MARKET FOCUS : EDUCATION
BRINGING
WORKERS ’ COMPENSATION EXPERTISE
TO NEW ENGLAND SCHOOLS
BY : MARILYNN ROKES , SENIOR UNDERWRITER , AND KIMBERLY WALKER , SENIOR INJURY PREVENTION & WORKSITE WELLNESS CONSULTANT , A . I . M . MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
SCHOOL MAY BE out for the summer , but workers ’ compensation is a year-round assignment . From underwriting to injury prevention and claim coordination , A . I . M . Mutual service teams understand the unique needs of schools and colleges .
When writing workers ’ compensation coverage for schools , whether public or private , a few things come to mind . Underwriters recognize that schools operate under extreme dynamics . Large groups of people are moving around , all following the same schedule , getting from point A to point B in a short period of time . This leaves an open window for injuries to happen .
“ Only about 10 % of the incidents that occur in schools are due to a physical hazard ,” reports Daniel Ilnicky , Director of Injury Prevention , Worksite Wellness & Business Relations . “ Causation of the other 90 % is behaviors : it is the people who work , produce and move throughout the facilities .”
Those behaviors , in turn , translate to a number of risks : slips and falls , lifting ( strains ), and contact with objects ( lacerations ) top the list .
Underwriters work closely with broker partners to bring each school a responsive , results-driven workers ’ compensation program . One challenge for carriers writing schools is the number of different jobs and tasks that fall under just two class codes ( sometimes three ). Class codes , set by the state or the industry , are used to identify specific categories of work and define the risk . For schools , underwriters must consider all factors when constructing a policy and issuing a quote or renewal . Having expertise in the education market is invaluable .
We ’ re often asked how we can help a school , district , or association with controlling workers ’ compensation costs . A . I . M . Mutual service teams partner with schools to put custom injury management and prevention strategies in place .
CLAIM MANAGEMENT
Claim management starts at the time of first report . Consider the case of a teacher arriving at the classroom at 7:00 a . m ., standing on a step stool to update the bulletin board , and slipping off . The teacher suffers right arm and leg injuries , is treated at the ER , and A . I . M . Mutual is notified right way .
The claim has occurred , and now it needs to be managed to confirm that the employee is being well cared for and will be able to return to work after — or during — the recovery period . This claim allows for a lightduty return-to-work program , something the A . I . M . Mutual claim team excels at . In many cases , injured employees may return to their job with a doctor ’ s order outlining any restrictions and the requirements to heal safely and correctly . Accommodations may include part-time work , sitting instead of standing , or eliminating lifting . Schools have a variety of jobs so the injured worker could come back in a different capacity , short term .
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