What should be checked before relying on a WPI figure?
Check maximum medical improvement, the body area, objective findings, the NSW Guideline chapter and any NSW modification before relying on a percentage.
Can this page calculate your percentage?
No. WPI depends on an assessor, maximum medical improvement, objective findings and the NSW Guidelines. This page is general information only.
Permanent impairment assessment
How permanent impairment is assessed for Respiratory system, occupational lung disease and breathing function
Respiratory WPI is not based on shortness of breath alone. NSW generally requires a stable respiratory diagnosis, specialist assessment, pulmonary function testing and careful consideration of work-related exposure, pre-existing disease and non-work factors.
What injuries can happen to this body part?
- Occupational asthma or irritant-induced respiratory symptoms
- Chemical, smoke or dust exposure with respiratory consequences
- Occupational lung disease, noting dust disease pathways may be separate from ordinary workers compensation WPI assessment
- Residual lung cancer or respiratory consequences after treatment where relevant
- Sleep apnoea or upper airway issues only where the correct specialist pathway applies
Symptoms and findings that matter
- Respiratory specialist diagnosis and causal explanation
- Pulmonary function testing under standard conditions
- FEV1, FEV1 percentage, medication and repeat testing where occupational asthma is alleged
- Imaging, pathology, exposure records and occupational hygiene evidence where relevant
- Pre-existing disease, smoking, non-work exposure or other contribution recorded in the assessor report
- Whether a dust disease issue belongs in a different statutory pathway
What investigations are usually relevant?
- Treating specialist report and final impairment assessment at maximum medical improvement
- Imaging, pathology, audiology, ophthalmology, respiratory, nerve or functional testing that fits the body system
- Operative reports, discharge summaries, rehabilitation records and objective clinical measurements where relevant
How WPI is assessed for this body part
- Respiratory WPI is not based on shortness of breath alone. NSW generally requires a stable respiratory diagnosis, specialist assessment, pulmonary function testing and careful consideration of work-related exposure, pre-existing disease and non-work factors.
- Assessment source: NSW Guidelines Chapter 8 respiratory system. AMA5 Chapter 5 is adopted subject to NSW modifications, including pulmonary function testing rules, asthma requirements and dust-disease exclusions.
- The assessor should explain maximum medical improvement, the body-system chapter, the method selected, any NSW modification, and why the objective findings fit that method.
How movement affects the assessment
- ROM is not the respiratory WPI method.
- Functional breathlessness may affect capacity, but WPI requires the respiratory chapter method and stable objective testing.
NSW respiratory assessment rules
Objective respiratory testingRespiratory impairment is usually classified through pulmonary function testing under standard conditions and specialist clinical assessment.
AsthmaOccupational asthma assessment requires consistent repeat lung function testing over a six-month period and evidence of maximal treatment/compliance; bronchial challenge testing is not performed as part of the impairment assessment.
Non-work contributionPre-existing disease and lifestyle factors such as smoking must be considered and any deduction should be recorded by the assessor.
Dust diseasesPneumoconiosis is excluded from this Guideline pathway because dust diseases are dealt with under dust diseases legislation.
Practical WPI examples
- Silica, asbestos, asthma or chemical exposure issues usually need objective respiratory testing and exposure evidence.
- Shortness of breath after an incident does not set WPI without a stable diagnosis and the correct respiratory method.
- For occupational asthma, the source material requires consistent repeat lung function testing over six months and maximal treatment/compliance evidence.
- An isolated abnormal diffusing capacity result should be interpreted cautiously and its cause clarified.
Evidence checklist
- A clear diagnosis and the body area being assessed
- Records showing the condition has reached maximum medical improvement, if that is the issue
- Specialist reports, imaging reports and treating notes relied on by the assessor
- Objective findings on examination, not only symptoms described by the injured person
- A work and treatment chronology explaining the injury, treatment, surgery and recovery path
- Any previous injury, degeneration, congenital issue or non-work cause that needs apportionment considered
- Respiratory specialist report
- Spirometry and lung function tests
- Repeat lung function tests for asthma where relevant
- Chest imaging
- Exposure records and safety data sheets
- PPE history
- Work-history documents
- Smoking and non-work exposure history if relevant
What usually does not increase WPI
- Assuming a scan result automatically gives a WPI percentage
- Confusing pain, disability or inability to work with permanent impairment
- Ignoring maximum medical improvement before arranging an assessment
- Using an AMA5 table without checking whether the NSW Guidelines modify or replace it
- Double counting the same impairment through two methods when the Guidelines require one method
- Predicting WPI from a respiratory diagnosis name alone
- Using symptoms without stable objective testing
- Ignoring non-work contribution or previous respiratory disease
- Treating dust disease issues as ordinary respiratory WPI without checking the correct pathway
Assessment source
Assessment source: Assessment source: NSW Guidelines Chapter 8 respiratory system. AMA5 Chapter 5 is adopted subject to NSW modifications, including pulmonary function testing rules, asthma requirements and dust-disease exclusions.
This section is source-backed general information. It is not a WPI assessment and is not legal advice.
- SIRA NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: Source for the NSW assessment framework, MMI, AMA5 adoption, NSW modifications and exclusions.
- SIRA respiratory system chapter, Chapter 8: Source for respiratory impairment assessment where a respiratory injury is alleged.
Related injury and claim pages
- Common injury evidence hub
- Work injury claims NSW
- Claim process
- Compensation and entitlements
- Ask about an impairment issue
- NSW Injury Claim Evidence, Documents and Templates - This library helps injured people organise incident, medical, income, correspondence and daily-impact records into a clear working file, without presenting any checklist or template as an official form.
- NSW Injury Claims by Location - NSW Injury Claims accepts enquiries from across NSW. The claim pathway depends on how the injury happened, while phone, online and electronic document handling can make an initial enquiry possible without creating a false impression of premises in every region.
- Skin and Scarring WPI Assessment NSW - Other body systems permanent impairment assessment guide with NSW Guideline source notes.
Need a practical claim check?
If an impairment percentage, medical assessment or insurer decision is affecting your NSW injury claim, send the decision or report for a practical review. This is general information only and does not guarantee any result.
Request a free claim checkAssessment scope for Respiratory Impairment WPI Assessment
The assessment scope for Respiratory Impairment WPI Assessment should be stated precisely before any percentage is considered. The file should identify whether that label describes the primary diagnosed condition, a symptom of another injury, a regional overview or one component of a broader impairment. Findings from another body area or diagnosis should not be transferred without explanation. The report should connect the stated condition to the correct NSW Guideline chapter, objective findings, treatment history and any permitted combination or apportionment method. This distinction is particularly important where similar page labels cover different clinical questions.
- Confirm the diagnosis and body area being assessed as Respiratory Impairment
- Separate condition-specific findings from overlapping symptoms or injuries in another body area
- Check that the selected NSW Guideline chapter and method match the condition actually assessed
- Explain any combination, apportionment or exclusion rather than relying on the page label alone
Start with maximum medical improvement
Permanent impairment should generally be assessed when the condition is stable and unlikely to change substantially in the next year. Treatment, surgery and rehabilitation history may affect whether the timing is appropriate.
Use the NSW Guidelines first
The NSW Guidelines adopt AMA5 in many areas, but NSW modifications prevail. Do not assume an AMA5 table applies without checking the NSW chapter and any public SIRA clarification.
Keep the assessment practical
A useful assessment file separates diagnosis, objective findings, surgery history, work capacity issues, apportionment questions and the body-area method used by the assessor.
Ask about an impairment issueDocuments and records
Injury evidence to organise early
The useful records depend on how the injury happened, when symptoms were recorded and how treatment or work capacity changed.
- Date, location and short description of the injury event
- Medical certificates, reports, scans, treatment records or hospital documents
- Employer, insurer, police, incident or venue records where relevant
- Photos, witness details, dashcam or other supporting material if available
- Income, superannuation, work capacity or leave records where relevant
- Letters, emails, claim numbers and decisions already received
Common questions
Injury evidence questions
Short general answers only. The right next step depends on the facts, dates and documents.
Is WPI the same as being unable to work?
No. WPI is a medical impairment measure. Work capacity, weekly payments, damages, treatment disputes and TPD issues are separate questions, although the evidence may overlap.
Does pain alone create a WPI percentage?
Not by itself. NSW workers compensation excludes AMA5 Chapter 18 on pain. Chronic pain is assessed through the underlying diagnosed condition where the Guidelines permit it.
Can secondary psychological symptoms be added to physical WPI?
In NSW workers compensation, secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment is not assessed as permanent impairment. Primary psychological impairment is assessed separately and is not combined with physical WPI.
Injury pathway enquiry
Not sure which claim type matches the injury?
Start with how the injury happened, what medical records exist and how work or daily activity has changed. The same injury can sit in different pathways.