Cut, stab, abrasion and laceration
Meaning of cut, stab, abrasion and laceration: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, cut, stab, abrasion and laceration: (a) means an injury that interrupts the continuity of the epidermis or other external or exposed tissue and causes a wound. The wound may or may not penetrate to the subcutaneous tissues and underlying structures; and (b) includes friction burns and needlestick injury; and (c) excludes wounds that were caused by: (i) burns other than friction burns; (ii) dental abrasion; (iii) explosive device or fragment thereof; (iv) gunshot; (v) missile; or (vi) traumatic contusion or haematoma;
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 37 of 2025
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting cut, stab, abrasion and laceration or death from cut, stab, abrasion and laceration with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having direct physical trauma to the affected site at the time of the cut, stab, abrasion or laceration;
Note: Examples of friction burns (a type of abrasion) include those from sliding down ropes, motorcycle or bicycle accidents and a common type of stab wound is a needlestick injury.
- (2)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for cut, stab, abrasion or laceration before clinical worsening;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(2) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 38 of 2025
2 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, cut, stab, abrasion and laceration or death from cut, stab, abrasion and laceration is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having direct physical trauma to the affected site at the time of the cut, stab, abrasion or laceration;
Note: Examples of friction burns (a type of abrasion) include those from sliding down ropes, motorcycle or bicycle accidents and a common type of stab wound is a needlestick injury.
- (2)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for cut, stab, abrasion or laceration before clinical worsening;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(2) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
