How To Implement An Effective Workers Compensation Disability Management Program – Strategy 8 Of 10

Conduct Prompt and Thorough Accident Investigations

Accident investigations are an important step in implementing your organization’s workers compensation disability management program. The reasons are very basic:

• Accident investigations will help you identify and eliminate the root cause of the injury;
• Accident investigations engage the supervisors and other safety team members in the claim management process;
• Accident investigations can help identify workplace accommodations that are essential to an effective workers compensation disability management program;
• A prompt accident investigation will demonstrate genuine concern for the injured employee and encourage them to return to work sooner.

Always remember that accident investigations are a fact - gathering exercise, NOT a fault-finding exercise. You want to approach your accident investigations from the point of view that “one of our own” has been hurt on the job and you want to find out what happened so that it will not happen again. Pointing fingers only causes resentment and fears of punitive management action. Neither attitude fosters teamwork and a sense of common purpose.

While it might seem obvious that work related accidents should be investigated immediately, it is not uncommon for considerable time to elapse before a thorough investigation is carried out. Your prompt and fair handling of the accident investigation will demonstrate your genuine concern for the safety and welfare of the employees. In this way departmental employees will look up to your disability team as people who take decisive action that is in their best interest and whose first concern is their health and safety. Your departmental employees will take to take pride in working for someone who shows genuine concern for them. This will reduce the injured employee’s insecurity which in turn will translate into a cooperative atmosphere. As a result, your injured employee will be far more willing to accept your temporary duty offer and return to work with medical approval.

CompEraser comes with on-line, on-demand resources needed to CONTROL the temporary duty program, including this important step in the process. Resources also include the formalization of your safety team, injury prevention, OSHA compliance, safety training, prompt injury response, workers compensation disability management, plus more. These resources are available 24/7 and used irrespective of which workers compensation carrier you select. Its patent-pending technology also provides unique financial reports for monitoring the effectiveness of your safety and health program on an on-going basis. For more information visit our website at www.CompEraser.com.