Assessment overview
How this assessment usually works
Facial disorder and disfigurement are assessed under NSW Table 6.1, which replaces AMA5 Table 11-5. The permanent deformity, structural loss, scar or facial-nerve effect must satisfy the wording of a class before a precise WPI is selected within its range.
For facial injury and disfigurement, the assessor gives a medical opinion about permanent impairment under the NSW workers compensation guidelines; the assessor does not decide legal liability. Once the body-system method and percentage are understood, separate advice may be needed about Section 66 compensation, weekly payments, medical-expense time limits or work injury damages.
Injuries and diagnoses assessed in this body system
The referral and report should identify the accepted diagnosis precisely. Similar symptoms can use different assessment methods depending on the injured structure.
- permanent facial scarring, pigmentation, contour or tissue loss after burns, laceration, crush injury or surgery
- loss or deformity of part of the nose or outer ear
- loss of supporting facial structures, including a depressed cheek or frontal bone
- unilateral or bilateral facial-nerve paralysis affecting most branches
- loss of an eye or another normal facial part with cosmetic deformity, with functional loss assessed separately where permitted
When a permanent impairment assessment can occur
For facial injury and disfigurement, assessment should occur only after maximum medical improvement (MMI). NSW Guidelines paragraph 1.15 describes a condition that is well stabilised and unlikely to change substantially during the next year, with or without treatment.
For facial injury and disfigurement, if adequate treatment or rehabilitation could materially change the impairment, paragraph 1.16 says the assessment should be deferred. The report should explain why the timing is appropriate.
For facial injury and disfigurement, the face should be assessed after wound healing, scar maturation and any likely reconstructive treatment have stabilised. Clinical photographs should document the final appearance consistently and respectfully.
The NSW and AMA5 assessment method
The NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines prevail over AMA5 wherever the two differ. The method is a medical assessment framework, not a self-scoring exercise.
NSW Table 6.1 replaces AMA5 Table 11-5 for facial disorder or disfigurement. The four NSW classes are 0-5%, 6-10%, 11-15% and 16-50% WPI.
The assessor identifies the class from the permanent structural loss, deformity, scar or facial-nerve dysfunction, then selects a precise WPI within that range using the severity and functional effect. The face is not assessed under the non-facial TEMSKI scar table.
A distinct functional impairment, such as vision loss after loss of an eye, is assessed under its own controlling method and combined only where NSW Table 6.1 and the other chapter permit it.
Psychological distress about appearance may be clinically important but does not turn a facial table rating into a separate secondary psychiatric WPI.
What the assessor actually measures
For facial injury and disfigurement, the percentage should be traceable to relevant, stable and reproducible findings.
- location, size, colour, texture, contour, pigmentation and visibility of permanent facial scars
- loss of supporting structure, nasal or outer-ear definition and absence of a normal facial part
- distribution and severity of facial-nerve paralysis
- clinical photographs taken under consistent conditions and the outcome of reconstruction or scar treatment
- separate objective functional loss such as vision, nasal airflow or hearing where a different body-system method applies
How the measurements are converted to WPI
Class 1, 0-5% WPI, covers matters such as visible simple scars or pigmentation, mild unilateral facial paralysis, nasal distortion affecting appearance, or partial outer-ear loss or deformity.
Class 2, 6-10% WPI, covers loss of supporting facial structure with or without skin disorder, or near-complete loss of outer-ear definition.
Class 3, 11-15% WPI, covers absence of a normal facial part with cosmetic deformity, severe unilateral facial paralysis, or mild bilateral facial paralysis.
Class 4, 16-50% WPI, is reserved for massive or total distortion that precludes social acceptance, severe bilateral facial paralysis, or loss of a major portion or the entire nose.
The class range is not a menu. The report must explain the exact point selected from the supported findings and must not import the displaced AMA5 Table 11-5 value.
Verified category and table examples
These short examples show how the published method works. They do not predict an individual assessment.
| Finding or category | Published value or method | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NSW facial Class 1 | 0-5% WPI | NSW Guidelines Table 6.1 |
| NSW facial Class 2 | 6-10% WPI | NSW Guidelines Table 6.1 |
| NSW facial Class 3 | 11-15% WPI | NSW Guidelines Table 6.1 |
| NSW facial Class 4 | 16-50% WPI | NSW Guidelines Table 6.1 |
Worked illustrations
How the assessment method can operate
These paraphrased illustrations explain the published method. They are not estimates of another worker's WPI.
Illustration: structural loss selects the facial class before the exact point
Assumed findings: A hospitality worker has a mature accepted facial injury with near-complete loss of outer-ear definition. The photographs and surgical records show stable structural loss, without a separate accepted hearing impairment.
Method and arithmetic: Near-complete loss of outer-ear definition is a Class 2 criterion in NSW Table 6.1, giving a range of 6-10% WPI. The assessor selects the exact value from the degree of deformity and functional effect and explains the choice.
What the illustration shows: A partial outer-ear deformity may instead fall in Class 1, while any distinct hearing loss would require the separate NSW Chapter 9 method. This paraphrased illustration is not an estimate.
Method source: NSW Guidelines paragraph 6.4 and Table 6.1
What does not establish WPI by itself
These matters can remain medically and practically important, but they do not replace the measurements or category requirements in the applicable method.
- the fact that a scar is visible without applying the NSW facial class criteria
- temporary redness, swelling or an appearance that may still materially change with treatment
- a non-facial skin percentage used for a facial disorder
- psychological distress added as secondary psychiatric WPI
- a displaced AMA5 Table 11-5 value used instead of NSW Table 6.1
Evidence checklist
The assessor should receive enough material to test the accepted injury, stability, measurable impairment and any deduction.
- the accepted injury or disease description and any insurer liability decisions
- contemporaneous GP, hospital and treating-specialist records
- relevant investigations, pathology, procedure reports and treatment history
- earlier impairment assessments and evidence about any pre-existing impairment
- a current clinical opinion explaining stability and whether material improvement remains likely
- plastic-surgery, burns, maxillofacial, ENT or facial-nerve specialist reports as relevant
- operation and reconstruction records and dated clinical photographs under consistent conditions
- objective facial-nerve examination and separate visual, hearing or airway tests where relevant
- pre-injury photographs or records if a deduction for prior disfigurement is proposed
Common insurer or report disputes
A disagreement about facial injury and disfigurement WPI may concern the accepted diagnosis, the body-system findings, the selected method, a deduction or the way another impairment was handled. The report should identify the disputed step rather than leave the percentage unexplained.
- appearance alone is assigned a percentage without applying NSW Table 6.1
- a temporary post-operative appearance is assessed before stability
- the displaced AMA5 facial table is used instead of the NSW replacement
- facial and non-facial scar methods are duplicated
Sources for this assessment guide
The public NSW Guidelines control where they modify AMA5. AMA5 table references below identify the method without reproducing the proprietary table in full.
- NSW Guidelines Chapter 6, paragraph 6.4 and Table 6.1: replacement facial-disorder and disfigurement classes and WPI ranges.
- AMA5 Chapter 11, section 11.3: background facial examination only; AMA5 Table 11-5 is replaced by NSW Table 6.1.
- NSW Guidelines Chapter 10 or Chapter 9 where applicable: separate vision or hearing loss that may be combined only where permitted.
Questions to ask when the report comes back
These questions help identify whether the report explains its method and evidence. They do not replace medical or legal advice about the particular assessment.
- Which NSW Table 6.1 class criterion is satisfied?
- What permanent deformity, structural loss or functional effect supports it?
- Why was the precise percentage selected within the class range?
- Has further reconstructive treatment been considered before assessment?
How this connects to thresholds and strategy
In a facial injury and disfigurement claim, SIRA's permanent impairment thresholds must be applied to the accepted injury and the supported body-system percentage. The general thresholds are 11% or more permanent impairment for physical injury and 15% or more for primary psychological injury; secondary psychological injury is treated differently. A threshold is an eligibility checkpoint, not a promised payment.
A low facial injury and disfigurement WPI opinion may affect weekly-payment planning, treatment time-limit issues, dispute posture and whether work injury damages threshold advice is required. Before the opinion is relied on, check the relevant measurements, body-system method, deduction and practical consequences.
Questions workers often ask
Does every visible facial scar attract WPI?
No. The permanent result must be classified under NSW Table 6.1, and the report must explain the class and precise percentage.
What are the NSW facial-disfigurement class ranges?
NSW Table 6.1 contains Class 1 at 0-5% WPI, Class 2 at 6-10%, Class 3 at 11-15%, and Class 4 at 16-50%, each with its own criteria.
Is the ordinary skin-scar table used for the face?
No. Facial disorder and disfigurement use NSW Table 6.1. The TEMSKI skin method concerns non-facial scarring and skin impairment.
Can assessment occur before reconstructive treatment is complete?
Assessment should wait until maximum medical improvement. If further treatment could materially alter the permanent result, NSW paragraph 1.16 supports deferral.
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.