Tag Archive for: employee injury

A billboard with work safety elements written on different pieces of paper, pinned to it.

increase workplace safety and decrease insurance costs

​​Workplace accidents happen more often than we would like to think. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, there are about four million worker’s compensation claims filed every year in the United States. That is a lot of people who are injured on the job! Fortunately, there are ways that we can decrease these numbers.

 

Workers’ compensation insurance protects your business from claims by employees who are injured at work. The cost of not having workers’ compensation insurance can be much higher than the cost of investing in it. This might be the motivation you need to start considering your options.

 

In this blog post, we will discuss how increasing workplace safety can help reduce insurance costs for your business.

how to improve safety 

As the cost of healthcare continues to rise, so do worker’s compensation claims. In fact, worker’s compensation costs have increased by over 50% in the last decade. This is a significant expense for businesses, and one that can be decreased by increasing workplace safety. 

 

Steps to improve workplace safety :

  • Conduct a hazard assessment to identify potential risks in the workplace.
  • Train employees on proper safety procedures.
  • Implement safety measures such as guards, barriers, and signage.
  • Inspect equipment and work areas for hazards on a regular basis.
  • Invest in personal protective equipment for employees.

 

By taking these steps to increase workplace safety, you can help to reduce worker’s compensation claims and improve the overall health and well-being of your employees. A safe workplace is a happy workplace!

 

Not only will increasing workplace safety help to decrease worker’s compensation claims, it will also help to improve morale and productivity. Employees who feel safe in their work environment are more likely to be engaged and productive as well. 

how to handle an employee injury

First and foremost, ensure that the injured employee receives proper medical care. Then:

  • Notify your worker’s compensation insurance carrier as soon as possible.
  • Fill out any required paperwork and documentation.
  • Work with the injured employee to create a return-to-work plan.

 

If an employee is injured on the job, it is important to take quick and appropriate action. By following the steps above, you can help to ensure that the injured employee receives the care and support they need. 

how to handle an employee claim

Steps to handle the claim with your worker’s compensation insurance carrier :

  • Notify the insurance carrier as soon as possible.
  • Cooperate with any investigations that they may conduct.
  • Provide any requested documentation in a timely manner.

 

If an employee is injured on the job, you will need to file a worker’s compensation claim with your insurance carrier. It is important to notify them as soon as possible and to cooperate with any investigations that they may conduct. By taking these steps, you can help to ensure a smooth and efficient claims process.

 

After an employee files a worker’s compensation claim, it is important to work with your insurance company to investigate the claim and identify any areas where you can improve safety in the workplace. By taking action to prevent future accidents and injuries, you can help to reduce worker’s compensation costs for your business.

a final word

By implementing safety measures such as regular safety training, hazard identification and mitigation, and safety equipment, you can decrease the number of workplace accidents and injuries.

 

Implementing these safety measures will help to reduce workplace accidents, improve morale, and save your business money. Worker’s compensation claims can be expensive, but by increasing workplace safety you can decrease the number of claims filed and save your business money. 

 

If you have any questions about how to increase workplace safety, or if you would like more information about worker’s compensation claims, please contact us today. 

employee injured at work

looking at workers’ compensation post-pandemic

Before COVID-19, the workers’ compensation (WC) process was fairly efficient. The pandemic, however, has brought a unique set of challenges to the workers’ compensation industry, including remote and hybrid work models, job elimination, and more.


Let’s chat about workers’ compensation post-pandemic.

what is workers’ compensation?workers' compensation overview infograhpic

Workers’ compensation is insurance purchased by employers “that provides cash benefits and/or medical care for workers who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers’ comp can provide the following to the injured:

  • “Wage replacement benefits
  • Medical treatment
  • Vocational rehabilitation
  • Other benefits”

do all employers need workers’ compensation?

Yes, yes, and yes again.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, “all California employers must provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees under California Labor Code Section 3700. If a business employs one or more employees, then it must satisfy the requirement of the law.”

why is workers’ comp important post-pandemic?

In 2020, employers’ workers’ comp premiums decreased by 10% due to decreased payrolls and fewer claims, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

Fast forward to 2022, however, and things have shifted again. As more employers begin to adopt greater safety in the workplace as well as remote and hybrid work models, workers’ compensation has changed post-pandemic.

Many employers are facing the question of workers’ compensation for their remote employees: Do I need it?

In short – Yes. You need workers’ compensation for ALL employees, no matter where they are working from.

Whereas many remote businesses won’t experience the same ‘on-the-job’ type of workers’ compensation claims, they will likely experience more claims coming from ergonomic concerns (i.e. neck and back pain, finger and hand pain, etc.)

Read on for more information on workers’ compensation in the hybrid workforce.

Workers’ compensation is important for the same reasons pre-pandemic as post-pandemic. Workers’ compensation helps employers avoid hefty out-of-pocket costs in the event an employee is injured.

(PS: When it comes to small businesses, these out-of-pocket costs may be enough to shut operations down entirely—so don’t risk it!)

workers’ compensation costs are on the rise

Workers’ compensation rates have been gradually increasing over recent years.

This increase was bolstered, however, in July 2022, when the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California® (WCIRB) submitted its September 1, 2022, pure premium rate filing to the California Department of Insurance (CDI).

The California Department of Insurance helps regulate workers’ comp rates using the WCIRB’s recommendations.

In this 2022 filing, the WCIRB proposed a set of increased premium rates that are, on average, 7.6% higher than those approved the year prior on September 1, 2021. Wow!

Read on for the WCIRB filing.

why are workers’ compensation costs increasing?

Simply put, workers’ compensation rates are rising because there are more claims being filed.

Research shows claims might be increasing because:

  • Inflation
  • Workforce changes
  • Increasing age of the workforce
  • Increased indemnity costs, and
  • Rising wages

Claims—regarding unsafe working conditions, COVID exposures, and/or workplace accommodations—might also increase as individuals begin to return to in-person work.

what can business owners do to reduce workers’ compensation claims?

Considering the high increase in the cost of workers’ compensation coverage, business owners should do everything possible to reduce claims being filed. As a business owner, you can mitigate workers’ comp claims by:

  • Encouraging mental health awareness
  • Focusing on risk mitigation
  • Conducting proper employee training
  • Updating your employee handbook and code of ethics, and
  • Maintaining a safe workplace

Interested in learning more about how to reduce the number of workers’ compensation claims that your business faces? Read our article “how to avoid the most common workplace injuries.”