CREATIVE RETURN-TO-WORK or KEEPING EMPLOYEES AT WORK

1. CREATIVE RETURN-TO-WORKor KEEPING EMPLOYEES AT WORK

2. GOALS • Keep employee at work and as part of the team • Provide therapeutic work • Reduce employee recovery periods

3. GOALS • Reduce loss of work time & increase productivity • Reduce workers’ compensation and long term disability costs

4. The longer an injured worker is away from their work environment, the greater the chance for long-term or permanent disability and associated medical costs. Early Return-to-Work (RTW) Programs speed the recovery process thereby reducing both indemnity and medical costs. Research Studies Have Shown:

5. Organizations can expect an $8 to $10 savings on every dollar invested in a return-to-work program. An effective injury management and RTW program can reduce Workers’ Compensation expenses by 25% to 40%. Research Studies Have Shown:

6. Step 1: • Develop A Return to Work Program • Must be in writing • Supported by the Entire District • Shared with all Employees – Day 1 • Provide a wallet sized action card. • Notification Instructions • Medical Provider • Company Representative • TPA

7. Step 2: • Screen your New-Hires • Post Offering Screenings • Medical Assessments • Background Checks • Written Job Assessments • Post Offering Medical Evaluations

8. Step 3: Prevention - Prevention – Prevention Review Loss Runs • Identifying Potential Exposures • Bus Steps • Slip Trip and Falls • Utility Carts • Over Exertion • Ergonomic Issues • Proper Tools and Equipment

9. Golf Carts – Utility Carts

10. Golf Carts – Utility Carts • Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan says 15 yr. old Donald "Donnie" Crotty passed away overnight. • Crotty, a rising junior at TC Roberson, was helping clean up after a summer football camp at the school last week when he was run over by a "Gator" ATV ...

11. Bus Steps Incident

12. Slips – Trips - Falls

13. Uneven Sidewalks

14. Elevated Work Platforms

15. Machine Guarding

16. Ergonomics

17. Electrical

18. Potential Solutions

19. Step 4: • Managing the Claim • Claims Management Team • Injured Party • Manager/Supervisor • Risk Manager • Claims Adjuster • On-site Claims Manager • Medical Team • Legal Team • Consortium • Consultants

20. Step 5: • Get the injured employee back to work • Likelihood of RTW decreases with each passing week: • 90% at 4 weeks • 75% at 8 weeks • 50% at 12 weeks • 20% at 24 weeks • 2% at 52 weeks

21. The management and staff of __________________ are committed to developing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. In keeping with this goal, it is the policy of this company to make every reasonable effort to provide suitable employment to any employee unable to perform his/her duties as a result of a work-related injury. The purpose of this Return to Work (RTW) policy is: a) to provide for the early and safe return to work of injured employees b) to provide gainful employment for employees who are permanently disabled due to an injury in the workplace c) to restore at least the worker’s ability to perform the essential duties of their pre-injury job Steps to a Successful Return-to-Work Program

22. SCHOOL BOARD OF LEVY COUNTY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LIGHT DUTY RETURN TO WORK ASSIGNMENT (Please provide a copy of this completed form to the Personnel Department) Steps to a Successful Return-to-Work Program

23. In the case of an absence due to a work related injury, I elect to have payments made as follows: ________ I will accept the Worker’s Compensation payments (66.66% of my average weekly wage, not taxable) as full payment, and no hours are to be charged against my accumulated unused sick or annual leave. I acknowledge that I will receive this payment directly from the insurance carrier. (You will be responsible for payment of your insurance premiums. If covered under Family Medical Leave during this period the Board will continue their contribution toward your insurance premiums.) ________ I request that my full salary be continued, and those hours up to 100% of my regular work hours be charged against my accumulated unused sick or annual leave. I acknowledge that in the event I exhaust my accumulated sick or annual leave days, I will receive only the 66.66% Worker’s Compensation pay for the additional days. (Payment of your insurance premiums will continue as long as you are receiving a check from the Board) Steps to a Successful Return-to-Work Program

24. Develop a listing of Temporary Alternative Work positions or tasks. Employees often feel more comfortable doing modified tasks within their regular job. Unfamiliar tasks should be avoided. Management/supervisory support of program. Pre-Injury Planning

25. Finding an appropriate modified, productive work environment. Eliciting commitment from all supervisor’s tasks. Making sure employee works within the doctor’s restrictions. Keeping the injured employee in the same department with responsibilities as close to regular job as possible. Not Easy! Supervisors being as flexible and creative as possible in finding appropriate “light duty” responsibilities. Challenges of a School District

26. Transitional “MUST HAVES” • Predefined, meaningful assignments • Medical provider participation • Claim handler participation • Plan for each employee

27. Typical Activities

28. Standard Mop and Bucket

29. Microfiber Cart

30. Microfiber Technology

31. Will a RTW Program Save You Money?

33. Challenges • Medical Providers • Doctors • Lawyers • On-Site Claims Managers • TPA’s • Medical Only • Making Appointments • Approved Medical Providers • Employees

34. Questions ???Comments ???Concerns ???

35. Contact Information • John Beaudry • Loss Control Consultant • Phone: 352 419-6076 • Email: John@SafetyarmSolutions.com