• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • About
  • Search
  • Resources
  • Privacy
  • Contact
 

Amaxx Workers Comp Blog

Reduce Workers Compensation Costs By 20-50%

Header Right

  • Home
  • Books
    • Big Book
    • Mini Book
  • Training
    • WC Mastery Membership
    • Course Curriculum
    • Certified Master of Workers’ Compensation
    • Certified Master of WC – Best in Class
  • Coaching
    • CompElite Strategic Coaching for Employers
    • BrokerElite Coaching for WC Business Growth
  • Software
  • Blog
  • Advertising

Mobile Menu

  • Home
  • Books
    • Big Book
    • Mini Book
  • Training
    • WC Mastery Membership
    • Course Curriculum
    • Certified Master of Workers’ Compensation
    • Certified Master of WC – Best in Class
  • Coaching
    • CompElite Strategic Coaching for Employers
    • BrokerElite Coaching for WC Business Growth
  • Software
  • Blog
  • Advertising
  • About
  • Search
  • Resources
  • Privacy
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Workers Comp Cost Containment Fundamentals / Work Injury Response / Sharpen Your Workers’ Comp Injury Reporting Process

Sharpen Your Workers’ Comp Injury Reporting Process

February 8, 2021 By //  by Michael B. Stack

reporting workplace injury The new year presents an opportunity to improve the way employers and interested stakeholders report workers’ compensation injuries. Injury reporting is essential to the process as studies indicate those incidents reported within the first 24 hours involve less litigation and a quicker return to work. Now is the time to take steps to ensure the timeliness of the injury report and the accuracy of what is being reported.

Education is Key: Back to the Basics

Surveys indicate the most significant barrier to reporting workers’ compensation injuries is the employer’s inability and employee to remember the proper steps. This is likely because the basics of workers’ compensation claims and how to report an injury are often only covered during the employee onboarding process. There is then no reinforcement of the procedure afterward. The results are a delay in reporting a work injury and a lack of accurate information being reported. In many instances, the First Report of Injury, or other documentation is not sent to the correct party, which is usually the insurance carrier.

Click Link to Access Free PDF Download

“The 5Cs to Taking a Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement”

Easy to implement steps can be taken to improve the timeliness of injury reports and the accuracy of injury information. It is also critical to persevere evidence via photography and other means such as preserving closed-circuit security video.

  • Including information on reporting a work injury in all training sessions and team meetings. This is something that should be used and continuously reinforced. Other ideas can include adding workers’ compensation reporting information to company newsletters that are distributed regularly.
  • Correctly post all workers’ compensation information in a conspicuous location. “Required” state and federal workplace postings are commonly ignored and not frequently updated. In other instances, they are available in an office setting and not in satellite offices or other remote locations. Postings should be updated and confirmed for accuracy several times a year. Information can also be posted on a company Intranet site.
  • Ensure management is committed to proper injury reporting. Questions regarding primarily liability and payment of benefits are decisions made by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier. Reporting an injury should never be optional – it is often compulsory by law. Additional information can always be transmitted to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier if doubts exist regarding the claim’s legitimacy.

These considerations can go a long way in assisting with the correct injury report.

Taken the Next Right Steps

Several steps need to be taken immediately following a work injury. These steps will ensure the claim management team members can process and handle the claim ethically and honestly. It is also necessary these steps are taken to make sure the employee is treated with empathy and compassion.

  • Provide prompt and adequate medical care: A supervisor or manager should always be in a position to assist an employee following a work injury. This can include access to medical care onsite. If necessary, the employee should be taken to a healthcare facility for additional care if needed, or an ambulance should be called. Telephone nurse case management can play an essential role in ensuring an employee’s post-injury medical care is appropriately directed. This will avoid a delay in care, or duplication of medical services.
  • Injury mitigation and remediation: It is also vital to ensure a similar injury does not occur again. This is especially when a slippery or wet surface is the cause of the work injury. While photographic documentation is often necessary, cleaning up a job site is essential to avoid other costly events and reduce workplace injuries.
  • Following up with the injured employee: It is also important to follow-up with an injured employee. Something as simple as a “get better soon” card can go a long way. Sincere empathy is critical!

FREE DOWNLOAD: “The 5Cs to Taking a Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement “

Employees take note as to how an employer responds to a work injury. When employees are seen as a VIP, workplace morale increases. This is a key driver in return to work.

Conclusions

The best time to review injury reporting processes is now. Include all employees in the process, and ensure their concerns are being heard. Use the new year as an opportunity to renew all interested stakeholders to reporting work injuries promptly. This will reduce workers’ compensation programs costs, and minimize additional litigation expenses.

Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%. He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is the founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center, which offers the Certified Master of Workers’ Compensation national designation.

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: https://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

©2021 Amaxx LLC. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker, attorney, or qualified professional.

FREE DOWNLOAD: “The 5Cs to Taking a Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement “

Filed Under: Work Injury Response

Related Articles

Workers’ Compensation Post-Injury Response Procedure: A Key to Effective Injury Management

Workers’ Compensation Post-Injury Response Procedure: A Key to Effective Injury Management

Why Caring For Your Injured Workers Is Just Like Car Tires

Why Caring For Your Injured Workers Is Just Like Car Tires

Making Use of Your Recorded Statement

Making Use of Your Recorded Statement

3 Steps to Discover the Root Cause of Work Injury

3 Steps to Discover the Root Cause of Work Injury

Investigating and Handling Repetitive Use Injuries

Investigating and Handling Repetitive Use Injuries

Seven Reasons Med-Only Claims Become Lost Time

Seven Reasons Med-Only Claims Become Lost Time

Effective Use of Employee Recorded Statements

Effective Use of Employee Recorded Statements

Injury Triage Reduces Comp Costs And Improves Medical Experience

Injury Triage Reduces Comp Costs And Improves Medical Experience

Develop an Injury Response Coordinator to Reduce Work Comp Costs

Develop an Injury Response Coordinator to Reduce Work Comp Costs

Create A Workers’ Compensation GPS

Create A Workers’ Compensation GPS

Employers Stepping Up: Controlling the Work Comp Claim Process

Employers Stepping Up: Controlling the Work Comp Claim Process

The Clock is Ticking – Important Consideration in Injury Report

The Clock is Ticking – Important Consideration in Injury Report

Free Download

13 Research Studies to Prove Value of Return-to-Work Program & Gain Stakeholder Buy-In - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Previous Post: « Review Your Claim Management Systems
Next Post: Best in Class Claims Investigation workers' comp Investigation »

Primary Sidebar

FREE DOWNLOAD

Step-by-Process to Master Workers' Comp in 90 Days - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Our Sponsors

Injury Management Solution for Employers

Catastrophic and Risk Solutions, Case Management Solutions, and Specialty Networks

Blog Categories

Search Our Archive

Subscribe to Our FREE Newsletter

Return-to-Work Essentials

Footer

Search Our Archive

Search our continually growing archive of over 5,000 articles about Workers' Comp issues.

Quiclinks

  • Calculators
  • Terms & Abbreviations
  • Glossary of WC Premium Terms
  • WC Resources
  • Best Practices
  • Industries
  • Return-to-Work Essentials

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • Win Without the Fight: How Employers Can Prepare for Trial—And Avoid It Entirely
  • From Adversaries to Allies: Why Employers and Defense Attorneys Must Act Like a Team
  • Breaking the Cycle: How Fear Drives Workers’ Comp Litigation—and What to Do About It
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEE NEWSLETTER
Let Us Help You Stomp Down the High Cost of Workers' Comp!
Top of Page ↑
  • Home
  • Training Center
  • Search
  • Membership
  • Products
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Copyright © 2025 Amaxx, LLC. All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy / Legal Notice