ACC Recovery at Work trial

Businesses involved in forestry, wood processing and log transport are being invited to take part in an ACC Recovery at Work trial.

The trial will identify and evaluate initiatives that make a difference to how well people working in these industries recover and return to work after an injury.

It will run for six months, from February to August 2024, and if successful, could be rolled out across the wider forestry, wood processing and log transport sectors.

To find out more or be involved in the trial, fill in the Expressions of Interest form linked below.

The trial is being supported by Safetree/FISC, FICA, the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association, the Log Transport Safety Council and the NZ Timber Industry Federation.

What's the benefit of taking part?

Many people think that being away from work after an injury is better for their healing, but medical evidence shows that recovering at work can be better for most workers.

What do trial participants need to do?

- Businesses will participate in two workshops (two to three hours each) to identify a range of potential initiatives to help people recover at work.

- They will decide which initiatives to trial within their own business during the trial period.

- Businesses will need to track and share some top-line information around injuries, to see how this compares to the outcomes before the trial. To ensure the privacy of individuals, data will be collated and anonymised before being shared.

- Involvement in the project is expected to take about one to three hours a week during the set-up phase, and about two hours a month during the trial period itself.

Who can take part?

- Businesses must be able to complete the trial, which will run for six months. It is expected to take another month or two to set up the trial and review the results.

- Businesses should have two to three people who can contribute to the project. This could include someone from HR, a Health & Safety team member or champion, or a team leader or manager.

At this stage, businesses that are part of the ACC Accredited Employer Programme are not able to participate in the trial (as they follow different processes in this area).

Evaluation of the trial

Businesses might be asked to take part in the following activities before, during or after the trial:

- Surveys

- One-on-one interviews

- Interviews with employees who’ve gone through the Recovery at Work process

- Providing data.

Privacy

By submitting the information in the form you consent to being contacted about the Recovery at Work trial by a member of the ACC workplace trial project team or one of the industry associations listed below. Interested parties can expect to be contacted by the end of November 2023.