Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013

For the purposes of assessing the degree of impairment of the whole person resulting from diminution of hearing, the percentage of the diminution of hearing determined in accordance with subsection (4) is to be converted as follows—

if the diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural loss of hearing is less than 10 per cent NAL, the degree of impairment is zero;

if the diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural loss of hearing is 10 per cent NAL, the degree of impairment is 10 per cent;

if the diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural loss of hearing is more than 10 per cent NAL, the degree of impairment is the percentage equivalent of the number (rounded up to the next whole number) given by the formula—

In the case of a further hearing injury, for the purposes of assessing the degree of impairment of the whole person resulting from a diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural hearing impairment from which the worker was suffering immediately after the further hearing injury in respect of which the claim is made, the percentage of the diminution of hearing is to be determined in accordance with subsection (4) and converted in accordance with subsection (1).

In the case of a further hearing injury, for the purposes of assessing the degree of impairment of the whole person resulting from a diminution of hearing in respect of prior hearing injury or prior hearing loss, the percentage of the diminution of hearing is to be determined in accordance with section 61(5) and (6) and converted as follows—

if the diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural loss of hearing is less than 10 per cent NAL, the degree of impairment is equal to that per cent (rounded up to the next whole number);

if the diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural loss of hearing is 10 per cent NAL, the degree of impairment is 10 per cent;

if the diminution of hearing assessed as a binaural loss of hearing is more than 10 per cent NAL, the degree of impairment is the percentage equivalent of the number (rounded up to the next whole number) given by the formula—

For the purposes of this section and section 61(2)(a), the percentage of diminution of hearing—

must be assessed as a binaural loss of hearing and determined by a medical practitioner in the manner approved by the Minister; and

must be assessed as a binaural loss of hearing and determined in accordance with the Improved Procedure for Determination of Percentage Loss of Hearing (1988 Edition or a later prescribed edition) published by the National Acoustic Laboratory.