown Agency* The object, substance or circumstance that was principally involved in, or most closely associated with, the point at which things started to go wrong and which ultimately led to the most serious injury or disease.


Outcome of Incident Time Lost Included as “Duration of Absence”. Number of hours and minutes lost for which compensation was paid. Severity Indicator* To provide a measure of the severity of the occurrence. Classification revised. Compensation Payments* All compensation payments made in respect of the injury/disease.

This includes payments below any non-compensable payments thresholds operated by workers’ compensation authorities. Estimates of future liability are to be included in the calculation of payments.

Remains the same except that estimates of future liability are not to be included in the data supplied.

Payments for Goods/ Services*

As for Compensation Payments above only relating to Payments for Goods/Services.


Non-compensation Payments*

As for Compensation Payments above only relating to Non-compensation Payments.


Duration of Absence The duration of absence from work which is a result of a compensable employment injury recorded in working days time lost.

Included as “Time Lost” recorded in number of hours and minutes lost for which compensation was paid.

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* included subsequent to release of the first edition of the NDS (1987).

Documents

National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics...national data set for compensation-based statistics was developed. Following a series of consultative meetings, the National Data