Editor's Corner
Tips for Controlling Your Worker's Comp Costs
Take a look around your company. Chances are, your workplace has changed in the past 10 years. Your workforce has changed as well. For telecom workers as well as many other trades, the U.S. workforce is aging. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that 25% of the workforce will be age 55 or older by 2020. This aging workforce brings with it the potential for escalating workers' compensation costs, particularly since older employees typically experience more severe workplace injuries and illnesses than younger ones.
One of the most effective ways to reduce these escalating costs is through a commitment to workplace safety. A commitment to safety is the key to a successful workers' compensation process and cost containment. A successful process creates a better work environment and improves productivity. A commitment to workplace safety makes your company an attractive place to work, helping you retain employees and reduce employee turnover.
Time of Hire
Make every effort to ascertain that new or potential hires are physically capable of handling the requirements of the job. A job interview provides an opportunity to gauge a potential employee's safety commitment. Including a section on your company's safety policies and procedures in the employee orientation reinforces your safety culture from day one. A new or potential hire should also be mentally capable of understanding and consistently applying safety training, procedures, and protocols. Companies with safety in their DNA want to make sure they hire employees with the same mind-set. Understand that age, obesity and comorbidities will generally create more time and treatment for injured workers to return to full duty after an accident. A more extensive transitional duty program may be necessary to mitigate off-duty status.
Day-to-Day
Build a safety culture. A safety-focused work culture attracts safety-minded employees. With a strong safety culture, both management and employees are engaged in the process and share responsibility for accident prevention and effective injury management. Encourage collaboration and communication to promote safety as their priority. Employees will feel more comfortable voicing their suggestions and concerns and may be more involved in developing and revising safety procedures. If an incident happens, everyone knows what to do and how to report the incident. Establish a return-to-work or light duty program. Don't wait until you have an injured employee to develop a plan to have light or restricted duty jobs available. It is better for all parties involved when the employee is back in your offices, outside plant or CO and being productive (in accordance with a doctor's release) than sitting idle while trying to get back to 100%. Treat near misses as accidents. Defect check processes and analyze root causes to develop the best safety solutions for operational activities. In states where it is permitted, post medical panels to inform injured workers and managers as to which occupational medical providers in the area are available to treat work-related injuries.
When an Injury Occurs
Contact Unitel or the insurance company as soon as possible after an occurrence. Promoting an employee to report an injury assures that necessary medical attention is provided and a return-to work process is put into place. Claims reported to Unitel or the carrier within three days of injury cost up to 20% less than claims reported outside that time frame.
Conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused the accident and make workplace adjustments to prevent similar accidents. Carriers may need your support in validating the accident or to pursue subrogation against a third party. Don't wait to complete this step before reporting a claim to the carrier. Maintain regular contact with the injured employee throughout the course of recovery. Management should accompany the injured worker for initial treatment and should make sure that the medical provider is aware of the availability of transitional or modified duty when the injured worker is capable of performing that duty safely. Unitel offers a wide variety of assistance to you with risk management services designed to reduce the potential for claims as well as Human Resources and Workers' Compensation services to help you meet the challenge ahead. Contact Unitel today!
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