regulation  subordinate legislation passed by parliament to amplify or make explicit the requirements of an Act.

repetitive strain injury (RSI)  refers to musculoskeletal disorders primarily affecting the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders. Also known as occupational overuse syndrome (OOS).

return to work  the process of restoring an injured worker to the fullest physical, psychological, social, vocational and economic function of which they are capable.

return-to-work assessment  process by which the return-to-work requirements of an injured worker are established.

return-to-work coordinator  an individual, appointed by the employer, who has responsibility for the practical implementation of the company’s return-to-work policy and procedures.

return-to-work plan  a statement of goals and objectives (and services required to achieve them) for an injured/diseased worker undergoing rehabilitation.

return-to-work program  a document adopted by an employer that outlines the company’s commitment to the return-to-work process.

return-to-work procedures  the elements adopted by a company to carry out the practical aspects of the return to work of workers.

return-to-work process  the implementation of all sections of a return-to-work plan to its successful conclusion, ie. the achievement of the goals and objectives set in the plan.

return-to-work provider  an organisation, accredited by WorkCover, that consists of a team of professionals whose expertise enables it to provide a wide range of return-to-work services.

return-to-work services  the use of persons with special skills and expertise to carry out return-to-work procedures on individuals suffering an occupational injury or disease, eg. return-to-work counsellors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, etc.

risk  the chance of the hazard actually causing an injury or disease. It can be measured in terms of consequences and likelihood. For more information, see Risk Management at Work, Code of Practice: Risk Assessment, OHS Regulation 2001 and AS 4360 Risk Management.

risk assessment  judgement as to the likelihood of an agent producing harm to persons under the circumstances of its use.

risk control  process used after conducting a risk assessment to identify all practicable measures for removing or reducing the likelihood of injury, to implement these measures and review them to ensure their effectiveness.

risk management  the process of recognizing situations that have the potential to cause harm to people or property, and the act of doing something to prevent the hazardous situation occurring or the person being harmed. For more information, see Risk Management at Work, Code of Practice: Risk Assessment and the OHS Regulation 2001.

roll-over protective structures (ROPs)  frames and similar structures fitted to tractors to help protect the driver during a roll-over accident.

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safety  freedom from the danger of injury.

safe work method statement (SWMS)  a statement which describes how work is to be carried out. It identifies the work activities assessed as having a safety risk and outlines the safety risks. It also describes the control measures that will be applied to the work activities. The SWMS includes a description of the equipment used in the work, the standards or codes to be complied with, the qualifications of the personnel and training required to do the work. For more information, see Chapter 8 of the OHS Regulation 2001 and the Subby Pack.

significant injury  an injury that prevents a worker from doing their job continuously for seven or more calendar days.

statute law/legislation/Act  law passed by an Act of Parliament.

strain  injury resulting from excessive force or overuse; usually refers to muscles and tendons.

stress  individual's response, both physical and mental, to challenging situations.

stressors  psychosocial agents in the environment, to which the individual is exposed.

substitution  replacing the plant or substance with another with a lower level of risk.

suitable duties  work duties provided for an injured worker who is temporarily unable to perform their normal duties.

supplier  a person who supplies a product for sale or exchange that is for use at a workplace.

tennis elbow   inflammation (usually resulting from an overuse injury) to the muscle attachment on the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow.

ttenosynovitis  inflammation (usually resulting from an overuse injury) to the sheaths lining the tendons. It is mostly seen in the forearm/wrist area.

testing and tagging  of electrical equipment, in a workplace, is required by clause 64 of the OHS Regulation 2001.  For more information, see the OHS Regulation 2001, Code of Practice: Technical Guidance and AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment.

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wages  for workers compensation purposes wages is defined in the Wages Definition Manual.

WAS  WorkCover Assistance Service, WorkCover’s client contact center.

welfare  freedom from discomfort, both physical and mental.

whole body vibration  vibration that is transmitted to the body as a whole via a supporting surface. Examples include the feet when standing, the buttocks while sitting, and the torso while recumbent.

WIC  WorkCover Industrial Classification, based on ANZSIC, with more detailed and precise definitions of industry classes.

work injury  includes both occupational injuries and occupational diseases.

work systems  work methods and processes (including the tools, machines and furnishings) used in a business enterprise.

Worksafe Australia  also known as the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. It was established in 1984 by the federal government to develop and help implement a national OHS strategy. It is a tripartite body with representation from employers, employees and government.