Request for Information on Workplace TBI and PCS Claims Related to Trips and Falls

SPENCER JONES made this Official Information request to Accident Compensation Corporation

Currently waiting for a response from Accident Compensation Corporation, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: SPENCER JONES

Dear Accident Compensation Corporation,

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information relating to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) claims lodged with ACC, specifically those resulting from workplace accidents involving trips and falls.

This request aims to fill information gaps identified in prior OIA responses and research into injury causation, claim outcomes, and management protocols under the Accident Compensation Act 2001.

1. Workplace-Specific TBI and PCS Claims (2018–2024)

Please provide:
• The number of claims lodged for TBI and PCS where the cause of injury was a trip or fall at work, broken down by year (2018–2024).

For these claims, also provide a breakdown by:
• Acceptance status (accepted / declined / under investigation)
• Industry sector (e.g., construction, healthcare, office)
• Injury classification (mild, moderate, severe TBI, or PCS)
• Mechanism of fall (e.g., trip on level surface, fall from height, slip on wet floor)

If trip-specific data is unavailable, please provide the closest available dataset on workplace falls resulting in TBI or PCS, and confirm whether trip/fall cause coding is routinely recorded.

2. Causation and Clinical Evidence Requirements
• What types of clinical evidence or assessments are required or accepted by ACC to establish causation between a workplace trip/fall and a resulting PCS or TBI?
• Please supply internal clinical or operational guidance, assessment frameworks, or decision tools used by claim assessors or providers when evaluating causation in workplace TBI/PCS claims.
• For each year 2018–2024, please provide:
• The number of PCS/TBI claims arising from workplace falls declined due to insufficient proof of causation.

3. Updates to PCS Management Protocols (Post-June 2023)

Please provide:
• Copies of any updated CART (Clinical Advisor Reference Tool) guidance, internal bulletins, or policy documents issued after June 2023 that relate to:
• Diagnosis and management of PCS
• Visual symptoms or cognitive dysfunction following mTBI
• Concussion Service eligibility for workplace claimants
• If not yet finalised, please provide the expected release timeline and any available drafts or summary guidance used in the interim.

4. Workplace TBI/PCS Prevention Programs

Please provide:
• Details of any ACC-funded programmes (2020–2024) aimed at preventing workplace trips/falls that cause TBI or PCS, including:
• Target industries and interventions used (e.g., safety audits, PPE)
• Partnerships with WorkSafe NZ or sector bodies
• Outcomes reported (e.g., reduced claim volume or severity)

5. Economic and Social Impact

Please provide:
• Total direct and indirect costs of workplace TBI/PCS claims caused by trips and falls between 2018 and 2024, including:
• Medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Weekly compensation and long-term disability support
• Average duration of time off work or return-to-work delay for workers with accepted TBI/PCS claims arising from trips and falls.

Additional Notes:
• Please provide the requested information electronically (e.g., PDF or Excel format).
• If any portion of this request is declined under section 18, please explain the reason and release any available relevant material under section 16 of the Act.
• If data specific to trips is not available, please explain why and substitute the closest available category (e.g., all workplace falls).
• I am happy to receive the response via the FYI.org.nz platform.

Yours faithfully,

SPENCER JONES

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From: Government Services
Accident Compensation Corporation

Kia ora,

Thank you for contacting ACC’s Government Services inbox.

If your request falls within scope of the Official Information Act, we
will endeavour to respond as soon as possible, and no later than 20
working days after receipt of your request. If we are unable to respond
within the statutory timeframe, we will notify you of an extension.

 

The information you have requested may involve documents which contain the
names and contact details of individuals. Please let us know whether you
are seeking that information as part of your request. We may need to
consult before deciding whether we can release this information, and this
may take a bit more time. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that
you do not require it.

 

For more information about Official Information Act requests, please
visit: [1]Ombudsman New Zealand | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata.

If your request relates to your claim, or you’d like more information
about lodging a claim, please contact ACC’s claims team at 0800 101 996
or [2][email address].

For personal information requests or privacy matters,
please visit [3]Request for personal information (acc.co.nz).

For general queries, please visit: [4]Contact us (acc.co.nz).

 

 

Ngâ mihi,

Government Services

PO Box 242 / Wellington 6011 / New Zealand / [5]www.acc.co.nz

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