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An effective Return to Work program
ensures quality medical care, contains workers' compensation
costs, and returns injured employees to gainful employment.
Employers who do not have an established Return to Work
program are missing an opportunity to control workers' compensation
expenditures and ultimately reduce their experience modifier.
At Lighthouse Risk Management, our staff
of loss control professionals can conduct a thorough evaluation
of your company's existing Return to Work program. We will
review all aspects of your program to determine how you
can reap the greatest rewards.
Or, if you currently do not have a formal
program, we can assist you in designing a customized plan
to meet to your company's unique needs.
Regardless, there are several common
factors included in an effective Return to Work program.
The following are some key questions to determine if your
program includes these successful traits:
- Do you have a current Safety and
Health policy in place?
- Have you identified a local occupational
medicine clinic and informed them of your Return to Work
program?
- Do you include a job description
and your Return to Work policy with the injured employee
when they visit a medical provider?
- Do you have a designated company
representative who is responsible for coordinating Return
to Work efforts?
- Does your Return to Work policy stress
goals of high-quality medical treatment and a healthy
but timely return to gainful employment?
- Have you identified the modified
duty positions available?
- Do you have an injury/accident report
form to be completed by the employee?
- Do you have supervisor and witness
report form as well?
- Do you have a written policy endorsed
by upper management?
- Is there an established safety committee
with members representing all levels of employees with
your company?
- Are all functions of this committee
communicated clearly and defined to management and employees?
The main purpose of a Return to Work
program is to bring all injured employees back to gainful
employment. In addition, your company will benefit from
a lower experience modifier, which will reduce your workers'
compensation costs.
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