Select Your Project Team
When you begin a cost containment program, think about it as a process — how will you tackle the problem, one bite at a time. It’s a problem, not unlike any other problem at your company, so approach it with a fresh perspective. First think about WHO will you need to work on the program with you, then you and the team can plan WHAT you need to do. The most important thing to do, is to take the first step. That is where most employers are derailed, before they begin, because they can’t take the first step. Here’s an overview of the 4 step process. It’s a fluid process, so you can change team members if that is necessary at some point.
Your Injury Management Planning Team should include:
1. Risk manager or workers’ compensation manager.
2. General manager or plant manager.
3. Director of personnel or human resources.
4. Labor relations and others as warranted.
5. External consultants provide industry expertise (optional).
The Planning Team will be responsible for:
1. Analyzing the frequency and severity of lost time injuries.
2. Inventory and briefly analyze the open lost time claims.
3. Review the company’s current procedures for claim handling, injury management, transitional duty and steps taking place when an injury occurs. (workersxzcompxzkit)
4. Review loss trends with appropriate benchmarks.
Select Your Team Leader
Select a strong team leader who has sufficient time to dedicate to the project because the team leader is expected to devote 90% of his or her time to the project. If the team lead has an admin, it could take less than 90% of their time, because some things can be delegated. IF you are serious about implementing a program, plan to spend most of your time on the program for the first few weeks, then the time commitment will taper off, especially if the forms and templates in Workers Comp Kit® are used; using the kit will reduce the time required of you by at least 50%, because you won’t be starting from scratch. Your team should include individuals who can influence the outcome of workers’ compensation activities in the workplace.
Consider selecting team members from all walks of risk management as a first step in the Assessment and Recommendation Phase. You want teammates who can contribute vital information about all aspects of your current program, including vendor partners, associated claims, and reported losses.
Position titles may vary from company to company, so you want to select teammates in comparable roles.
1. Risk manager or injury coordinator; general manager or plant manager.
2. Director of personnel or human resources.
3. Labor relations and others as warranted.
4. Company medical personnel.
5. External consultants to provide industry expertise (optional).
The planning team begins by identifying programs, activities, and procedures currently in existence at the company so a baseline can be established. Think of it as an inventory including:
1. Analyzing the frequency and severity of lost-time injuries.
2. Identifying and analyzing open lost-time claims.
4. Reviewing the company’s current procedures for claim handling, injury management, transitional duty and steps taking place when an injury occurs. (workersxzcompxzkit)
5. Reviewing loss trends with appropriate benchmarks.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker about workers’ comp issues.
