Case Study

You have been hired as a safety and health consultant for We-R-Comp Insurers, a mono-line workers compensation insurance carrier. As a safety and health consultant, your job is to prevent and control losses with approximately 50 different business organizations in your territory. Today, you are going to visit an employer that manufactures aviation parts including pilot seats, harnesses, and related equipment.

1. This employer has approximately 90 employees.
2. The organization reported 10 injuries that resulted in workers compensation claims last year.
3. Four of the workers compensation claims were medical only claims and were fairly minor; however, six of the claimants still have not returned to work as a result of their injuries.

During your meeting, you met with the CEO and inquired about the accident investigation process in place and find there is no formal investigation process nor is there a practice to review the injuries to prevent future occurrences. You also ask about the injured workers and their return to work status. The CEO told you that workers will not be returned until they are 100% healthy. This appears to be a long-term approach as the organizations experience modification factor is 1.80. At this time, you decide to discuss the merits of an effective return to work program and make a recommendation that the organization establish a formalized return to work program.

Complete the following activities associated with the case study by submitting a report to the CEO with your responses in APA format.

1. Discuss with the CEO what an experience modification factor is. Explain the significance of the organization's experience modification factor rate of 1.80 and discuss how the lack of accident/incident investigation initiatives and return to work programs have contributed to this modification factor.
2. Make recommendations to the CEO with regard to how the company can establish an appropriate and effective accident/incident investigation process and how to use and apply the investigation outcomes to prevent future workers' compensation costs.
3. Explain the benefits of an effective return to work program and explain how this may positively impact the injured workers and the organization.
4. Additionally, make recommendations to the CEO as to how the company can establish a return to work program and how the organization can change to support return to work.