Workers Compensation Loss Prevention Keeps Going After The Accident
Workers Compensation Loss Prevention – where does it end and begin?
As I was reviewing my notes for my presentation tomorrow to the North Carolina Mid State Safety Council quarterly meeting, I noticed one common theme. Loss prevention does not stop when an accident happens. It is instead an ongoing process, especially soon after an incident.
From my viewpoint, a Loss Prevention/Safety Officer should be heavily involved in the reporting of the injury to the insurance carrier and in the initial physician referral. Safety personnel is often judged by the E-Mod (see previous posts) that are produced each year.
However, the Safety personnel may not have control over where the injured employee is sent for medical treatment. The safety department has to be involved, as the tone is set for the complete claim within the first 48 hours of a Workers’ Comp claim.
I have heard safety personnel say that their job ends once the accident happens. This could not be further from the truth. I have coined the phrase post-accident safety.
Post-accident safety equates to loss control. Once an accident occurs the safety of an employee involves:
- Reporting the accident immediately to the insurance carrier or TPA . The carrier or TPA cannot adjust the claim without having the first report of injury (FROI) on file.
- Sending the employee to an industrial-mined physician as previously mentioned
- Returning the employee to work safety – making sure their job restrictions prescribed by the industrial-minded physician are not violated
- Treating the injured employee with respect makes the employee have trust for their boss. Trust is the key to a successful return to work.
I recommend the safety departments become more heavily involved, as you are judged by the E-Mod as a testament to your safety program. Ignoring what happens after an accident/incident can affect your performance greatly.
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