Program Description
It’s no surprise that workers’ compensation places financial strain on companies in regard to medical expenses, lost production, and increased insurance premiums. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average amount spent on work comp in certain industries was $0.47 per hour worked. Even OSHA has recognized that U.S. businesses are facing a dilemma with this statement, “OSHA encourages all employers to adopt an Injury and Illness Prevention Program…universal interventions that can substantially reduce the number and severity of workplace injuries and alleviate the associated financial burdens on U.S. workplaces.”
The key to reducing medical costs and increasing production is on-site, third party, trusted health professionals who prevent injuries by employee education and injury triage. Janice Berthold, Senior VP with Heffernan Insurance, attributes 90% of non-life threatening injuries with having the potential to be quickly resolved on-site with first aid.
Benefits of On-Site Third Party Early Intervention
On-site: The healthcare professional knows job tasks the employee performs, and often they know the employee too.Third Party: Keeps the interaction professional, protecting HIPAA information.Early Intervention: The healthcare professional understands the human body and can educate employees on good body mechanics, stretching, and first aid according to OSHA.
Facility Demographics
1,800 employees3 shiftsUnionHeavy manufacturing
AWS History On-Site
In May 2015, AWS partnered with an aerospace company that had an out of control 2014 OSHA-300 log by placing a pilot program in the department with the most recordable injuries. This department included approximately 1,800 employees and 4 unions. The number one goal of the AWS Early Intervention Program at this site was to reduce recordable injuries by 20%. Just eight months later, they had succeeded. In February 2016, recordable injures were down 60%. Present plans are to expand the program into other departments and to take on the second goal: reduce on-site clinic visits by 50%.
AWS Objectives
ATI Worksite Solutions (AWS) has spent years perfecting their early intervention model in order to deliver what clients need for total worker health. AWS has succeeded in developing efficient resources, tools and in-depth training for licensed healthcare professionals. A Certified Early Intervention SpecialistTM will job coach, provide job-specific stretches, triage early reports of discomfort, determine if the employee needs medical treatment beyond first aid according to OSHA, discover root cause of injury, present real-time site-specific trends, and recommend solutions to prevent recurring injuries.
Present plans are to expand the program into other departments and to navigate through the second goal: to reduce on-site clinic visits by 50%.
Results Achieved
The number one goal of the AWS Early Intervention Program at this site was to reduce recordable injuries by 20%. This goal was achieved in 8 months. By February 2016, recordable injures were down 60%.
References
Bertold, Janice (2016, May 23). Work Comp Costs Get Healed Through On-Site Treatment. Occupational Health & Safety. Retrieved from: https://ohsonline.com/Blogs/The-OHS-Wire/2016/05/Work-Comp-Costs-Get-Healed-Through -On-Site-Treatment.aspx
United States Department of Labor (2016). Employer Responsibilities. Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/employer-responsibility.html
United States Department of Labor (2016, March 10). Employer Costs for Employee Compensation – December 2015. Retrieved from: www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf