sec.179Assessment of permanent impairment

### sec.179 Assessment of permanent impairment An insurer may decide, or a worker who has made an application under section 132 may ask the insurer, to have the worker’s injury assessed to decide if the worker’s injury has resulted in a degree of permanent impairment (a DPI ). See also section 193C for when an insurer may decide, or the worker may ask the insurer, to have the worker’s injury further assessed under this section. The insurer must have the DPI assessed— for industrial deafness—by an audiologist; or for a psychiatric or psychological injury—by a medical assessment tribunal; or for another injury—by a doctor. The assessment must be made as required by the scheme directions and the DPI must be expressed as a percentage. A report of the assessment must be prepared and given to the insurer as required by the scheme directions. If the worker sustains permanent impairment from multiple injuries sustained in 1 event— the DPI for the injuries, other than a psychiatric or psychological injury, must be assessed together to decide the DPI for the injuries; and the DPI for the psychiatric or psychological injury must be assessed separately to decide the DPI for the injury. A regulation may— prescribe additional requirements that must be met for an audiologist, a member of the medical assessment tribunal or a doctor to be authorised to make a DPI assessment; and provide for the suspension or cancellation of an authorisation mentioned in paragraph (a) ; and establish a process for the review of a DPI assessment or decision; and provide for any other matter affecting a DPI assessment or decision. s 179 amd 2013 No. 52 s 12 (retro); 2017 No. 27 s 22 ; 2024 No. 40 s 36 (sec.179-ssec.1) An insurer may decide, or a worker who has made an application under section 132 may ask the insurer, to have the worker’s injury assessed to decide if the worker’s injury has resulted in a degree of permanent impairment (a DPI ). See also section 193C for when an insurer may decide, or the worker may ask the insurer, to have the worker’s injury further assessed under this section. (sec.179-ssec.2) The insurer must have the DPI assessed— for industrial deafness—by an audiologist; or for a psychiatric or psychological injury—by a medical assessment tribunal; or for another injury—by a doctor. (sec.179-ssec.3) The assessment must be made as required by the scheme directions and the DPI must be expressed as a percentage. (sec.179-ssec.4) A report of the assessment must be prepared and given to the insurer as required by the scheme directions. (sec.179-ssec.5) If the worker sustains permanent impairment from multiple injuries sustained in 1 event— the DPI for the injuries, other than a psychiatric or psychological injury, must be assessed together to decide the DPI for the injuries; and the DPI for the psychiatric or psychological injury must be assessed separately to decide the DPI for the injury. (sec.179-ssec.6) A regulation may— prescribe additional requirements that must be met for an audiologist, a member of the medical assessment tribunal or a doctor to be authorised to make a DPI assessment; and provide for the suspension or cancellation of an authorisation mentioned in paragraph (a) ; and establish a process for the review of a DPI assessment or decision; and provide for any other matter affecting a DPI assessment or decision. - (a) for industrial deafness—by an audiologist; or - (b) for a psychiatric or psychological injury—by a medical assessment tribunal; or - (c) for another injury—by a doctor. - (a) the DPI for the injuries, other than a psychiatric or psychological injury, must be assessed together to decide the DPI for the injuries; and - (b) the DPI for the psychiatric or psychological injury must be assessed separately to decide the DPI for the injury. - (a) prescribe additional requirements that must be met for an audiologist, a member of the medical assessment tribunal or a doctor to be authorised to make a DPI assessment; and - (b) provide for the suspension or cancellation of an authorisation mentioned in paragraph (a) ; and - (c) establish a process for the review of a DPI assessment or decision; and - (d) provide for any other matter affecting a DPI assessment or decision.