As an employer you hear the recommendation “stay involved in your workers compensation claims.” Great advice, but often the discussion ends without any explanation as to what “staying involved” means.
Employer involvement in a workers compensation claim begins before the injury occurs and ends when the employee is back at work, fully recovered from the injury. (WCxKit)
The Pre-injury Process
Sooner or later an employee is injured on the job. Here are 12 steps an employer can take prior to an injury occurring. Taking these steps impacts the outcome of the workers compensation claim. (WCxKit)
1. Provide each new hire with an employee accident brochure outlining what the employee will do in case of an accidental injury.
2. Have a written transitional duty policy.
3. Provide each supervisor within the company a written guide on how they are to report and be involved in workers compensation claims.
4. Post the injury procedure policy where all employees will see it.
5. Have a published returned to work policy.
6. Have a strong safety program and tie the manager's performance evaluation, raise, bonus or promotion to his or her safety record.
7. Award each month (or quarter) the department with the best safety record with recognition and prizes to the employees.
8. Have a medical provider network in place through your insurance company or join a medical provider network for self-insureds.
9. Prevent fraud by letting all employees know workers compensation fraud takes money away from their raises and bonuses.
10. Put up posters reminding employee that workers compensation fraud is a crime and will be fully prosecuted.
11. Post all the state required notices in a place convenient for all employees to see including workers compensation laws, OSHA posters and anything else required in your state. (WCxKit)
12. Post a list of the required medical providers (where allowed by state statute) or recommended medical facilities (in the states where the employee is allowed to select their own doctor).
Implementing these first pre-injury 12-steps starts the employer down the path of efficient injury and claim management toward happier, healthier employees and work comp cost reductions.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing.
Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
©2010 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@WorkersCompKit.com.
