We all know how valuable our employees are these days and how difficult it is to find good employees . A return-to-work program not only strengthens the relationship between the employer and the employee but also strengthens the morale of co-workers , which can prevent future claims . Workers recover more quickly if they ’ re able to work in some capacity , re-connect , and feel valued .
SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACE SAFETY
Despite a robust safety program , one school district saw a spike in outdoor slip-and-fall claims following a full return to the classroom this past winter . Through an A . I . M . Mutual vendor , they invested in new technology : LED signs that automatically alerted employees to icy conditions . Early results look promising .
That may seem like a straightforward response but getting to the root cause of injuries is not always easy . Injury Prevention & Worksite Wellness ( IPWW ) Consultants work with schools to improve loss ratios and experience modification factors , which impact premium . They zero in on the major loss sources , providing expert guidance and training on preventing these types of injuries .
Analyzing loss trending data helps identify opportunities to improve in certain areas , such as :
• Lag time , the period between the date of an accident and the date it was reported . If lag times are high , the accident reporting process may need attention .
• Types of claims driving the losses , the locations driving the losses , and the length of employment of the injured employee at the time of injury . Is training an issue ?
• Incidents of “ accident repeaters ,” i . e ., employees who injure themselves at work with some frequency . What are the circumstances ?
Safety also needs to be part of the school culture . Forming a safety committee — comprised of management and employees — can help prevent claims from happening and provide insight on claims that have occurred . IPWW Consultants often participate in person or remotely to support the activities and initiatives of each school ’ s safety committee . An online portal gives schools direct access to information on common loss sources , such as slips / trips / falls , ergonomics , workplace violence , kitchen safety , and custodian safety .
The same components apply to worksite wellness , which A . I . M . Mutual introduced as part of its workers ’ compensation management program in 2013 . Online resources specific to schools can be accessed anytime , and IPWW Consultants often participate in wellness committee meetings to collaborate on programming .
In our view , the school environment demands subject matter experts , not only in the classroom but in the workers ’ compensation services it depends upon .
KIMBERLY WALKER , CSP , CWPC , is a Senior Injury Prevention & Worksite Wellness Consultant for A . I . M . Mutual Insurance Companies . She has been in the safety field since 1994 , working first as a Health & Safety Officer before moving into workers ’ compensation injury prevention roles in 2007 . A Certified Safety Professional and Certified Wellness Program Coordinator , she holds a B . S . degree in Safety Studies from Keene State College . Kim joined A . I . M . Mutual ’ s Injury Prevention & Worksite Wellness team in 2017 .
MARILYNN ROKES is a Senior Underwriter for A . I . M . Mutual Insurance Companies , responsible for risk evaluation as well as selection and retention of new and existing accounts throughout New England . Previously , she was with Renaissance Alliance Insurance Services ( RAIS ) for more than 20 years , specializing in workers ’ compensation . Her responsibilities ranged from underwriting new business and renewals to a full complement of workers ’ compensation services . As a former member of the RAIS Placement Team , she placed all lines of commercial insurance for a group of agency members .
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