The latest solutions for keeping maintenance personnel on the job – injury and claim free

Technicians are often exposed to a number of safety risks as part of their daily job routine. Some of those risks include contact with hazardous chemicals – from battery acid to a variety of liquids and lubricants, electrical exposure from vehicle wiring components and physical risks in working with a variety of tools and parts.

In order to more effectively control workplace risks, forward-thinking companies are now starting to look for ways to deploy the latest workers’ compensation prevention and early intervention practices to better protect employees, plus help reduce business liabilities and risks. They are working hard to deliver the latest innovative solutions designed to significantly reduce workplace hazards so that incidents don’t occur in the first place. These new solutions not only will save organizations consideration amounts of money, but also will help keep employees on the job – injury and claim free.

Here are some of the latest trends and solutions now available:

Next Generation Prevention and Wellness Programs

While prevention always has been talked about in the industry, it is now being addressed more fully through a comprehensive suite of new methodologies and practices that empower organizations to finally be able to stop on-the-job injuries from occurring. Among these latest solutions:

- Pre-work screenings – Conducted to identify an applicant’s ability to perform the physical demands of a specific job. This pre-screen also identifies, on the front end, the location and extent of any current soft tissue injuries.

Furthermore, pre-screenings ensure that companies don’t “inherit a claim,” making it possible for employers to know up front the true health-status of a potential employee before the hiring takes place.

- Functional job descriptions – Created after a functional job analysis has been performed in the workplace and designed to fully outline the specific job demands and requirements based on the functions that are critical to the job.

- Worksite evaluations – Involves physical therapists on the front end – not just after an injury occurs – to work with employees, supervisors and management to understand workflow and all job task requirements. As a result, therapists are able to recommend optimum positions, ergonomic strategies and physical movements required at work stations to minimize musculoskeletal impact on the employee.

Innovative Early Intervention Solutions

Most organizations now know that early intervention is vital to reducing medical costs and lost time from the job for employees. As such, the key component to early intervention includes prompt reporting and quick-response from therapists and/or medical teams to address issues as soon as they occur.

In fact, when companies utilize the right early intervention strategies, they are able to manage work-related injuries from the beginning, and thereby ensure better and improved outcomes for the employee.

Some of the latest early intervention solutions include:

- Prompt reporting – Educates and engages employees to report any health concerns as soon as they notice any discomfort. Once these early notifications are reported to supervisors, they are able to immediately address the concern and respond with appropriate evaluations, diagnosis and/or medical care – before the issue escalates.

- Early intervention screening – Allows prevention teams to screen employees and evaluate the worksite as a result of the employee’s concerns or a request from a supervisor or first responder. The prevention team then coaches the employee regarding appropriate ways to perform job tasks, the correct movement patterns, posture changes and strategies to reduce reported discomfort and improve safe job performance.

- On-the-job fitness solutions – Engages employees in wellness tactics like stretching, core muscle strengthening, endurance and coordination exercises that are specifically customized to improve areas of the body that are most engaged in performing work-related tasks.

Improved Return to Work (RTW) Solutions

Just in case an on-the-job injury occurs, it is vital that employees receive the best medical diagnosis and medical care to ensure a fast and healthy recovery. An effective RTW program will not only provide the best therapists and medical care solutions, but also will ensure that workers will be productive and back on the job as soon as medically feasible.

The latest RTW solutions include:

- Using a managed care network of imaging and therapy providers – Once an incident occurs, it’s important for companies to already have a partner in place that quickly can deploy the most innovative providers of imaging solutions for thorough and accurate diagnosis. The partner also should be able to provide the best physical therapists and medical teams who can respond quickly with the latest practices and best-in-class healthcare solutions for workers.

There are now organizations that have highly sophisticated managed care networks for imaging, medical specialists and physical therapy providers who are certificated for ensuring the best possible care in helping to get workers back on the job – and in the best shape – as soon as possible.

- Rehab coordinators – Once a claim is filed, one of the major challenges impacting RTW efforts is lack of coordination and communications between all parties involved – the company, legal teams, adjusters, medical providers, injured workers, etc. Communication delays also create delays in workers getting the care they need and causes required paperwork and other important documentation to be held up as well.

However, by using a rehab coordinator, a company can ensure that at least one point of contact has a 360-degree view of all parties involved and can work to ensure that everyone has what they need in a timely manner so that workers can get the care they need and return to work sooner.

IN SUM

There is much going on within the workers’ compensation industry as this marketplace continues to evolve and change to incorporate best practices and innovative ideas in prevention, early intervention and RTW programs.

By using some of the latest solutions that are now available, companies can be better equipped in reducing claims and on-the-job injuries. These solutions will not only reduce costs, but also decrease business liabilities and other risks associated with labor-driven workplaces.

Liz Griggs is chairman and CEO of WorkWell Prevention & Care (http://workwellpreventionandcare.com). It is an organization that provides soft tissue injury prevention, physical therapy treatment and the next generation of diagnostic imaging services to offer a first-in-class approach that focuses on outcomes and return to work solutions to reduce overall cost and time lost on the job.