Emergency Dispatch Centres
Rodney Parsons made this Official Information request to Matt Doocey
The request was partially successful.
From: Rodney Parsons
Dear Matt Doocey,
We understand that emergency dispatch centers are high-risk environments with several occupational hazards that may not be covered by ACC. These risks include post-traumatic stress injuries, hearing impairments, and sleep disorders, often arising from acoustic shock, high noise levels, and high-stress cultures within these settings.
Could you please confirm whether ACC does indeed exclude these conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, from coverage? Additionally, please provide a breakdown of the number of related claims received and the number of claims declined by ACC over the past year. We also request any advice that ACC has issued to organizations operating these centers within the same period.
Furthermore, we seek information on any actions taken by ACC or WorkSafe to mitigate these occupational risks in emergency dispatch centers. Specifically, we would like to understand the advice, policies, and monitoring processes both agencies have implemented to ensure that Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) are actively safeguarding workers in the high-risk environments of police, fire, ambulance, and central dispatch centers (such as Spark).
Lastly, please provide minutes or records of any executive or board-level discussions that pertain to decisions regarding the funding of these conditions, the implementation (or lack thereof) of preventative or monitoring programs, and claims related to injuries sustained by emergency dispatch operators.
Yours faithfully,
Rodney Parsons
From: Matthew Doocey (MIN)
Matt Doocey
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Thank you for contacting Hon Matt Doocey, Minister for ACC, Minister for
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Ngā mihi,
Office of Hon Matt Doocey
Minister for ACC | Minister for Mental Health | Minister for Tourism and
Hospitality | Minister for Youth | Associate Minister of Health |
Associate Minister of Transport.
Freepost: Private Bag 18 888 |Parliament Buildings |Wellington 6011
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From: Matthew Doocey (MIN)
Matt Doocey
Dear Rodney,
Thank you for your email of 2/11/2024 in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:
" We understand that emergency dispatch centers are high-risk environments with several occupational hazards that may not be covered by ACC. These risks include post-traumatic stress injuries, hearing impairments, and sleep disorders, often arising from acoustic shock, high noise levels, and high-stress cultures within these settings.
Could you please confirm whether ACC does indeed exclude these conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, from coverage? Additionally, please provide a breakdown of the number of related claims received and the number of claims declined by ACC over the past year. We also request any advice that ACC has issued to organizations operating these centers within the same period.
Furthermore, we seek information on any actions taken by ACC or WorkSafe to mitigate these occupational risks in emergency dispatch centers. Specifically, we would like to understand the advice, policies, and monitoring processes both agencies have implemented to ensure that Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) are actively safeguarding workers in the high-risk environments of police, fire, ambulance, and central dispatch centers (such as Spark).
Lastly, please provide minutes or records of any executive or board-level discussions that pertain to decisions regarding the funding of these conditions, the implementation (or lack thereof) of preventative or monitoring programs, and claims related to injuries sustained by emergency dispatch operators."
Minister Doocey is considering your request in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by 29/11/2024.
Yours sincerely
Office of Hon Matt Doocey
Minister for ACC | Minister for Mental Health | Minister for Tourism and Hospitality | Minister for Youth |
Associate Minister of Health | Associate Minister of Transport
DDI: 04 817 6812
Email: [Matt Doocey request email] Website: www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: Matthew Doocey (MIN)
Matt Doocey
Dear Rodney,
I refer to your below email, which we are treating as a request for
official information.
We have transferred your request to ACC to respond in full, and Worksafe
in part. This is because the information you are requesting is not held by
us but is believed to be held by ACC and Worksafe.
In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to
transfer your request.
You will hear further from ACC concerning your request. You can reach them
on ACC: [1][email address] and Worksafe:
[2][email address] if you need to follow up.
Yours sincerely
Office of Hon Matt Doocey
Minister for ACC | Minister for Mental Health | Minister for Tourism and
Hospitality | Minister for Youth |
Associate Minister of Health | Associate Minister of Transport
DDI: 04 817 6812
Email: [Matt Doocey request email] Website: [3]www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
Kia ora Rodney
Please see attached a correspondence in relation to your Official
Information Act request.
Ministerial Services
8 Willis Street
Wellington
W [1]worksafe.govt.nz
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[7]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services
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From: Government Services
Kia ora Rodney,
Please find attached our response to your official information request
dated 14 November 2024. If you have any questions about the response you
can contact us at this [1]address, for all other matters please use our
contact form at: [2]https://www.acc.co.nz/contact/ alternatively give us
a call on 0800 101 996.
If you are having trouble viewing the PDF, please ensure you have the
latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download this freeware please
click [3]here.
Ngâ mihi
Christopher Johnston (he/him)
Manager | OIA Services
* PO Box 242, Wellington 6011
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