Early Incident Reporting Saves Money and Headaches
A strong focus and commitment to injury prevention is the most surefire way to improve your safety metrics and reduce your workers’ comp costs. When prevention activities fail, and an injury occurs, it is equally important to have strong claims handling procedures in place. In fact, our data supports that claims reported within a week are 44% less expensive than those reported at four weeks! Here are some other benefits of early claim reporting:
- Decreases attorney involvement – 31% of claims reported after four weeks have attorney involvement.
- Claims close faster – 71% of claims reported after four weeks are still open at 18 months.
- Allows immediate incident investigation, which can help your safety team identify cause and avoid similar injuries in the future.
- Promotes a caring and helpful atmosphere. When you know an incident occurred, you can help your worker navigate the confusing L&I system and overcome barriers with medical treatment.
- Provides critical information for early claims management.
- Provides a level of accountability and helps you avoid fraudulent claims.
Our team of dedicated claim managers is here to help you navigate the claims process, and the sooner we know about a claim, the sooner we can help. Please report claims to us immediately by calling your ERNwest Claim Manager, reporting claims via email at claimsreporting@ernwest.com, or report claims securely online in our ERNwest Reporting Portal.
GRIP Safety Committee
Are you or someone within your company in a safety-related position and are looking for a place to share safety challenges, best practices and industry updates quarterly? If you are interested in participating in the quarterly safety committee meeting, please provide your contact information.
Return to Work (RTW)
The single most powerful tool an employer has in controlling its workers’ compensation costs is immediately providing meaningful work.
AUGUST TIP: When an employee quits or is terminated and has an ongoing workers’ compensation claim, your responsibility for the claim does not end. Having a reasonably continuous job offer in place at the time of the separation makes a big difference in preventing terminated employees from costing your company more in workers’ compensation premium.
Focus on Safety (FOS) –
Struck By | FALLS
Each month we will focus on one of these incidents which cause the most injuries in the construction industry.
Falls From Ladders
Over the past year, most falls from six feet or more were from ladders. In several instances, ladders that were faulty and not properly inspected failed while employees traveled up and down. In one instance, a painter fell 18ft from an extension ladder when a cracked bracket on the extension ladder shattered. In another instance, an employee was injured when he did not position and secure the ladder properly. All these injuries were preventable. Unfortunately, several of these injuries required serious medical treatment including hospitalization. Download the latest GRIP Ladder Safety Inspection checklist and join us for our upcoming Ladder Safety Training webinar.
ERNwest FOS Webinar Series – August Training
Each month ERNwest offers topical discussions about safety strategies unique to your industry. Download the 2021 Calendar of FOS Webinars as part of our available training and refer back to ERNwest.com/training for updates and additions.
Supervising for Safety: August 3, 10:00am
Ladder Safety: August 26, 10:00am
Workplace Burnout Happens
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout has three characteristics; feelings of depleted energy or exhaustion, increased mental distance from or negativity/cynicism about one’s job, and reduced professional efficiency.
What are some signs of burnout?
- Unusually low energy or fatigue
- Reduced performance or productivity
- Uncharacteristic impatience or shortness with others
- Faltering relationships with colleagues
- Sudden micromanaging
- Increased absenteeism
How can you show your employees that you value their mental health and want to help prevent burnout at work?
- Encourage the use of PTO or vacation days.
- Set clear expectations. These can help employees retain a sense of control because they understand what is expected of them.
- Allow for downtime at work. This could be allowing employees to close their office door and work uninterrupted or allowing music to be played through headphones or in the background.
- Show support for mental health. Implement an open-door policy for employees to come to managers or HR with issues.
- Show appreciation or recognition. A “thank you” can go a long way to reduce stress and show employees they are appreciated.
- Recognize that stress exists outside of work. To help staff cope with responsibilities outside of work, be accommodating.
- Allow for rest when needed. Recognize the need and allow for an extra break or a few minutes to decompress to recenter or gain focus.
- Bring mindfulness to work.
- Reduce toxicity in the workplace.
- Conduct regular employee engagement surveys.
Recognizing and avoiding burnout in the workplace is something you can do as an employer to improve an individual’s well-being as well as the health of your organization.
Other Safety Information
Get Recognized for Your Safety Program
Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event being held August 9-15 that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Go to the OSHA Safe + Sound Week to learn how to participate.
Wildfire Smoke Rule
Did you know that L&I is currently in the process of drafting a rule to cover employee exposure to smoke in the workplace? Did you know that there are certain requirements L&I will include that may impact your jobsite? Learn more about the Wildfire Smoke Rulemaking. Download the GRIP Wildfire Smoke APP template.
Emergency Heat Stress Rule
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed an emergency rule to provide increased protection for employees exposed to extreme heat, including those working in agriculture, construction and other outdoor industries. The emergency Outdoor Heat Exposure rule clarifies proactive steps that employers must take to prevent outdoor workers from suffering heat-related illness.
GRIP Members – Live Training is back!
ERNwest is excited to announce we will be hosting our first live training event to GRIP members since the beginning of the pandemic. Two trainings will be held at the Master Builders Association Banquet room August 19. Sign up for each separately, with Lunch provided in between to registered attendees.
August 19, 2021 at 10:00 am | Supervising for Safety
August 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm | Incident Reporting
Upcoming Training
ERNwest Webinar Training
ERNwest presents topics such as Understanding Industrial Insurance Rates, What is Retro? and Using Kept on Salary and Modified Duty Effectively on a monthly basis. Select a topic for more information and to register.
August 3, 2021 at 10am | Understanding Industrial Insurance
August 5, 2021 at 2pm | What is Retro?
August 17, 2021 at 10am | Fundamentals of Claims Management
August 31, 2021 at 10am | Using Kept on Salary and Modified Duty Effectively
Find more training online at ernwest.com/training.
Latest COVID-19 Updates
Additional RETRO Resources
GRIP Safety Resources
Access Toolbox Tips and general safety resources. Learn more.
Workplace incident or injury?
Contact ERNwest first.
Report incidents immediately so that your claims manager is aware and can help guide you through the process.
ERNwest.com/report-an-incident
Contact
For precautionary reasons related to COVID-19, MBAKS offices are closed until King County enters Phase 3. Staff is working remotely and can be reached via phone or email. Events and class cancellations are noted on the MBAKS Events Calendar. Refer to the MBAKS COVID-19/Updates for up-to-date information.
GRIP Retro Questions?
Ashlee Day, GRIP Group Manager, (253) 237-0809 | ADay@ernwest.com
GRIP Safety Questions?
Ann Kershul, GRIP Safety Manager, (253) 237-0819 | AKershul@ernwest.com
Michael Octave CSP, CHST, VP Safety, (253) 237-0812 | MOctave@ernwest.com
GRIP Stay-At-Work Questions?
Tom Nelson, GRIP Stay-At-Work Coordinator, (253) 372-2357 | TNelson@ERNwest.com
