WorkCover industry codes

This data management bulletin assists insurers with coding relationship of WorkCover Industry Codes (WIC) and the intent of the data usage.

The requirement to report the WorkCover Industry Code is specified within the Workers’ compensation insurers’ interface data specifications for the monthly insurer interface as per 4.2.22 – WorkCover Industry Code/Industry Business Code.

What is the WorkCover Industry Classification

The Queensland WorkCover Industry Classification (WIC) system is based on the Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC ABS Cat. no. 1292.0), which is used to categorise industries. The WICs are published by WorkCover Queensland.

The WIC relates to the main activity of the business/legal entity at which the worker was employed at the time of reporting the occupational injury or disease.

For Queensland self-insurers, Q-COMP allocates the WICs to the self-insurer in the first instance at commencement of the licence and where legal entities have been acquired under the licence.

For Queensland policy-holders, WorkCover Queensland allocates the WIC to the policy. Each WIC has an industry rate calculated using the claims experience of all policies allocated to that WIC.

ANZSIC and Other Jurisdictions

The Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) listing as published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and consists of four coding levels—Division, Subdivision, Group and Class.

Queensland operates an extended list of six levels. Some jurisdictions like Queensland use an extended list of the ANZSIC system to further distinguish the main activity of the legal entity. Others also use the Australian Standard Industrial Classification (ASIC) system. The industry classification may be referred to in other States as Premium Rate Classification or Workplace Industry Code and may include variations for that State; however all refer back to the four levels of ANZSIC.

Reporting Requirement

Supply of the WIC to Q-COMP as part of the Workers’ compensation insurers’ interface data specification for the monthly insurer interface is mandatory for each claim and must be current for the self-insurance member or policy as at the date of injury.

The WIC identifies the industry in which the injured worker was employed at the time of the injury.

Supply of this data enables between-industry and within-industry comparisons of occupational injury/disease experience.

WorkCover Industry Code in reporting

Q-COMP’s Statistics report includes a number of statistics by industry, including statutory claim intimations and statutory claim payments. Below is an example from Q-COMP's Statistics Report.