Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

RETURN TO WORK ACT 1986 - SECT 58

    (1)     Compensation is payable under this Part in respect of a heart attack injury or a stroke injury to a worker only:

        (a)     for a heart attack or stroke injury that arose in the course of, or was caused by, a disease – if the worker's employment materially contributed to the injury or disease; or

        (b)     for a heart attack or stroke injury that did not arise in the course of a disease and was not caused by a disease – if the worker's employment materially contributed to the injury.

    (2)     In determining, for subsection (1), whether the worker's employment materially contributed to the injury or disease:

        (a)     the following must be taken into account:

            (i)     the duration of the worker's employment with the employer or employers who were the worker's employers at the time of the injury or the onset of the disease;

            (ii)     the nature of the work performed;

            (iii)     the particular tasks of the employment;

            (iv)     the probability of the injury or disease occurring if that employment had not taken place;

            (v)     the existence of any hereditary risks;

            (vi)     the lifestyle of the worker;

            (vii)     the activities of the worker outside the workplace; and

        (b)     the material contribution of the worker's employment to the injury or disease is to be determined in accordance with section 4(8).

    (3)     In this section:

"heart attack injury" means an injury to the heart, or a blood vessel supplying blood to, or associated with, the heart, that consists of, is caused by, results in or is associated with any of the following:

        (a)     a heart attack;

        (b)     a myocardial infarction;

        (c)     a myocardial ischaemia;

        (d)     angina, whether unstable or otherwise;

        (e)     fibrillation, whether atrial, ventricular or otherwise;

        (f)     an arrhythmia of the heart;

        (g)     tachycardia, whether ventricular, supra ventricular or otherwise;

        (h)     harm or damage to the blood vessel or associated plaque;

            (i)     an impairment, disturbance or alteration of blood, or blood circulation, within the blood vessel;

        (j)     an occlusion of the blood vessel, whether the occlusion is total or partial;

        (k)     a rupture of the blood vessel, including a rupture of an aneurism of the blood vessel;

        (l)     a haemorrhage from the blood vessel;

        (m)     an aortic dissection;

        (n)     any consequential physical harm or damage, including harm or damage to the brain;

        (o)     any consequential mental harm or damage.

"stroke injury" means an injury to the brain, or a blood vessel supplying blood to, or associated with, the brain, that consists of, is caused by, results in or is associated with any of the following:

        (a)     a stroke;

        (b)     a cerebral infarction;

        (c)     a cerebral ischaemia;

        (d)     a rupture of the blood vessel, including a rupture of an aneurism of the blood vessel;

        (e)     a subarachnoid haemorrhage;

        (f)     a haemorrhage from the blood vessel;

        (g)     harm or damage to the blood vessel or associated plaque;

        (h)     an impairment, disturbance or alteration of blood, or blood circulation, within the blood vessel;

            (i)     an occlusion of the blood vessel, whether the occlusion is total or partial;

        (j)     any consequential physical harm or damage, including neurological harm or damage;

        (k)     any consequential mental harm or damage.