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.
Return to Work (RTW)
The single most powerful tool an employer has in controlling its workers’ compensation costs is immediately providing meaningful work.
OCTOBER TIP: Don’t forget L&I reimburses up to half of the modified-duty wages you pay your employee. This savings makes immediate return-to-work even more cost-effective for you as an employee.
Focus on Safety (FOS) –
LIFTS & TRANSFERS
Overhead Lifts vs Floor Lifts
Knowing which mechanical lift to use can mean the difference between success and injury. Overhead lifts and floor lifts perform similar patient-handling functions, and care facilities often need a combination of both. This bulletin compares both types of lifts in terms of safe handling, accessibility, floor space, and limitations.
Patient Handling: Overhead Lifts vs Floor Lifts
Note: WorkSafeBC helps to improve the health and safety of British Columbians in the workplace.
There are many tools available to assist in developing, or enhancing, your safe resident handling program, and balancing the requirements of both DSHS and DOSH can feel tricky. A good place to start is knowing what OSHA recommends and what tools they provide to help stay safe when lifting and transferring residents. Learn more at osha.gov/hospitals.
ERNwest FOS Webinar Series – October Training
Each month ERNwest offers topical discussions about safety strategies unique to your industry. Check out our presenters in October.
10/26/2021 | 10:00 AM
Get It Together: Transforming Safety Culture and Performance Through Increased Safety Participation
Presented by: Julie Hile and Jonathan Seiden, The Hile Group
REGISTER
This session will feature case studies from Hile Group’s diverse client portfolio, illustrating how safety pros, ops managers, executive leaders, and front-line workers can work together to turn a vision of proactive safety into daily practice. Participants will take away an overview of how mixed teams build sustainable safety cultures within their companies and the ways to start collectively changing mindsets and behavior.
Other October Webinar Training
Download the 2021 Calendar of FOS Webinars as part of our available training and refer back to ERNwest.com/training for updates and additions.
10/12/2021 | 10:00 AM | Mentoring for Safety – Coaching vs Discipline
10/21/2021 | 10:00 AM | Mentoring for Safety – Coaching vs Discipline
Presented by: ERNwest
Mentoring, coaching and discipline are powerful tools when used appropriately. This class will walk managers, supervisors and leaders through the differences between the three. Through discussion and examples, attendees will learn what each is best suited for and when to apply them.
Onsite Training is Now Available
We are excited to offer onsite training once again. Contact Shamus Harmon at (253) 237-0840 or SHarmon@ernwest.com to understand the latest protocol and set up a training time. Please download a list of current training and a quick FAQ.
L&I Announces 2022 Rates
L&I Proposes a 3.1% Rate Increase
Labor and Industries recently published proposed base rates for 2022. When considering all risk classes in the state the proposal amounts to an average 3.1% increase, although specific risk classes may see rates move higher or lower than the 3.1% average. The proposed 2022 rates for the most popular risk classes in WHCA are:
L&I is attributing much of the increase to an increase in the Supplemental Pension Fund (SPF) portion of your rates, which pays for cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) on lifetime pension claims. Pension COLAs are indexed to the state’s average wage and Washington experienced a 10.1% increase in the state average wage last year. Click here for L&I’s full announcement and your opportunity to provide public comments on this year’s proposed rates.
ERNwest has obtained your company’s specific 2022 experience modification factor (EMF) and rates and will be sending those to you shortly. If you have any questions about your rates and to talk about strategies for lowering your rates in the future, please contact ERNwest at sscheurich@ernwest.com.
Upcoming 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.
10/05/2021 | 10:00 AM | Understanding Industrial Insurance
10/07/2021 | 2:00 PM | What is Retro?
10/19/2021 | 10:00 AM | Fundamentals of Claims Management
10/26/2021 | 10:00 AM | Using Kept on Salary and Modified Duty Effectively
Find more training online at ernwest.com/training.
Latest COVID-19 Updates
Additional Retro Resources
WHCA Safety Resources
Access WHCA and general safety resources. Learn more.
(Password: StayHealthy)
How WHCA Group Retro Affects
Your Bottom Line
L&I workers’ compensation rates have declined steadily over the past several years, saving our industry millions of dollars in paid premiums. Get the details.
WHCA Pays You Back!
The association, through the Retro program, will reimburse up to $2,500 per year when you buy equipment needed to keep your staff working safely. Access the Safety Rebate Form for a complete list of covered items and for instructions to get started. Download the 2021-2022 WHCA Safety Rebate Form.
Administrator / Executive Director Training
Whether you are new to the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA), new to Retro, new to your position or just have questions, you’ll find helpful information about the benefits and requirements of WHCA Retro membership and how ERNwest can help you succeed with Washington Workers’ Compensation. | Welcome to WHCA Retro
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
Contacts
WHCA Retro Questions?
Stephanie Scheurich, WHCA Group Manager (253) 237-0837 | SScheurich@ernwest.com
WHCA Safety Questions?
ERNwest Safety Department Safety@ernwest.com
Shamus Harmon, WHCA Safety Manager (253) 237-0840 | SHarmon@ernwest.com
