WorkComp Advisory
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Smelting Plant Saves $126K, Sees Mod Drop 30%

Insured
The aluminum recycling/smelting plant employs 36.

Situation
The employer was witnessing an increasing number of claims each year and had been saddled with a surcharge as a result of those claims.

Assessment
Certified WorkComp Advisors (CWCAs) began working with the employer two years ago, just two months after its latest renewal. The CWCAs found that the increasing claims were largely due to a lack of a defined employee-injury plan and hiring procedures that failed to identify employees who either were not well suited for the jobs for which they were hired or came with histories of prior Workers’ Comp claims.

Solution
The CWCAs worked with the employer to organize a formal program that specifically addressed the problems they were having. First, a comprehensive hiring plan was put in place to ensure that those who were hired did not have previous histories of injuries or other issues that may affect their ability to do their jobs. Second, an organizational plan was implemented in order to improve workplace safety and decrease injury frequency. Third, a return to work plan was established and introduced to both supervisors and the rank-and-file. The plan identified both the steps to take when an injury occurs and specific “light duty” opportunities and let all employees know exactly how they were to act before, during and after an injury occurred.

Result
Because the plan showed the promise of significantly decreased claim frequency, the CWCAs were able to free the employer from the State Work Comp Fund and move them to a standard insurance company. This move saved the plant owners more than $57,000 in the first policy renewal and more than $69,000 in the second renewal. In addition, over the two years since the CWCAs began working with the employer, the number of claims has dropped significantly – enough to warrant a 30% drop in its Experience Modification Factor.