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MHSA: Industry Best Practices on Disability Management
Rocketing insurance premiums, fuelled by rising labour
and rehabilitation costs, are forcing companies to rethink their approach
to injury reduction and disability management.
In 2002 alone, lost time claims (LTC) for the Steel/Metal
Fabrication industry code tallied 1199 with an average of 20.26 days of
temporary disability per claim. That adds up to 1.60 lost time claims
per $1 million of insurable earnings at a cost to the WCB in excess of
$5 million (WCB).
"The LTC incidents for 2002 represent a significant
decrease from the previous year, by almost 30%, showing injury prevention
initiatives are working," says EARA Technologies Business Development
Manager, Erin Lee who recommends companies participate in WCB's Partners
in Injury Reduction program as a starting point to reducing their premiums.
"Focusing on number of claims misses an important trend, the increasing
cost of LTCs. Increasing salary, medical costs, diagnostic testing, and
rehabilitation costs all contribute to higher costs and ultimately, higher
insurance premiums." So, in order to cut costs significantly, companies
must go one step further and take a proactive approach to disability management.
EARA Technologies has introduced an interactive physical
demands analysis tool designed to do just that. Video PDA® helps companies
control injury costs by reducing lost time claims and implementing return
to work programs. Video PDA® applies the 'a picture is worth a thousand
words' principle supplementing written job descriptions and tool inventories
with video clips of specific tasks and audio narrative. "[Claims
managers] have challenges with the exact type of position," says
MHSA Southern Coordinator, Lorne Kleppe. "[For example], not many
people know what a millwright is or the demands associated with being
a fork lift operator. With Video PDA®, it is clear exactly what the
position is, the exact physical demands, and the tools needed to complete
the tasks. There is no misunderstanding of exactly how that worker needs
to perform his tasks."
With access to accurate job information, case managers
are able to assess the validity of claims and implement effective rehabilitation
and return to work programs. Standens, a manufacturer of suspension parts
for the agricultural industry with 580 employees, is successfully using
Video PDA® to complement their existing disability management program.
"With Video PDA®, we're looking at cost avoidance, expense reduction
and revenue enhancement," says Standens Safety Manager, Peter Hollett.
Since implementing a comprehensive disability management program, including
Video PDA®, the Standens Health and Safety team has accomplished what
had never been done in the previous seven years: reduced their lost time
claims to zero for an entire quarter.
Video PDA® is a valuable communication tool enabling
Standens to avoid costly work-site visits and safely return injured employees
to work. "Most recently, we had a slip and fall accident in the parking
lot. She went to the chiropractor and when I showed him what her job was
[on Video PDA®], he put her back to work right away," says Standens
Safety Manager, Peter Hollett who attributes most LTCs to lack of information.
"When employees go in and explain to a doctor 'I do this and I do
that', the doctor has a hard time understanding. [When doctors] have no
idea what you are referring to, you usually end up with 'Well, you should
probably take a week off'. Whereas, if they can see it in action, then
they can see exactly what these employees do and they don't have to second
guess what the employee is saying."
Kleppe looks forward to hearing more great success stories
from MHSA members. "Many companies are going to reap the rewards
of being proactive and Video PDA® is one of the tools that will revolutionize
health and safety programs."
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