WRC declines to recommend injury grant for worker with back injury

A WRC adjudication officer declined to recommend an injury-at-work grant for a worker who said lifting duties caused a back injury. The recommendation was dated 11 May 2022. The worker said she collected and distributed personal protective equipment without assistance and continued carrying heavy items after occupational health advised her to avoid that work. The employer disputed that she qualified for the grant, which required the injury to arise in the actual discharge of duty, be attributable solely to the nature of the duty and occur without the worker’s default. The officer said it was impossible to determine whether the injury met those criteria or who, if anyone, was at fault. She therefore could not make a recommendation favourable to the worker.