The importance of reviewing workers compensation claims

Workers compensation cost of claims reports are coming into focus for many as 30 June approaches.

Employers being proactive about preventing injury and their workers compensation claims to ensure the premium is minimised is good business.

Here are six reasons to review your workers compensation claims.

1. What are the wages against each injured worker?

Employers need to be aware of costs in terms of wages for time lost that have been allocated against each claim, as these will directly affect the calculations for premium renewal.

2. What can employers do to reduce the impact of lost wages?

Every worker who has an accepted claim and is not at work in some capacity has an impact on the premium. At this time, employers cannot afford to avoid offering suitable duties.

3. Is every claim that can be closed off?

Employers should not assume that just because an injured worker is fully recovered and the claim is resolved it is not appearing on their cost of claims report. If it has not been removed then this could be added to the calculations for the next premium.

4. Are the wages of injured workers properly calculated?

Once again, employers should not assume that all is correct on their cost of claims report. They need to check the reckonings for reimbursement of wages by the Agent to ensure they are correct.

5. Are employers paying the correct tariff for their industry and workers’ activities?

It is company money on the line, so employers need to be vigilant about how they are being charged. If employers have more injuries than across their industry generally, they will be penalised accordingly.

6. What does the workplace culture look like?

Workers with aches and pain and injuries who are not well managed have a negative impact on the workplace culture, both directly in terms of the premium impact and indirectly on business factors such as absenteeism and morale.

Takeaways for employers:

• Make safety a priority.
• Appoint an experienced RTW coordinator and ensure they have the necessary resources to be outstanding in their role.
• Engage an outsourced RTW coordinator if employers only want to pay for it when they need it.
• Act on aches and pains before they become injuries.
• Connect with a local medical centre that will look after workers with aches, pains and injuries.
• Take action immediately when a claim occurs.
• Consider a workers compensation broker to get the required advice and service.
• Nominate a workplace rehabilitation provider as part of the RTW team and add their details to the RTW program.

Employers taking control of the injury management and return to work process is best practice.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/zimmytws