Return-to-Work

Controlling the

hidden costs of

workplace injuries

Disclaimer: These safety materials, resources and PowerPoint® presentations are not intended to replace your company's health and safety policies or to substitute for specific state and federal standards. We do not guarantee the absolute accuracy of the material contained within these resources. Please refer to applicable state and federal standards for regulatory compliance.

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Two Ways to Increase Profits

1. Increase sales

2. Reduce costs

Return-to-work can help reduce

costs associated with workplace

injuries2

What is Return-to-Work?

Written policy

Team effort

Part of the benefits package

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What’s in it for Employers? Maintain productivity

Avoid paying overtime, finding temporary help or hiring someone new

Control claim costs

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Base premium

Payroll x rate

Does not include experience modifier (E-mod)

Key Terms

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Experience modifier (E-mod)

Adjustment in premium to reflect loss

experience

Actual Losses (Anytime Drillers) /

Expected Losses (all drillers) =

E-Mod

Key Terms

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Accidents and the Bottom LinePayroll Rate Base

premiumE-mod Final

premium

Company A $1,000,000 $11.19 $111,900 1.20 (debit) $134,280

Company B $1,000,000 $11.19 $111,900 .80 (credit) $89,520

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Accidents and the Bottom LineCompany Base

premiumE-mod Final

premiumProjected 5-year cost

X $100,000 1.0 $100,000 $500,000

Y $100,000 0.8 $80,000 $400,000

Z $100,000 2.0 $200,000 $1,000,000

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Therapy

Experience and continued value

Positive reinforcement

Financial health

What’s in it for Injured Workers?

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Key Terms

Average weekly wage (AWW)

Weekly wages earned during the 13 weeks immediately before work-related injury or illness

Used to calculate workers’ compensation benefits

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Key TermsTemporary income benefits (TIBs)

Replace 70%* of injured workers’ lost wages

State law sets minimum and maximum amounts

*If employee earned less than $8.50 per hour before injury, TIBs replace 75% of lost wages for first 26 weeks

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Key Terms

Modified duty

Alternative productive work injured employees can do while they recover

Must comply with doctor’s restrictions

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Financial Benefits for Injured Workers

Scenario 1

Injured worker does not return to work

AWW = $1,000

Total financial benefit (TIBs) = $700

($1,000 x 70%)

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Financial Benefits for Injured Workers

Scenario 2

Injured worker returns to modified duty

Earns half his or her AWW ($500)

TIBS = $350 ($500 x 70%)

Total financial benefit = $850 ($500 + $350)

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Financial Benefits for Injured Workers

In scenario 2:

Injured worker earned $150 more than he or she would have without returning to work

Employer got $500 worth of work from injured worker

Insurance carrier paid $350 in TIBs

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Average Weekly Wage (AWW)

Injured worker modified duty earnings

TIBs Injured worker total weekly comp/pay

Weekly employer benefit in terms of work from employee

6-week employer (cost)/savings

Weekly carrier loss

6-week carrier loss

A $360 $0 $252 $252 $0 ($1,512) $252 $1,512

B $360 $180 $126 $306 $180 $1,080 $126 $756

C $1,000 $0 $700 $700 $0 ($4,200) $700 $4,200

D $1,000 $500 $350 $850 $500 $3,000 $350 $2,100

E $1,753 $0 $750

Max

$750 $0 ($4,500) $750 $4,500

F $1,753 $877 $613 $1,490 $877 $5,262 $613 $3,678

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Employer retains a valued employee

Injured worker earns more money,

retains job skills and gets physical

therapy

Insurance carrier pays less in benefits

(lower losses)

Everybody Wins With Return-to-Work

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Steps in Return-to-Work Process

Preinjury:

Step 1. Put it in writing

Step 2. Assess job tasks

Step 3. Identify modified duties

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Steps in Return-to-Work Process

Post-injury:

Step 4. Communicate

Step 5. Make bona fide offer of employment

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Step 1: Put it in Writing

Write a policy statement

Outline the steps

Get it in employees’ hands

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Step 2: Assess Job Tasks

Document activities involved in each task

Include physical demands

Note time spent on each task

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Download Form

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Resources

Sample physical demands task

assessment for:

Vac truck driver

Roustabout

Lease construction

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Vac Truck Driver

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Physical Demands Task Assessment Task title: ______________________ Date: ______________ Analyst:____________________ Task duration (hours/day): ______ With breaks: Yes / No Overtime (avg. hours/week): ______

Task description: __________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Postures:

Stand: Hours at one time: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Total hours per day: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Sit: Hours at one time: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Total hours per day: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Walk: Hours at one time: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Total hours per day: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Drive: Hours at one time: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+ Total hours per day: 0 1/2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8+

2. Lifting/carrying Not present Occasionally Frequently Constantly Height of Distance of 0% 0-33% 34-66% 67-100% Lift Carry___

1-10 lbs X ________ _________ 11-20 lbs ________ _________ 21-50 lbs X ________ _________ 51-100 lbs ________ _________ > 100 lbs ________ _________

Roustabout 0/0/0000 EH&S / Human Resources

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Cutting and threading pipe- Making connections utilizing pipe wrenches and vice – Some

trenching or excavation by hand – Operating a motor vehicle - Lifting, carrying and placing materials – Bolting

and unbolting flanged equipment.

Waist 10-30 ft.

10-30 ft.

Shoulder

3. Actions and motions: Not present Occasionally Frequently Constantly 0% 0-33% 34-66% 67-100% Description______________

Pushing X _________________________ Pulling X _________________________ Climbing X _________________________ Balancing X _________________________ Bending X _________________________ Twisting X _________________________ Squatting X _________________________ Crawling X _________________________ Kneeling X _________________________ Reaching X _________________________ Handling X _________________________ Fingering X _________________________ Feeling X _________________________ Repetitive: hand motion X _________________________ foot motion X _________________________ 4. Equipment: Not present Occasionally Frequently Constantly 0% 0-33% 34-66% 67-100% Description______________

Tools X _________________________ Machinery X _________________________ Equipment X _________________________ 5. Environmental conditions: Not present Occasionally Frequently Constantly 0% 0-33% 34-66% 67-100% Description______________

Vibration X _________________________ Noise X _________________________ Extreme heat X _________________________ Extreme cold X _________________________ Wet/humid X _________________________ Moving parts X _________________________ Chemicals X _________________________ Electricity X _________________________ Radiation X _________________________ Other _________________________ Comments: _______________________________________________________________________ Employees are generally performing a medium duty, skilled labor job on a daily basis.

Roustabout

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Lease Construction

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Step 3: Identify Modified Duties

Identify tasks injured workers can do to

help team

Ask employees to help

Make it meaningful

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Step 4: Communicate With Doctor

DWC Form-74, Description of Injured

Employee’s Employment

DWC Form-73, Work Status Report

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Download DWC Form-74

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Download DWC Form-73

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Step 5: Make a Bona Fide Offer

Must be in writing

Must comply with DWC Rule 129.6

What if worker’s restrictions change?

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Download checklist

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Download sample bona fide offer of employment letter

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Download and submit DWC Form-6 when the employee’s wages change

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Resources

Return-to-Work Kit

TDI return-to-work resources

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