Too many injury problems begin at the date of hire not at the time of injury. Studies have shown that an employee paid $40,000 a year will cost $100,000 if terminated within the first six months. And that doesn't take Workers' Compensation costs into consideration.

Use a pre-hire checklist for each new hire. Make sure that it includes:

• Conditional offer of employment

• Post-offer, pre-placement questionnaire

• Release of medical information authorization

• Employee's duty to report injury form

• Checklist for new employees of how his/her job works