Workers Compensation Loss Prevention Does Not Stop With Accident

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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.

Vector illustration of Accident Icon Loss Prevention Incident
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From my viewpoint, a Loss Prevention/Safety Officer should be heavily involved in the reporting of the injury to the insurance carrier and 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 trust 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.

Also Read: Combined Ratio Difference Debate – Calendar vs. Accident Year

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James J Moore - Workers Comp Expert

Raleigh, NC, United States

About The Author...

James founded a Workers’ Compensation consulting firm, J&L Risk Management Consultants, Inc. in 1996. J&L’s mission is to reduce our clients’ Workers Compensation premiums by using time-tested techniques. J&L’s claims, premium, reserve and Experience Mod reviews have saved employers over $9.8 million in earned premiums over the last three years. J&L has saved numerous companies from bankruptcy proceedings as a result of insurance overpayments.

James has over 27 years of experience in insurance claims, audit, and underwriting, specializing in Workers’ Compensation. He has supervised, and managed the administration of Workers’ Compensation claims, and underwriting in over 45 states. His professional experience includes being the Director of Risk Management for the North Carolina School Boards Association. He created a very successful Workers’ Compensation Injury Rehabilitation Unit for school personnel.

James’s educational background, which centered on computer technology, culminated in earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA); an Associate in Claims designation (AIC); and an Associate in Risk Management designation (ARM). He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a licensed financial advisor. The NC Department of Insurance has certified him as an insurance instructor. He also possesses a Bachelors’ Degree in Actuarial Science.

LexisNexis has twice recognized his blog as one of the Top 25 Blogs on Workers’ Compensation. J&L has been listed in AM Best’s Preferred Providers Directory for Insurance Experts – Workers Compensation for over eight years. He recently won the prestigious Baucom Shine Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer contributions to the area of risk management and safety. James was recently named as an instructor for the prestigious Insurance Academy.

James is on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the North Carolina Mid-State Safety Council. He has published two manuals on Workers’ Compensation and three different claims processing manuals. He has also written and has been quoted in numerous articles on reducing Workers’ Compensation costs for public and private employers. James publishes a weekly newsletter with 7,000 readers.

He currently possess press credentials and am invited to various national Workers Compensation conferences as a reporter.

James’s articles or interviews on Workers’ Compensation have appeared in the following publications or websites:

  • Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
  • Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Bloomberg Business News
  • WorkCompCentral.com
  • Claims Magazine
  • Risk & Insurance Magazine
  • Insurance Journal
  • Workers Compensation.com
  • LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites
  • Various trade publications

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