ACC admits information botch-up

ACC has admitted a blunder in which up to 2000 companies were sent private information about workers' accidents that should have gone to other employers.

The information includes names, descriptions of accidents, injuries, treatment and ACC payments.

Petone business owner Marilyn Norling blew the whistle on the blunder.

She was sent private details about a Whanganui man she didn't know, who had suffered a fall.

The privacy breach prompted an apology from ACC levies general manager Keith McLea, who ordered a full investigation.

"We've already begun the process of retrieving information that's been sent out to the wrong locations," he said. "Our clients' information is of the utmost importance to us. We're very disappointed that people's privacy may have been breached."

The error was traced to a mailing house, used by ACC to send a monthly report to businesses with employees who had been injured in the workplace, Dr McLea said.

"Unfortunately, with the January report, information was not collated correctly by the mailing house. This meant some employers will have received claim information intended for other organisations.

"We have been informed that up to 2000 organisations nationwide will have received information that should have gone to another employer."

It was not clear how many workers were affected, Dr McLea said.

"We are very apologetic to anyone who has had their information inadvertently sent to another company.

"Our prime concern is to ensure we get this information back as soon as we can. After that, we will of course be holding discussions with the mailing house."

Mrs Norling, co-owner of Bathroom Solutions, in Petone, said she couldn't believe her eyes when she found information about an accident that happened to a Whanganui worker she knew nothing about.

The man, a heavy machine operator, injured his back, shoulder, ribs and legs in a fall.

"I was quite horrified to think I had someone else's information attached to my letter."

She contacted ACC and was told the agency had received other complaints of similar incidents.

She was not satisfied with the explanation, in light of the ACC levies paid by small businesses.

"In our job we're accountable. If our customers aren't 100 per cent happy, there can be a problem with payment. With ACC, you have to pay."

The Whanganui firm that employed the injured worker declined to comment.

Last year ACC admitted it had mistakenly made $12 million in payments to 170 people, some of them sexual abuse claimants, who were not entitled to the cash.

A spokesman for ACC Minister Nick Smith said yesterday that the breach of privacy was unacceptable.

Mr Smith had sought an explanation from ACC as to how it had happened and had requested urgent action be taken to correct it.