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.
Refund Numbers are In—
We Just Keep Getting Better!
GRIP members earned over $60 Million dollars over the last 3 plan years.
39.2% (2017-18)
33.5% (2018-19)
39.0% (2019-20)
Return to Work (RTW)
The single most powerful tool an employer has in controlling its workers’ compensation costs is immediately providing meaningful work.
JUNE TIP: It’s helpful to have a list of light-duty job options for the injured employee to take to his/her initial medical appointment to streamline return-to-work. We have packets available for you as part of your program participation. To obtain one, contact your group manager.
Focus on Safety (FOS) –
Safety Leadership/Trench Safety
Trench Safety Stand-Down Week, June 14 – 18
Trench work involves some of the most dangerous activities within the construction industry. In fact, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, approximately 25 workers are killed every year in trench-related incidents. Learn how you can participate in this year’s Stand Down. Download the Trench Safety Toolkit.
Part S for Demolition – New Requirements
On June 1, Labor and Industries will adopt new requirements for chapter 296-155 Part S for Demolition to improve the safety of employees working in the demolition industry. Get more information from L&I.
Safety Climate-Safety Management Information System Pilot Project
GRIP members, the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) is seeking small to medium-sized construction companies to help pilot the Safety Climate-Safety Management Information System (SC-SMIS).
The Problem – Many companies don’t have the financial or personnel resources needed to conduct a safety climate assessment or to create the safety management policies and procedures needed to effectively carry out the recommendations. Until construction companies of all sizes are able to measure their safety climate and strengthen it using effective safety management tools, the industry will continue to experience high levels of poor safety and health outcomes.
A Solution – To address this need, the CPWR brought together 11 safety professionals from small and medium-sized construction companies across the country to help them develop a web-based SC-SMIS system. Construction companies of any size will be able to use it and it will be absolutely free to use!
Benefits to participating include:
- Understanding the current level of safety climate maturity
- An engraved plaque recognizing participation in an important construction related study.
- Acknowledgement and recognition on CPWR’s website
- Hardhat stickers for employees
- A Test to use for newsletters, press releases
- The opportunity to help the industry by providing feedback to CPWR
For more information on this project, contact Dr. Linda Goldenhar at lgoldenhar@cpwr.com or 301-495-8540.
ERNwest FOS Webinar Series – June 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.
June 8, 2021 at 10am | Fundamentals of Ergonomics
June 15, 2021 at 10am | Unified Fall Protection
June 17, 2021 at 10am | Fundamentals of Ergonomics
Keeping Teen Workers Safe
As we approach the summer months, many teens and younger adults will be looking to earn some extra money. Teens make great workers when employers provide adequate training and support. To hire anyone under the age of 18 in Washington there are specific rules and laws that employers must follow. Employers who violate minor work restrictions can be subject to fines and civil penalties.
Before hiring minors, you must:
- Get a minor work permit endorsement on your business license.
- Get a completed parent/school or summer authorization form (when school is in session and during summer break).
- Verify the minor’s age, gathering appropriate documentation.
- Review state and federal child labor laws to learn more about the type of work restrictions that apply to minors and the hours they can work, including rest and meal periods.
For more information on youth employment, including hiring, variances, hours of work, and required rest or meal periods, go to https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/youth-employment/how-to-hire-minors
Employers must be cautious when hiring teen workers. Keeping them safe is critical. Studies show that employees under the age of 25 have a higher rate of injuries compared to those over the age of 25, even though they work fewer hours and are prohibited by law from working in high-risk jobs. Teens may not ask for help, or ask for directions or instructions to be repeated, because they are intimidated in new settings, or as most parents will attest, they think they already know everything! For these reasons, employers must ensure that teen workers are receiving appropriate safety training, and appropriate mentoring, supervision and encouragement.
Hiring teen workers may seem like more work or more risk for some employers, but they can become vital to organizations in certain industries, with the proper hiring, training and support.
Upcoming Training
GRIP Webinar Training
These GRIP-specific trainings benefit new members or serve as a great refresher for established GRIP participants. Click on the dates below for more information about the training and to register.
June 03, 2021 at 10:30am | Getting your GRIP on Claims
June 10, 2021 at 2:00pm | Return to Work Incentives (SAW and Preferred Worker)
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.
June 1, 2021 at 10am | Understanding Industrial Insurance
June 3, 2021 at 2pm | What is Retro?
June 15, 2021 at 10am | Fundamentals of Claims Management
June 29, 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?
Michael Octave, GRIP Safety Manager, (253) 237-0812 | MOctave@ernwest.com
Ann Kershul, GRIP Safety Manager, (253) 237-0819 | AKershul@ernwest.com
GRIP Stay-At-Work Questions?
Tom Nelson, GRIP Stay-At-Work Coordinator, (253) 372-2357 | TNelson@ERNwest.com
