Environment [Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act]

Question 1

COIDA

Answer 1

provides clear guidelines on how employees who are injured or get a disease in the course of performing their duties can claim comprehensive compensation

Question 2

Purpose of the COIDA

Answer 2

• regulates what compensation an employee could receive if he/she is injured, contracts a disease, or is killed in the workplace

Question 3

Rights of employees

Answer 3

• if an employee is injured at work and it results in disablement or death, the employee or his dependent will receive benefits from the Compensation Fund
• if an employee works mainly in South Africa but is injured while temporarily working overseas, they still qualify for compensation
• an employee can qualify for more compensation if the injury or disease is the result of negligence by the employer or another employee

Question 4

Employers Responsibility

Answer 4

• register at the Compensation Commissioner
• keep and submit a register of records
• be evaluated to determine the level of risk employees are subject to and to calculate the tariff that has to be paid

Question 5

Employees Responsibility

Answer 5

• ensuring that they are not injured as a result of serious and deliberate misbehaviour
• notifying the employer as soon as possible about the injury or disease
• submitting necessary medical reports to assess the injury or disease

Question 6

Positive impact COIDA (business)

Answer 6

• promote safety I the workplace
• creates a framework for fair employment practices and safety regulations
• eliminates time and cost spent on lengthy civil Cory proceedings

Question 7

Negative impact COIDA (business)

Answer 7

• claiming processes and procedures can be time consuming
• procedures required by this Act may be costly as paperwork places an extra administrative burden on businesses

Question 8

Positive impact COIDA (employees)

Answer 8

• covers all employees at the workplace if both parties meet all the necessary safety provisions in the Act
• employees are compensated financially for any injury/disability resulting from performing their duties at their workplace

Question 8

Negative impact COIDA (employees)

Answer 8

• workers who are temporarily/permanently employed in foreign countries are not covered
• domestic and military workers are not covered

Question 9

Procedure for compensation

Answer 9

• the employee must report an incident resulting in an injury before the completion of their shirt, either verbally or in writing
• the employer must send the employee to a medical practitioner and request a medical report

Question 10

Compliance with COIDA

Answer 10

• businesses should provide a healthy and safe working environment
• businesses should register with Compensation Commissioner
• levies must be paid to the Compensation Fund