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.