WORKER COMPENSATION ISSUES FOR SUPERVISORS

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C

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DO YOU KNOW YOUR

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

Employers record and report accident

information on OSHA log



Information recorded

 Number of fatalities

 Number of injuries and illnesses involving lost workdays

 Number of injuries and illnesses involving restricted workdays

 Number of days away from work

 Number of days restricted work activity

 Number of injuries and illnesses without lost workdays

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 Incident rate is the number of incidents per 100

employees (working 40 hours per week for 50 weeks)

 Incidents are the total of the number of fatalities,

injuries and illnesses involving lost and

restricted workdays, and injuries and illness without lost workdays.

 DART Incidence Rate – Days Away from work,

UW-G

B

‟

E

‟04 22 3.46 2.94 .94 .69

‟05 19 2.66 2.61 .42 .52

‟06 18 2.64 2.43 .44 .60

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‘04 ‘05 ‘06

Lifting other load Pushing/pulling a load

Lifting other load Blade Slipper surface Slippery surface Slippery surface Struck by against

other object Fall; different level Struck by against

other object

Repetitive motion Splash

Pushing/pulling a load

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Claim cost Premiums paid

‟04 72,552 99,400

‟05 61,853 92,660

‟06 52,464 117,090

H

AND COSTS

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 Pre-work screens

 Supervisor involvement

 Accident analysis

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 A series of tasks designed to assess ability to

perform the essential (critical) physical demands of the job.

 Administered by a therapist (OT or PT)

 Objectively measures functional capabilities

(Non-discrimination)

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

Reduce injuries on the job which should

result in a reduction in WC

claims/payments



Minimize consequences of hiring an

employee who is not able to perform

required functions of the job.

 Increase efficiency  Increase morale

P

– P

 Positions selected

 Arboretum project coordinator, greenskeeper, gardener  Auto technician

 Custodian, custodian lead  Electrician

 Event coordinator (Weidner Center)  Event support service (Union)

 Facilities Maintenance Specialist  Facilities Repair Worker

 Mailroom, Shipping and Mailing Associate  Media Electronics Technician

 Media Services

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 Pre-work screen development

 Occupational therapist (OT) reviewed job

descriptions

 OT met with supervisor to review essential job

functions

 OT observed an employee (~1.5 hours per screen)  OT developed a draft pre-work screen

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– I

 Policy

 Applies to new hires only

 Must pass all “tests” to be hired

 Administration

 HR coordinates screening (typically 24 hour turn around)  Cost $75/ screen – paid for by department hiring individual

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FACTOR

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Kneeling

Overhead work

Lift

Push/pull

Dust mopping

Wet mopping

Stair climbing

Ladder climbing

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Stair climbing

(30 steps)

Or Ladder climbing

(36 steps total)

50# lift floor to

waist

Or

30# lift floor to 62”

Crouch – 1 minute Or Kneeling, 5 minutes

Forward bend

30

_{for 3 min}

Or Kneeling, 5 minutes

Crawling on belly

15 feet

Or Crawling on back

15 feet

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 What we hoped for

 A tool that will screen out applicants who cannot

meet physical demands of the job

 Minimize worker compensation costs

 Minimize turn over when staff do not meet their 6 month

probation.

 Program in effect for one year – not sufficient

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WC

 Minimize incidence rates  Accident Analysis

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 Accident

 An unplanned, undesired event that may result in

personal injury, illness, property damage and

environmental harm and/or causes an interruption in a process or normal activities.

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 Unsafe acts

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 Untrained employees  Inattentiveness

 Not following safety

procedures

 Not using PPE, guards,

etc.

 Operating without

authority

 Running/horseplay  Improper body

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C

 Poor housekeeping  Poor maintenance  Blocked walkways  Unsafe equipment  Inadequate lighting  Inadequate ventilation  Unsafe walking/working

surface

 When fire ripped

through a maintenance room at the University of … in 2002, a master electrician died of smoke inhalation. While four other workers managed to escape, the electrician was trapped by Xmas decorations and chairs stored in the cramped space.

D

IRECT AND

I

NDIRECT

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OSTS OF

A

CCIDENTS



Direct costs

 Medical expenses

 Lost time-temporary disability benefits

 Rehab

 Retraining

 Loss of earning capacity

 Permanent disability settlements



Indirect costs

 Hiring/training replacements  Overtime

 Costs of

repair/replace  Lost time of

employees at accident scene

 Productive time lost by supervisor

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I

A

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

To prevent recurrence of a similar accident.

Employee awareness of importance of safe

work habits.



Promote good will. Show concern for all

employees.



Improve supervisors approach to managing

safety.



Documentation to assist in WC claim.

Reduce or control costs.

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HY SHOULD SUPERVISORS DO THE

INVESTIGATION

?



Know most about employee and work

environment



Directly responsible for their employees

Can take immediate action to prevent

recurrence



Can communicate more effectively with

employees in their work area



Can take immediate action to care for injured

employee.

H

OW DOES ACCIDENT ANALYSIS

BENEFIT SUPERVISORS

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 Demonstrates supervisors concern for employees  Helps identify trends and problem areas

 Increases efficiency by minimizing interruptions,

downtime and lost time due to recurring accidents

 Improve the supervisors management approach

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 Gather as much information as possible  Analyze the facts to determine the cause

 Recommend corrective measure to prevent future

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K

Q

 Who  What  When  Why  How  Where

 Were safety devices or other safety equipment in

use at the time of the accident?

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Type of Injury

Knee Ankle Elbow

WC paid hrs 40 69.24 45

WC Wages pd 437.60 753.22 553.57

ERW paid hrs 160 160 40

ERW WC experience saved

1750.40 1740.32 490.80

Total pd 2188.00 2493.54 1044.37 % saved by

ERW

C

# 1



An employee slipped

on icy sidewalk on

way in to work from

parking lot resulting

in a fractured a bone

in the shoulder area.

(WC cost = $19,400)

C

#2

 An employee missed a step on the stairs and fell

breaking an ankle. Injury resulted in 13 days away from work and a WC claim of $19,200.

C

#3

 Employee strained

back when lifting box of Xmas decorations on to high shelf.

C

#4

 An employee trips

over extension cords lying across the floor. The employee was

able to catch himself and was not injured in any way.

C

#5

 An employee cut hand

while opening a

cardboard box with a utility knife.

C

# 6

 An employee splashed

cleaning chemical in eye resulting in mild irritation and a trip to the emergency room.