Rehabilitation
What is it?
Workplace rehabilitation assists the injured worker to get back to work and is an important step in recovering from a work-related injury. It helps the injured worker to return to a normal life, often reducing the financial and emotional impact on them and their family.
Research tells us that an early return to work and activity helps prevent long-term disability and improves the likelihood of the person continuing to work once they have returned.
What is included?
Rehabilitation requires a team effort to assist the injured worker.
We work with the injured worker, employers, ACC, physiotherapists and doctors to ensure a safe and effective return to work for employees through the following:
- Work with the injured person to achieve a good outcome
- Work with the employer to develop and implement a robust rehabilitation plan from time of injury to full recovery
- Liaise and work with ACC, physiotherapists and doctors
Worker benefits:
As a worker, your participation and commitment to rehabilitation means:
- A quick and safe return to work
- Less disruption to family, work and social life
- Improved employment and financial security
- Less time spent recovering from your injury
- Reduced level of impairment
Employer benefits:
There are benefits for early return to work for employers too; employer participation in rehabilitation can:
- Reduce disruption impacting productivity
- Improve staff morale and workplace industrial relations
- Help a worker return to the workplace
- Minimise retraining expenses
- Reduce claim costs and impact on premium
- Reduce staff turnover
Who is it for?
It is applicable to but not limited to the following industries:
- Manufacturing & Processing
- Building & Construction Industry
- Engineering
- Horticulture Industry
- Transportation and Logistics
- Roading
- Waste Services
- Water/Sewage Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Keeping employees at work will depend on the injury sustained and the body parts affected. For example if someone who usually stands on their feet during their working day sustained
an ankle injury could be doing other tasks sitting down (elevating their leg if required) instead. Not every injury requires people to be off work. For work related injuries, you can accompany the injured worker to the doctor and provide written documentation about the light duties available. This helps the doctor decide if the injured person can stay at work while recovering.
It is a good idea to prepare a list of light duties/tasks specific to your business. Ideally involve your staff when preparing the list as they know the job tasks well and may offer other ideas.
It is all about employee participation and most importantly to get staff buy in. Having an
employee doing light duties provides an opportunity to complete any outstanding training requirements they may have or for them to assist a coworker who is new to the business/
area who would benefit from being observed and learning from an experienced collegue.
Research shows getting an injured person back to work as soon as possible will assist their recovery and is better for their health and wellbeing. Work provides the individual with structure and routine, a sense of purpose and social connection with their colleagues. In instances where someone experiences a work-related injury, it does not only help the individual but their teammates, influencing staff morale and productivity.