Insured
A metal fabricator with annual revenues of $2,800,000 and 26
employees. The company manufactures metal sign-holders for various
retailers..
Situation
With no history of carpel tunnels issues, the insured experienced
a rash of carpel tunnel injuries unexpectedly, with two in excess
of $80,000. This drove the company’s Experience Mod up
to 1.72 and resulted in the policy being canceled by their Workers’
Comp carrier.
Assessment
The first claim was a legitimate case and the employee required
medical attention and physical rehabilitation. The following
claims occurred so rapidly that they were deemed questionable.
There was also no clear language in place in the employee manual
to address the situation.
Solution
After a detailed analysis, the Certified WorkComp Advisors (CWCA)
designed and implemented a detailed and specific plan of action.
The insured’s Return-to-Work program was replaced with
a proper Recovery-at-Work plan and the outdated manual was rewritten.
Injured workers were assigned appropriate light duty. The CWCAs
conducted educational courses for medical providers, who previously
had minimum knowledge of workplace injuries, Finally, the insured
was placed with a carrier who more fully understood Workers’
Compensation procedures.
Result
The first injury, a 57-year old woman who had to have both wrists
medically treated, returned to work through the Recovery-at-Work
program, and the claim remained a medical only claim. This saved
the company over $40,000, and an estimated .40 points on its
Experience Mod. Further declines in the Mod are expected as
a result of the improved injury management practices.
