Top Ten Best Practices for Your Risk Manager for Workers Comp

The risk manager is responsible for a broad array of risk-related duties, including overseeing the injury coordinator as the workers’ compensation management program is implemented. As a risk manager your key responsibility is oversight of the workers’ compensation injury management program. Cost reduction requires close monitoring.

The risk manager follows these guidelines:

Determine what type of claims administration arrangement your company has.
Ensure the adjuster-to-claim ratio is appropriate for adjusters responding to your claims to get your workers back to productive employment faster.
Consider whether claims volume requires dedicated staff to provide oversight and input about how you want your claims handled and to implement your injury management program.
Familiarize yourself with claims administration best practices to better comprehend the role of the adjuster.
The claim handling process should go smoothly. If it doesn’t you want to be sure you have realistic expectations about how your claims are handles. Don’t assume you are the one who is wrong!
Make sure claims handling personnel are trained in injury management concepts so they grasp the issues affecting your claims.
Visit an adjuster claims handing location to see how your adjuster handles your files, and view their claims operations first hand.
An on-site visit is an opportunity to develop a positive relationship with adjuster and clarify expectations, procedural issues, special handling instructions, etc.
Attend association seminars and meet with other industries to observe how other organizations address workers’ compensation issues in today’s labor market. (workersxzcompxzkit).
Maintain benchmarks for your profession showing how potential savings generated by an effective Injury Management Program far outweigh the initial costs of staffing.