NZ proposes review framework for ACC's Schedule 2

The New Zealand government is proposing a four- or five-year review of the Schedule 2 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001 (AC Act) to keep the list of covered occupational diseases up to date.

The ACC is a legislation that guides the law around injury prevention, rehabilitation of injured workers, and entitlements of employees regarding those injuries. It is also the law that outlines the duties and responsibilities of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which provides compulsory insurance cover for personal injury for everyone in New Zealand.

The Schedule 2 of the AC Act “is a list of occupational diseases for which ACC can provide cover and is part of the work-related gradual process, disease, or infection cover provided by ACC,” according to a government release.

However, ACC Minister Carmel Sepuloni lamented that the government has “no formal, regular process for keeping Schedule 2 up-to-date.”

“It’s important that the list of occupational diseases in Schedule 2 has an evidence-based framework to support it remaining relevant to the experiences of working New Zealanders,” she said.

This is why the government is proposing a review framework for the Schedule 2, which is summarised as follows:

• The review occurs every four to five years
• The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) prepare and launch a consultation document
• MBIE collates the submissions for independent researchers to analyse
• Officials consider the independent report and make recommendations
• Consultation with stakeholders on proposals to make changes to Schedule 2
• Following a ministerial decision, an order in process begins, where changes are taken to the Executive Council

Read more: How better employee monitoring enhances workplace safety

The government is now pooling the opinion of the public on the proposed review framework, with Sepuloni saying it will give everybody, particularly those affected by occupational diseases, a chance to contribute to review the Schedule 2.

"Our government remains committed to undertaking work to return ACC to its original purpose of assisting all New Zealanders who have had an injury," she said. "That's why we're taking an evidence-based approach to updating the list of illnesses caused through workplace exposure to harmful environments."

"Our understanding of these diseases must stay current with modern medical and epidemiological evidence, to improve access to the Accident Compensation Scheme's cover for those who need it," she added.

According to the minister, a regular review would take gender and different population groups of New Zealand into account.

"A regular review framework, which would take gender into account, could improve our understanding of how occupational diseases impact different population groups in Aotearoa New Zealand," she said.

"By addressing these gaps in our understanding, a review could be used to improve awareness and preventative action against how occupational diseases impact men as well as women."