The average psychosocial injury claim in NSW has nearly doubled in five years to $288,542 — and that's just the direct cost. Hidden costs run three to ten times higher. From 1 July 2026, employers also pay the first two weeks out of pocket. Here's what a claim actually costs a small contractor, and what it costs to prevent one.

Working a 12-hour day increases injury risk by 37%. In NSW, the average psychosocial injury claim now costs $288,542 — and only half of those workers return within a year. The signs build across the shift, not at sign-on — which is why SOV·32 checks in three times, not once.