Supervisor Training Cuts
Claim Frequency and Cost
Insured
The insured is a social service agency with 390 employees in 22 locations.
The organization provides occupational training and habilitation services
to developmentally disabled adults.
Situation
In one six-month period, the employer experienced 27 workers’ compensation
claims totaling $89,000.
Assessment
A Certified WorkComp Advisor (CWCA) looked into the situation and discovered
supervisors played no role in managing their employee’s injuries.
It was left to the employee to seek medical attention and return to work
when his or her doctor recommended it.
Employees routinely went to the hospital’s emergency room or to their
personal primary care physician. These doctors ordered lengthy periods of
rest and made no effort to assess the employee’s work capacity. Supervisors
made no effort to stay in touch with employees or return them to work on
modified duty.
Solution
In May of 2006, the CWCA conducted a training session with the organization’s
34 supervisors. The training explained how claim costs impact workers’
compensation insurance premiums; how to work with an occupational medical
clinic; and how to support and manage a comprehensive return to work program.
With this new awareness, supervisors took steps to resolve safety issues
and employee behavioral problems. They began directing employees to an occupational
clinic whenever possible. They stay in contact with employees during any
disability and actively seek opportunities for modified duty.
Result
In the six months since the training, the employer’s claim frequency
was cut in half (only 11 claims). Amazingly, these 11 claims total less
than $1,000. The CWCA is now planning a celebration to congratulate the
insured’s supervisors for this remarkable turnaround and to encourage
on-going vigilance. |