Confidential information on individual workers' injuries and
cost of treatment has been sent in error to more than 2000
businesses, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
admitted tonight.
ACC said it provided businesses around the country with a
report on injuries that occurred in their workplace.
The report had two parts, a cover sheet and an attachment
which included the name of the individuals, the type of
injury they sustained and the cost to date.
About 15,000 businesses received such a report each month.
ACC said in line with standard practice in the public and
private sectors, it used an external mail house for a
mail-out of this size.
The mail house collated and sent the reports but was not
involved with the data in individual reports.
"While the mail house does have measures to ensure that the
right attachment goes with the right cover letter,
unfortunately a problem has occurred with the January
mail-out. The reports have not been collated correctly by the
mail house and some 2000 businesses will have received
information intended for other organisations, including
private information," ACC general manager Keith McLea said.
ACC learnt of the problem today and said it was attempting to
get the reports back and to the correct businesses.
"We have also requested a full investigation be done by the
mail house and that they review their processes to ensure
that this doesn't happen again. We have also contacted the
Privacy Commissioner to advise what has happened."
The organisation said it was disappointed in the privacy
breach and apologised to individuals and businesses that had
been affected.
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