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