LOSS CONTROL
INSIGHTS
www. emcins. com | SUMMER 2013
TAME RISING INJURY COSTS
“ Reducing workplace accidents through proven loss control practices is still important, but it’ s becoming just as important for employers to initiate strategies to control rising injury costs,” advises EMC Injury Services Manager Monte Ball. According to Ball, there is no single solution to taming injury costs.“ The best approach incorporates one or all of the following strategies. The more of these strategies you employ, the more your potential savings in injury costs,” notes Ball.
Select Provider Program By taking control during the first 24 to 48 hours of a claim, a select provider program can improve the collection of information about the injury or illness, assist employees in finding prompt medical care and reduce administrative headaches for your organization. Another program benefit is the potential medical cost savings when employees can be directed to medical providers who are part of a preferred provider network.
Return To Work Programs Effective return to work programs reduce the chance that an employee will become totally and permanently disabled. Such programs may also reduce operation costs and indemnity payments, and improve communications between employer and employee. Employers may reduce the cost of their claims, as well as the impact on future workers’ compensation costs, by safely returning injured workers to modified or alternative duty as soon as they are medically able.
Prework Screenings Using functional job description information, physical therapists can design prework screenings for specific jobs. Conducted after a conditional offer of employment has been made, prework screenings verify that employees are physically capable of performing the job before they are placed in that position. The resulting functional job description information assists physicians with return to work decisions, physical therapists with creating prework screening programs and safety professionals with implementing needed safety practices.
Health and Wellness By adopting healthier lifestyles, employees can decrease their risk factors for chronic disease, which may result in lower healthcare expenses for your organization. Benefits of implementing a successful wellness program can include lower healthcare costs, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, fewer injuries and reduced workers’ compensation costs.
Start Taming Medical Costs Today Ball’ s advice to clients is to begin with a return to work program and functional job descriptions.“ Those two strategies are the cornerstone of an overall approach to controlling workers’ compensation costs,” comments Ball, who also stresses prework screenings for workplaces with physically demanding jobs.“ Don’ t forget to add EMC’ s Select Provider Program,” he adds.“ It can deliver big advantages and requires little work to implement.”
Count on EMC ® To Help Reduce Accidents And Costs Since 1926, policyholders have counted on EMC for effective loss control practices to reduce the severity and frequency of workplace injuries. Now you can Count on EMC to help tame rising injury costs. Talk to 45,000
your independent agent or an EMC risk improvement representative about these and other valuable services provided free of charge to EMC policyholders.
NEED TO KNOW
U. S. TRAFFIC FATALITIES ARE ON THE RISE Approximately 36,200 motor vehicle fatalities occurred in 2012, according to the National Safety Council. This is a five percent upsurge from 2011 and is the first increase since 2004 to 2005. In addition to devastating human loss, motor vehicle crashes present a significant national cost in lost wages and productivity, medical expenses, administrative expenses, employer costs and property damage.“ Although we have improved safety features in vehicles today, we also have new challenges, especially as they relate to teens and distracted driving,” notes Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.
WILDFIRE RISK PREDICTION More than 67,000 wildfires burned more than 9.2 million acres throughout the country in 2012, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Warm temperatures and drought conditions will contribute to an increase in the risk of wildfires this year. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety urges home and business owners to take action now to help reduce their wildfire risk. Information is available at www. disastersafety. org.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE VISIBILITY GUIDE The U. S. Fire Administration( USFA) recently announced the availability of a guide to help emergency services departments increase the visibility of emergency vehicles to motorists in order to keep responders safe during roadway operations. Vehicle Marking and Technology for Increased Highway Visibility— A Reference Guide for Decision-Makers provides information on best practices in the application of various arrangements of emergency warning devices, creative use of retroreflective decal markings and other innovative designs. Further information on USFA’ s emergency vehicle and roadway safety research initiatives may be found at www. usfa. fema. gov.