Construction Workers Compensation Claims NSW
Falls, strains, hit-by-object — construction is one of Australia's highest-fatality trades. Call us and we'll help with your NSW construction injury claim, start to finish.
For: Builders, tradies and construction labourers.
Construction workers are covered under NSW WorkCover
Every construction worker on a NSW payroll — full-time, casual, labour-hire or deemed-worker subcontractor — has the same access to treatment, income support and legal protection. Our team knows the construction scheme inside out.
You're covered on site
Full-time, casual, apprentice, labour-hire or PAYG subcontractor — if you were hurt doing the job, you're very likely a 'deemed worker' under the NSW scheme. Our team checks your status on the first call.
Talk to our teamNo cost to you
Your doctor and physio are paid by the insurer once your claim is accepted. Our help is free, so you never see a bill from us.
Talk to our teamWe know the paperwork
Certificates of Capacity, SafeWork NSW incident reports, Return to Work plans — we make sure they're done the way insurers want to see them, so your claim doesn't stall.
Talk to our teamThe numbers for Construction
Source-cited statistics from Safe Work Australia and NSW SIRA / icare — the data behind why early, properly-documented claims matter.
Share of workplace fatalities (six-industry group, Construction included)
Construction sits in the top three industries for worker fatalities nationally every year. Six industries account for around 76% of all deaths. Source: Safe Work Australia.
Falls from height fatalities YoY, 2022 to 2023
Falls from height — the defining construction risk — climbed sharply the year before last. Source: Safe Work Australia.
Common construction injuries we help with
Each links to a detailed guide with NSW-specific claim information.
Back and neck strains
Lifting, twisting and heavy material handling on site.
Read guideFalls from height
Scaffolding, ladders, edge and roof work.
Read guideHand and wrist injuries
Power tools, impact, crush injuries and repetitive strain.
Read guideIndustrial deafness
Years of grinders, jackhammers and heavy plant.
Read guideEye injuries
Debris, grinding sparks or chemical exposure.
Read guideBurns from welding or chemicals
Welding arcs, electrical faults and hazardous substances.
Read guideYour employer's obligations
What the law requires every NSW construction employer to do — whether they're doing it or not.
- Hold an active NSW workers compensation policy with icare (or self-insure approved)
- Provide safe scaffolding, harnesses, edge protection and fall arrest systems
- Run a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for every high-risk construction activity
- Report serious injuries to SafeWork NSW within 48 hours
- Keep a live return-to-work program and offer suitable duties where you can work
For employers and delegates in this industry
Employer or site manager in construction? Run our toolbox talk on reporting injuries, keep the manager's checklist for when a worker reports an injury by the phone, and find posters for the lunchroom on our page for employers and work sites.
Union delegate? Start with the union delegate guide, or book workers compensation sessions for unions.
Your rights as a NSW construction worker
The entitlements written into the NSW Workers Compensation Act that apply to your trade.
- You can claim as a full-time, casual, apprentice, labour-hire worker or PAYG subcontractor on deemed-worker terms
- Your employer can't fire you because you lodged a claim — the first six months of protection are written into NSW law
- Treatment is paid directly by the insurer, not out of pocket
- You choose your own WorkCover doctor — you don't have to see your employer's preferred GP
- You can claim for historic injuries that built up over time, not just one-off incidents
How our team helps with Construction claims
We book you in with a WorkCover doctor, who assesses the injury and writes a compliant Certificate of Capacity, and we sort the insurer paperwork. We line up physio for the recovery. If the insurer disputes liability, we put you in touch with a compensation lawyer — most disputes qualify for IRO funding.
Not sure what you’ll be paid while you’re off work? Run the numbers with our weekly payment calculator before you lodge anything.
More resources for injured NSW workers
Should I claim WorkCover?
The eight reasons NSW workers hesitate — and the honest answers behind each one.
Read guideAm I eligible for WorkCover?
60-second eligibility quiz for NSW workers — worker status, injury type and reporting window covered in one pass.
Start quizWorkCover in numbers
NSW and national workers compensation statistics — claim counts, costs, industry breakdowns and mental health trends.
View dataOther industries
Construction WorkCover FAQs
More reading for construction workers
Back and neck strains — NSW claim guide
Lifting, twisting and heavy material handling on site.
Read moreContinueFalls from height — NSW claim guide
Scaffolding, ladders, edge and roof work.
Read moreContinueHealthcare & Nursing WorkCover claims NSW
Adjacent industry — see how we help with healthcare & nursing claims.
Read moreContinueWorkCover Doctors
The usual first step for construction claims — billed to WorkCover on accepted claims.
Read moreInjured at work in construction?
Call us or book online. We answer your questions, book a WorkCover doctor and line up physio or a lawyer for your construction claim.
Call Now (02) 7238 7379