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How this assessment usually works
Skin, burn and scarring assessment usually requires more than a photo. The assessor may need treatment history, healing pattern, sensitivity, infection history, functional effect, cosmetic impact where relevant and whether the condition has stabilised.
The assessor does not decide legal liability. The assessment is a medical opinion about permanent impairment under the NSW workers compensation guidelines. The legal importance is what the percentage does to Section 66, weekly payments, medical expense time limits, settlement strategy or work injury damages preparation.
Step 1
Accepted injury
Check the accepted injury wording, body system and mechanism before looking at the percentage.
Step 2
Medical method
Check whether the correct NSW guideline method, clinical findings and records were used.
Step 3
Claim effect
Check what the WPI percentage changes before accepting a report or settlement position.
How the assessment pathway is usually built
A useful WPI report should show its working. For skin, scarring and burns, the pathway usually needs these steps before anyone relies on the percentage.
Identify the skin condition: burn scar, traumatic scar, surgical scar, dermatitis, chemical injury, infection, recurrent skin condition or facial disfigurement.
Check whether the condition is stable. Scar maturation, further surgery, grafting, desensitisation, compression therapy or dermatitis treatment may change the assessment timing.
Assess function and symptoms, not only appearance. Sensitivity, breakdown, itching, infection, movement restriction and treatment burden can matter.
Consider whether the NSW TEMSKI method for minor skin impairment is relevant or whether AMA5 Chapter 8 with NSW modifications applies more broadly.
Review whether facial disfigurement, non-facial scarring and ordinary uncomplicated surgical scars are being treated under the right rule.
Assessment method points from the NSW guideline
These points are not a self-calculation tool. They are practical checks for whether the WPI report is using the right body-system method and reasoning.
Skin impairment assessment uses AMA5 Chapter 8 with NSW modifications, including NSW guidance for minor skin impairment.
Non-facial scarring is generally assessed as one skin impairment rather than separate ratings for every scar.
Facial disfigurement has specific considerations. Standard uncomplicated surgical scars may rate at 0% WPI.
The report should consider symptoms, ADL limitation, treatment requirements, sensitivity, movement restriction, infection and recurrence where relevant.
The TEMSKI method may be relevant to minor skin impairment and should be used only where appropriate.
For burns, the assessment should address function, sensitivity, grafting, contraction, joint restriction and ongoing treatment rather than use graphic appearance alone.
For dermatitis or chemical exposure, the report should consider recurrence, PPE tolerance, irritant avoidance and whether the condition is stable enough for assessment.
Photographs may help, but the report still needs clinical reasoning and a guideline method.
What can change the WPI percentage
The final percentage can move because of method selection, objective findings, surgery, pre-existing deduction, or how multiple impairments are combined. These are the practical pressure points for this injury type.
- Extent, location, symptoms and functional effect of scarring or skin disease.
- Photographs, clinical description and whether the condition is stable or fluctuating.
- Treatment requirements such as dressings, compression, medication, grafting, desensitisation or recurrence management.
- Impact on activities of daily living, PPE tolerance, hygiene, exposure and safe return to duties.
- Whether scars are ordinary surgical scars, traumatic scars, burn scars, facial disfigurement or dermatitis from ongoing exposure.
What the assessor usually checks
- accepted injury wording: burn, scar, dermatitis, chemical exposure or skin condition
- treatment course, grafts, dressings, infection and specialist follow-up
- functional restrictions from sensitivity, grip, movement, heat, PPE tolerance or exposure risk
- whether the skin condition has stabilised or still fluctuates with work exposure
- whether photographs and clinical descriptions are reliable and current
Evidence that may help
A useful WPI report depends on the material the assessor receives. These records often matter for skin, scarring and burns:
- hospital, GP, burns unit, dermatology or plastic surgery records
- photographs taken for clinical purposes and treatment chronology
- PPE, chemical, safety data sheet and incident material where exposure is involved
- certificates of capacity covering contact, heat, hygiene, PPE, grip or movement restrictions
- records of recurrence, infection, flare-ups or failed return-to-work attempts
Common insurer or report disputes
- the insurer says the condition is cosmetic only
- a dermatitis flare is treated as temporary despite recurring work exposure
- photos are relied on without functional evidence
- chemical exposure is denied because workplace records are incomplete
- the report does not address sensitivity, movement or PPE tolerance
Report cautions before relying on the percentage
Report red flags
- The report rates each non-facial scar separately without explaining why that is allowed.
- An uncomplicated surgical scar is treated as significant impairment without symptoms or functional effect.
- Dermatitis is assessed on a good-skin day without addressing recurrence and workplace exposure.
- Burn scarring is described cosmetically but movement restriction, sensitivity and treatment burden are ignored.
Method and reliance checks
- Does the report assess function as well as appearance?
- Are photographs, clinical descriptions and treatment records current and reliable?
- Does it separate burn scar, dermatitis, chemical exposure and ordinary surgical scar issues?
- Is PPE tolerance or recurrent exposure addressed for dermatitis and chemical injuries?
- If facial disfigurement is involved, does the report use the correct facial pathway?
- If the condition fluctuates, does the report explain why it is stable enough for permanent assessment?
- Visible scarring does not automatically equal a high WPI percentage.
- Cosmetic impact, sensitivity and functional limitation need careful clinical description.
- Fluctuating dermatitis may need stability and recurrence evidence before permanent assessment.
Guideline notes
- NSW skin assessment modifies AMA5 Chapter 8.
- The NSW TEMSKI method is used for minor skin impairment in appropriate cases.
Questions to ask when the report comes back
How this connects to thresholds and strategy
SIRA says permanent impairment compensation generally requires 11% or more permanent impairment for physical injury, and 15% or more for primary psychological injury. Secondary psychological injury is treated differently. Those thresholds are not a payout promise; they are eligibility and strategy checkpoints that need to be applied to the accepted injury and current evidence.
A low WPI opinion may also affect weekly-payment planning, treatment time-limit issues, dispute posture, and whether work injury damages threshold advice is required. The safest approach is to review the method, evidence and consequences before signing or letting the insurer rely on a weak assessment.
Questions workers often ask
Is skin, scarring and burns assessed the same way as every other injury?
No. NSW permanent impairment assessment depends on the accepted injury, body system, medical evidence, maximum medical improvement and any NSW-specific guideline modification. The assessment method for skin, scarring and burns should be checked against the injury actually accepted in the claim.
Can I calculate the WPI percentage myself?
No. A trained permanent impairment assessor must perform the assessment. A worker can still check whether the report used the correct injury description, records, body system, causation assumptions and deduction reasoning.
What if the insurer report seems too low?
Ask for the report and the material sent to the assessor. For skin, scarring and burns, compare the report against treating records, imaging, specialist material, work duties and certificates of capacity before accepting the percentage or relying on it for settlement strategy.
Does maximum medical improvement matter?
Yes. SIRA guidance says permanent impairment assessment should occur when the condition has stabilised and is unlikely to change substantially in the next year with or without treatment. If treatment is incomplete, the timing may need review.
General information only
This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. You should obtain advice about your own circumstances before relying on a WPI percentage, accepting a lump sum offer, or responding to an insurer decision.
Reviewed by NSW Work Injury Claims - a branch of Stephen Young Lawyers.
Related injury and impairment pages
Need a WPI assessment checked?
If the percentage does not match the accepted injury, treatment history, imaging, surgery, work duties or current restrictions, get the report checked before accepting the insurer position.