Workers’ compensation specialist Employers Mutual (EML) has launched a national self-insurance division.

Its first self-insured client is Woolworths, which will transfer about 100 of its workers’ compensation staff to EML in the next year.

“Our focus is on Woolworths and making sure our division is set up to achieve good claims outcomes for it, but certainly we will be looking to other self-insured clients in the future,” division GM Joanne Zarb told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

The supermarket chain is EML’s first non-government self-insured client, she says.

EML also handles workers’ compensation claims for the NSW Treasury Managed Fund, for government employees.

“Our new self-insured division is an extension of that service,” Ms Zarb said.

The ACT is the only area of the country that will not take part in the new deal, because Woolworths does not have self-insured status there.

The self-insured division has about 150 staff across Australia, with its headquarters in Sydney.

EML has appointed about six of its own managers, and more staff will be added as the unit’s structure and resources needs are determined.

The partnerships means EML can provide technical expertise to Woolworths, Ms Zarb says. When self-insureds manage their claims internally, the complexities of workers’ compensation can create problems.

EML set up the division, targeting large corporate groups, because “we can see there’s a need for this kind of arrangement having that national presence”.

New business will probably be referred by brokers.

EML has also launched an online member portal, EMpower, allowing SA employer members to lodge injury notifications, view policy and claims summary data and access claims reporting in real time.