Loss and Cost Controls
At CareComp, we’re always here to assist you when you have a claim. But did you know that we’re also dedicated to assisting you with creating a “culture” of Employee safety and health thru prevention of injuries in the first place?
Our goal is to help you and your employees establish or maintain programs that raise safety awareness to a higher level, expand your knowledge of regulatory controls, injury/illness prevention, workers’ compensation process, and….ultimately reduce overall workers’ compensation costs.
An injury at your facility doesn’t just affect your premium rates…..it also affects your employees and residents. For instance, an employee injury can lead to eventual understaffing or, worse yet, the permanent loss of a valued employee.
It’s our hope that you will utilize our expert Loss Control Team to assist you with your safety efforts. If there is any further assistance we can provide, please contact Michael Arther (Phone: 256-390-0554, Email: michael@mcaconsult.net)
Thank you for making employee safety a priority in your workplace.
Simple FACTS about Employee Injuries/Illnesses:
Employee injuries DO occur in the Nursing Home Industry….but many are preventable with the right approach and continued efforts.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics and OSHA, many common injuries among nursing home staff include:
- Back, shoulder and extremity injuries from lifting and transferring residents
- Cuts and abrasions in non-nursing departments
- Slips and falls from same level
- Aggression-related injuries (Workplace Violence)
- Exposure to Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials
What Can YOU do?
New Employee Safety Orientation and Continued Education
Statistics show that greater than 30 percent of all injuries occur in the first year of employment. Over 40 percent of those injuries take place during the first three months of full time employment. In short, changing your approach to new employee safety training can make a big difference……but new, fresh and continued training is a crucial component as well.
Remember, it starts with a solid safety orientation program, one that can substantially reduce injuries among new high-risk workers.
Return to Work
A Return to Work (RTW) program is one of the most effective, proactive tools an employer can use to contain the cost of workers’ compensation claims. Much research has shown that when injured employees remain off work for six months only 50 percent will return to work, while only 10 percent return when off work for more than a year.
What is a Return to Work Program?
A Return to Work program is a plan you can implement to manage your employees’ safe and timely return to work after a workplace injury. It facilitates the earliest possible
return of an injured employee to perform meaningful, productive work within the safe parameters of his or her physical recovery and capabilities. The program’s main objectives are to manage the workplace injury and, if necessary, temporarily modify the employee’s position or job description to accommodate the physical restrictions identified by the authorized medical provider.Report Incidents Immediately!
The sooner we know about a work-related injury, the sooner the claims examiner can contact you, your injured employee and witnesses……and perform any additional investigation required. Quick reporting allows us to involve the medical providers immediately. The longer an injury goes unreported, the greater the chances of increased costs on a claim.
In Summary…
How do Loss/Cost Controls affect your insurance premiums? In a word: significantly!!
CareComp and its Members understand that premiums are based on the payroll amount, the job-specific rates for the type of business insured... but most importantly... it includes the Member’s injury history.
An employer’s commitment to safety, injury/illness prevention and involvement in ALL injury cases when an accident does occur is key to cost controls.The entire Management Team in a nursing home must be key players in promoting safe environment to keep premium costs down.