Before There is an Injury
Employees are the primary beneficiaries of an injury management program since the goal of injury management is to mitigate the fall-out from work-related injuries. By following a list of best practices, workers’ compensation incidents run smoothly and lead to a better work environment – both mentally and physically.
Three Steps to Provide and Require of All Employees
1. All employees receive in-service post-injury response training.
2. All employees sign an acknowledgment stating they have received post-injury response training.
3. Apply procedures to all injuries so every injured employee becomes familiar with the procedure, assuring every employee receives good quality medical care the moment an injury occurs.
After There is an Injury
By keeping the well-being of your employees in mind, there are employee expectations the company can maintain, despite a work-related injury.
Suggested Strategies Injured Workers to Follow
1. ALL injured employees participate in a weekly telephone conversation when out of work due to a work-related injury.
2. Injured employees must bring the Work Ability Form to their medical provider and check to ensure the form is completed and faxed back to the proper authority.
3. Injured employees must participate in the employer’s return-to-work transitional duty program.
4. Injured employees must participate in weekly in-person meetings at the facility when on transitional duty.
5. Employees must understand even if they are out of work, unless bed-ridden, they are expected to come to the facility for weekly meetings. (workersxzcompxzkit)
6. Although injured, employees still participate in all employee meetings and activities while on transitional duty or out of work unless prohibited by medical restrictions.
7. Employees must understand they are expected to return to work in transitional duty or full duty position as soon as medically able.
Author: Robert Elliott, J.D.
Click on these links to try it for yourself.
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.
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