There were more than 160,000 people off work due to injuries last year who had to be supported by ACC, new data shows — and it came at a cost of $2.5 billion.
ACC has released data showing the accidents and injuries it dealt with last year.
It said there were 162,571 people who required financial support because of injury. They were paid more than 18 million days of weekly compensation.
In total, ACC accepted two million injury claims from 1.6 million people in the year, which cost $7b in total. Of that, $4.4b went to rehabilitation expenses.
In 2004, the cost was less than $1b.
“To put it simply, more people are getting injured, and it is taking longer and costing more for them to recover,” ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said.
ACC Minister Scott Simpson said ACC was a unique and world-leading scheme.
“Injuries cause harm to the person injured, but they also put pressure on business productivity and on the financial position of the ACC scheme.
“We need to safeguard ACC, so it is there to help and support our future generations. One of the key areas we need to improve is reducing injuries.”
He said the number of people being injured was too high, and many injuries were preventable. The large number of days people took off work could stop the country reaching its potential.
Whitaker said the high number of injury claims and costs put pressure on the sustainability of the ACC scheme.
“We want all New Zealanders to get the help and support they need when they’re injured now and for many generations to come,” he said.
“What we all need to do is be more mindful and present when there is injury risk present, if I get hurt, what is the impact on those people who I care about.”
The most common areas injured were the lower back and spine, at 13%, followed by shoulders at 8%.
Only 10% of injuries happened in accidents at work. Two-thirds were at home and almost a quarter in sport or recreation.
Almost 16,000 people aged in their 60s made a claim for a gardening accident.
Just under 40% of all workplace claims last year were from manufacturing, construction, forestry, agriculture and fisheries workers.
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