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ARTICLE · 29 OCTOBER 2015

An aggravating decision – a nothing event causes aggravation to previous work related injury

Cooper Grace Ward
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The QIRC allowed the worker to receive further compensation to cover the period of the aggravation of the first injury.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Tony Park
Tony Park
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Pope v Simon Blackwood (Workers' Compensation Regulator) [2015] QIRC 170 [click here to access case]

In this case, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has found that 'a nothing event' was able to cause an aggravation to a previous work related neck injury, thereby allowing the worker to receive further compensation to cover the period of the aggravation.

Mr Pope was employed as a store person. He claims to have sustained an injury to his neck as a result of an incident on 21 November 2014 when using a Reach forklift.

Importantly, Mr Pope lodged three workers' compensation applications in 2014, for incidents sustained in February, June and November. In all incidents he claims to have sustained neck injuries.

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