I’m often asked why an interactive tool kit is an effective means of transforming a company’s workers’ comp program. It’s a good question and the answer isn’t obvious.
The answer: This is how you bring it down to your workplace, superimpose it on YOUR culture; this is where you “bring it home.” Often an employer has many ideas of how to reduce their costs, but does not have the structure to make changes needed. In traditional programs, a consultant walks a company through the process, a technique that is very effective. Online resources serve the same purpose — automation of the process.
For example, just like when the CEO says “there will be a safety culture,” employees begin pushing their chairs in and engaging in concrete practices where a safety culture is superimposed on the workplace. In the workers’ comp cost containment context, the employee will start taking the Work Ability Form to the doctor, faxing it back, and working in a transitional duty assignment to keep the circle contained. This brings the book information down to the day-to-day implementation level. Tools provided by the online resource such as timetable, checklists and brochures are the conduit between the aggregate of knowledge and the individual employer. They are the pipeline for an individual to be able to transform thoughts to action. It provides the framework – it gives the tools to “eat elephant in one bite”.
Online tool kits are interactive not passive; this allows you to apply knowledge to the workplace. Every time you click, you move forward, a step closer to solving your problem. As an example, with Workers’ Comp Kit® you get your National Workers’ Compensation Management Scoreâ„¢, then move to the recommendations checklist, plot these on the timetable, and continue moving forward. It provides the structure needed to move forward.
WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel or other professionals before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
I am often asked why, when doing an assessment, I ask “Do you have at least one book about workers’ compensation on your shelf?” It sounds so silly, but it’s really not. The companies with the lowest workers’ compensation costs have resources! I’ve seen it over and over. It goes like this … there are three divisions in a company and two don’t have any books about work comp on their shelves and one DOES have a book. The one with the book always has lower losses and employees back to work sooner.
Companies in the know, know what they don’t know and almost 100% of the time have at least one book on workers’ compensation on their shelf. I’m not just saying this because Amaxx publishes a book on Workers Comp Cost Containment (although it’s a great book), I’m telling you this because it’s the truth.
Clients argue that “they ask their brokers and their TPAs” about workers’ compensation cost containment so on the National Workers Compensation Management Score, they should get an extra point for asking a broker, carrier or TPA about workers’ comp cost control. But, there’s a difference. Much of the time that’s reactive, not proactive. And you don’t have it “at your fingertips” to browse at will.
Newsletters, conferences, and your brokers, TPAs and carriers offer great information, but you need a resource at your fingertips, especially if you plan to teach others on your team about workers’ comp cost control, but it’s not realistic to rely on your broker for a complete education. Many offer excellent seminars and have consulting expertise which can supplement the other tools you have at your disposal.
Over the years, I’ve used several resources including IRMI. You can read about that on my site at IRMI Manual. And U.S. Chamber of Commerce WC Analysis. I bet your broker has this and you can get a free copy from them.
Learn about IRMI WC Manual: http://www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/IRMI-Workers-Comp-Guide.php You’ll receive a 10% discount if you use our WC8 Code.
Read about Amaxx book here: http://www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/workers-comp-books-manuals.php Receive a 20% RIMS Member discount.
WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel or other professionals before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
It is often hard to get started, just getting the momentum to get moving sometimes seems overwhelming especially when the task is as large as “reduce your workers comp costs.” It’s so difficult to get started, in fact, that many companies don’t EVER get started.
Several things that may help:
1- Choose 1-2 changes – Eat elephant in small bites — not all at once. It’s a big task, so break it down into smaller ones.
2- Start Now – Don’t wait until all the “lights are on green” to drive down Main Street. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect for you to get started. The important thing is to JUST START.
3- Delegate some of the load - If you plan many changes, learn to delegate to others. You can plan, but you may need help with the execution of the tasks.
4- Hold Everyone Accountable – Use a Timetable which is updated every week — list each task, who is responsible for completion of the task, and the time-frame for completion. Click here to see a sample: TIMETABLE SAMPLE
WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Learn about our BOOKS and MANUALS for sale.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel or other professionals before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
Injury Duration Guidelines are a tool for employers. They are helpful to know approximately how long an injured worker may be out of work. It is a way to compare against what the doctor and/or the employee say is the expectation of time out of work. If there is a discrepancy in the what you are told, ask your medical advisor. Many employers do not know that this type of tool exists.
Keep in mind any length of disability depends on many factors such as the severity of the injury and other medical conditions. For example, it may take a person with diabetes much longer to heal, than someone who does not have this condition so check with your medical advisor about lengths of time a person should be out of work.
When using these guidelines as a tool, minimum times equate to clerical, light-duty job. Maximum time-frames are for heavy industrial type jobs. All time-frames are measured in weeks, unless otherwise noted.
AND, you can figure out the potential cost savings by using the Transitional Duty Calculator to see that this can save up to $126,000 enter 21 days X $200/day plus $1,500 replacement costs X 4.5% profit margin. Change the data to your own data. This is an example. Transitional Duty Calculator
Injury Duration Guidelines-Upper Extremity Injuries
| Type of Injury Upper Extremity |
Area# Weeks |
Area #Weeks |
Area #Weeks |
Area #Weeks |
Area #Weeks |
| |
Arm |
Elbow |
Forearm |
Wrist/Hand |
Fingers Thumbs |
| Abrasion Contusions |
1-2 |
2-4 |
1 |
1 |
1
|
| Burns |
0-6 |
0-6 |
1-20 |
1-10 |
1-10
|
| Dislocation |
See Part |
3-6 |
|
2-6 |
1-3
|
| Fractures |
6-8 |
3-6 |
6-12 |
6-10 |
3-5
|
| Incisions |
0-2 |
2-24 |
2-24 |
2-8 |
2-8
|
| Lacerations |
0-6+ |
2-8 |
2-8 |
1-4 |
1-4
|
| Punctures |
0-3 |
2-4 |
2-4 |
1-3 |
1-2
|
| Sprains/Strains |
See Part |
1-3 |
|
1-3 |
1
|
| Repetitive MotionTendinitis |
See Part |
0-3 |
|
1-6 |
0-3 SeeNote 6
|
Note 1: Burn healing depends on degree (area and depth)
Note 2: Dislocations and Fractures apply to ribs. Punctures and incisions are those penetrating the thoracic cavity.
Note 3: Punctures and incisions are those penetrating the abdominal cavity.
Note 4: 2nd or 3rd degree, area variable.
Note 5: Total recuperation. However, there may be little disability during that time if walking is minimized.
Note 6: Time for carpal tunnel syndrome is quite variable, in part because factors other than workplace injuries are often involved.
Injury duration timeframes provided by Leslie J. Hutchinson, MD, MPH, FACOEM and Sanford S. Leffingwell, MD, MPH, Board-Certified in Occupational and Preventive Medicine. They can be reached at: 1-770-963-1223 HLM Consultants or hlm@hlmconsultants.com
WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
What is Workers’ Compensation?
This is a general overview of workers’ compensation. State laws vary greatly and they change frequently, so make sure to check the law in your state for information specific to your state. Federal and state laws govern the payment of and entitlement to workers’ compensation. Federal government employees are covered under different guidelines than state employees and employees of private businesses.
Workers’ Compensation Basics
If you have a worker who is injured on the job, worker’s compensation kicks in to provide benefits.
Workers’ Compensation = Workers’ Comp = WC*
*Formerly referred to as Workmans’ Compensation.
Rule #1: The injury must occur in the “course and scope of employment.” Not all employees are covered but most are. Ask your claims adjuster, if you are unsure if an employee is covered or if the injury occurred out of and in the course of employment.
What Costs are Covered
If an employee is injured on the job, they are entitled to payment of:
1-Medical bills
2-Hospital bills
3-Lost wages (called “indemnity payments”). If an employee is working two jobs, he/she may be entitled to payment of lost wages from BOTH jobss.
4-Rehabilitation
5-Medications
6-Mileage to/from medical providers
7-Permanency, scarring, scarring or residual loss of earning capacity
REMEMBER: Specific benefits vary by state so check the state you’re doing business in for the specifics.
WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
It’s important to know when an employee has reached MMI, the term for maximum medical improvement. If you intent to settle the claim, you’ll want to do it when you know the employee has reached MMI and cannot return to his or her original job and you can not accommodate him or her on the job with a reasonable accommodation.
You can easily develop a template or form letter to draw on to get this information by asking the adjuster or having your medical advisor contacting the treating provider. If you do this through the adjuster, have the adjuster ask the following questions:
1-Is the employee still improving.
2-When will the employee be able to return to his regular job full-time.
3-Will the employee have any permanent job restrictions.
4-Will he ever be able to return to work full-time at full capacity.
5-Has he reached MMI?
6-Please provide a final medical report indicating MMI if employee has reached MMI.
If you are developing a workers’ comp cost containment program, you can develop forms if you have the time and personel to write and design them. If time and resources are a problem, all forms are available as part of Workers’ Comp Kit. For a complete list of forms available in Workers Comp Kit®, go to
FORMS.Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp.
Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Workers’ Comp Kit® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
Doctors may use terms you do not understand . They also communicate by what they do NOT say. You must know what to look for in a medical report:
1-Diagnosis-What is wrong with the employee.
2-Prognosis-How long will the injury take to heal.
3-Lost-time Estimation-Will it be necessary for the employee to stay out of owrk to heal. For how long?
4-Work Restrictions-What activities the employee can and can NOT perform. This must be given for work and home environments and is critical to returning an employee to work in a transitional duty job.
5-Next appointment-The date, time and place of employee’s next appointment. Your insurance carrier or your company return to work coordinator may want to call the employee to give a reminder of the upcoming visit, and make sure the employee has a Work Ability Form for the doctor to fill out.
An employer can require an employee to get the correct information from their treating medical provider, so make sure YOUR form is complete to “get” as much information as is needed. For a complete list of forms available in Workers Comp Kit®, go to FORMS.
Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp.
Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Workers’ Comp Kit® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
We often recommend having an employee brochure titled, “What to Do If You Are Injured On the Job”.
Every company handles workers’ comp slightly differently, so each brochure will be different, but the categories can be standard. There are 8 topics you should cover in your brochure:
1-What is workers’ comp
2-What happens if an employee is hurt at work
3-How is medical treatment obtained
4-Who pays for medical care
5-What happens after an injury (transitional duty and return to work)
6-Are there additional benefits
7-Fraudulent Claims
8- Contact Information
Cover these main topics in a written communication piece – if you don’t talk to your employees someone else will — an attorney on television, a friend who has filed suit against his or her employer, or another bias party. Provide an even, balanced communication piece telling the employee what he or she needs to know and providing contact information about where the employee can obtain additional information if needed.
Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp.
Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Workers’ Comp Kit® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
You are welcome to reprint this material by simply contacting us at Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com and let us know you are using our material. You must keep our name, copyright and an active link
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.
Selection of medical providers is an area of workers’ compensation regulated by state law, and there are many variations of how providers may be selected. The basic arrangements are:
1- Employer selects provider
2- Employee selects provider
3- Employee selects from a pre-approved panel or network
4- Employer has 30 days to treat the employee then employee may change providers
5- Combination or variation of the above.
While is is not necessary to memorize how medical providers are selected in every state, as long as you know where to get this information, you SHOULD know how providers are selected in the states where you have many operations or employees. Chamber of Commerce and WorkersCompResearch both provide excellent resources. Adjusters will know the law in your state. Your broker’s claim advocate are a good source of information also.
In most states where the employee may choose their own provider, the employer usually (althogh not always) may coach or steer the employee to another provider such as the employer’s occupational clinic. Make sure to check the laws in your state before you do this though because several states have strict penalties for employers who do this and an employer can unknowingly fall into this trap.
Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp.
Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Workers’ Comp Kit® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
What is a Worst-to-Best List?
When assessing your workers’ compensation program using benchmarks is very effective, but it is better if you rank business units from Best-to-Worst. Rankings let you allocate resources appropriately and provides a corporate-wide overview. When calculating the Cost Per Employee, Lost Work Day Totals or other workers’ compensation metrics, make sure to analyze the data BY division, BY operating unit, BY location, etc. to see which operations have the best and worst track record.
For example, when an operation in one city, Los Angeles for example, looks highest, the operation in another city may actually BE the highest when analyzed by manhour, by mile, etc. Then post this data to management from Worst to Best — this is a huge incentive for those on the top of the list to get on board and implement the type of programs cost containment experts have been recommending.
Here’s an example of the Best-to-Worst List from Workers’ Comp Kit® which can be presented as either Best-to-Worst or Worst-to-Best.
Try the WC Cost Calculator to show the REAL COST of work comp.
Look at WC 101 for the basics about workers comp.
Workers’ Comp Kit® is a web-based online Assessment, Benchmarking and Cost Containment system for employers. It provides all the materials needed to reduce your costs significantly in 85% less time than if you designed a program from scratch.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
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