Injury Reporting

Actively managing workplace injuries and workers’ compensation claims can make a big difference in your bottom line.  Injured workers who feel needed and cared for generally will return to work quicker, thereby reducing costs.  In addition, it is proven that timely reporting of injuries reduces cost.   

Best practice dictates that injuries be reported within 24 – 48 hours of occurrence.  Timely reporting not only applies to the injured worker reporting the incident to his supervisor; it includes the time it takes for the company to report the injury to insurers, managed care organizations, third-party administrators and government agencies.

 

In order to report injuries and claims in a timely fashion, employees and management staff alike must be trained on a formal internal injury reporting process designed specifically for the company.  A one-size-fits-all approach usually does not work well.

 

Employees must be held accountable to follow procedures.  They must understand that if injuries are not reported within the specified time period, they may suffer the consequences of your disciplinary policy or may even risk having their claim denied.

 

Supervisors also must understand their role in expediting injury reports and the importance of gathering the information to help the company reduce and eliminate injuries in the long run.

 

human resources specialists can assist your company in developing the policies and procedures necessary for an effective injury reporting program.  In addition, our consultants can review other aspects of your workers’ compensation program, such as claims management, return-to-work programs, vocational rehabilitation, etc. in order to identify opportunities for cost and time savings.