6 Steps for Mfg. Employers to Support an OhioBWC Injured Worker

Even with rigorous safety protocols in place, workplace accidents and injuries still occur, more frequently in the manufacturing sector than in most other industries in Ohio. These incidents not only affect the injured worker but also impact production, WC insurance premiums, and employee morale.

Following an accident, an employer’s first and most urgent responsibility is to ensure that the injured employee receives immediate medical attention. Once their condition is stabilized, you must provide them with continued support and help them navigate the procedures set up by the Ohio BWC for injured workers, so they can recover and return to their job as soon as possible.

Your HR and EHS departments can mitigate the effects of this challenging situation by proactively developing a comprehensive plan that follows these six steps to support OhioBWC injured workers.

1. Establish Quick-Response Protocols

The smooth operations of a manufacturing floor can turn chaotic in an instant when an employee is injured. Even relatively minor slips and falls can disrupt the routine, as workers will rush to aid their injured peer. In such an alarming situation, emotions tend to be heightened, so a calm response is essential. This is where training kicks in. Employees who are well-versed in the company’s injury response protocols will, instead of panicking, be able to take action to secure the work area and administer first aid.

Injury response procedures should include a chain of command with a team trained to handle workplace injuries. Who will make decisions about initial first aid? Should machinery be shut down? In the case of an accident involving hazardous materials, should workers evacuate the area? Also, OSHA-compliant first aid kits should be conveniently placed throughout the workplace, and all employees should be familiar with these and how to use the materials inside, including resuscitation equipment.

The response leader must determine how the injured worker will be transported to an urgent care facility and assign someone to accompany them. The leader must also seek an early evaluation of the injured employee’s condition and ensure that they are referred to appropriate specialists. Medical providers are required to be informed of the OhioBWC injured worker’s status.

2. Thoroughly Document the Incident

Once the injured employee is stabilized and receiving medical care, the team needs to collect witness statements and analyze the accident. Why did it happen, and what changes need to be made to prevent a similar incident from happening again? For injuries that involved nerve damage or hearing loss or that developed over time, the EHS manager should bring in experts to evaluate the systems and recommend changes.

For an injured employee to receive workers’ compensation, employers must verify with the Ohio BWC that the incident meets these criteria in order to be eligible for benefits:

• An employer-employee relationship exists.
• The incident was accidental in nature.
• It must have occurred in the course of employment.
• The injury was directly related to the worker’s job.

The initial claim for benefits will include the facts of the incident, so Ohio employers are required to certify their accuracy. Promptly providing the BWC with this information will help avoid delays in benefits for the employee.

3. Educate Employees About Injured Workers’ Responsibilities

BWC forms and procedures are complex, so injured employees will need help navigating the system to ensure that they will receive the medical care and benefits to which they are entitled. It is generally a good company policy to insist that workers immediately report any workplace injury or illness, even those that seem minor at the time.

As an employer, you may file a compensation claim on your injured worker’s behalf, though they may initiate a claim on their own. However, they are required to inform you of any claims that they make.

The BWC will request information from the injured employee and ask for medical release authorizations. The worker will need to know which forms are required, and they often need help completing them. Missing, incomplete, or inaccurately completed forms may delay benefits and necessary medical treatment.

Additionally, your payroll department may need to provide wage information for injured employees who are eligible for lost-time benefits. To keep injured workers involved in the process, inform them that they can access their claim information online using an existing or newly created OHID account.

4. Stay in Contact With Convalescing Employees

A worker who is suddenly sidelined due to an injury or illness may experience health problems and financial hardship. They may also feel a loss of their identity as an employee and consequently, a loss of their sense of purpose. The longer that the employee is separated from their job, the greater the risk that they will feel isolated and become despondent. You can alleviate these psychological stresses by maintaining the employer-employee relationship with regular contact. The injured worker must feel that they are still part of the team. Regular contact is vital for monitoring their recovery progress and assessing their return-to-work needs.

5. Develop a Return-to-Work Plan

The life cycle of an employee’s compensation claim successfully ends when they have healed and returned to work. The sooner that this happens, the better it will be for their well-being. It will also reduce the overall cost of the claim, lessening the impact on your company’s insurance premiums.

To best support an injured employee, you need a return-to-work team, which typically comprises HR personnel and a supervisor from the worker’s department. This team will be responsible for coordinating with medical providers to establish a recovery timeframe and develop return-to-work options.

Often, an injured employee may not have fully recovered but can still return to work in a modified or alternative position. The team should identify these options to keep the worker engaged.

6. Review Safety Protocols to Avoid Similar Incidents

Employees need to feel safe at work. An on-the-job injury or illness can be a learning experience. The director of EHS should conduct a review of the incident, determine if it could have been prevented, and adjust procedures or physical safety features in the workplace to prevent a similar disabling event from occurring.

How Compensation Solutions, Inc. Can Help

Compensation Solutions, Inc. (CSI) is a third-party administrator that can serve as your advocate with the BWC and other stakeholders. Your CSI representative will lighten the workload for your HR department, bring expertise to your workers’ compensation claim management, and assist your HR manager and EHS leaders with developing safety and return-to-work plans that better support your workers.

With decades of experience, CSI has earned respect in the field, and its team members have comprehensive knowledge of OhioBWC policies and procedures. When you partner with CSI, you get a dedicated representative who understands the unique needs of your business.

Injuries happen. Your responsibility as an employer goes beyond offering first aid and a ride to an urgent care center. You must support your injured worker throughout the entire process, from establishing an OhioBWC injured worker claim to resolving the claim when the employee successfully returns to work. When one of your workers is injured on the job, a CSI representative is the professional to have in your corner.

Workplace safety and workers’ compensation are closely linked. Ohio manufacturing businesses can reduce workers’ compensation claims and premium costs by prioritizing proactive EHS strategies and injury prevention. It’s time to bridge the gap between safety and savings. Protect your workforce and reduce your costs. Discover how CSI can help you lower your workers’ compensation expenses.