Workers’ Compensation Insurance provides statutory protection for people injured or made ill through work in Western Australia. Cover applies to employees and may also extend to certain contractors or subcontractors where the working arrangement meets the WA definition of a worker.
Who Needs It
Any business operating in Western Australia that engages people to perform work, including employers and businesses that rely on contractors or subcontractors. This applies across sole traders with staff, private businesses, and larger corporate entities where individuals contribute labour as part of the business operations.
Why It Matters
Workers’ compensation is a legal requirement in Western Australia. Recent legislative changes place greater emphasis on the actual working relationship, meaning some contractors can fall within workers’ compensation obligations even if they are not labelled as employees. Getting this wrong can result in uninsured claims, penalties, and unexpected financial exposure.
RELEVANT INDUSTRIES
All WA businesses, with heightened relevance for construction, mining, transport, trades, labour hire, logistics, cleaning, maintenance, and any industry that regularly engages subcontracted labour.
Moment of Truth
A person engaged as a contractor is injured while performing work. When the claim is assessed, the working relationship is found to align with worker status under WA law. If appropriate workers’ compensation cover is not in place, the business may face direct liability, regulatory action, and operational disruption.
When your work involves the public, accidents can happen even after handover. We help you manage those risks.
