Costs, exposures, renewals lead list of employers' WC concerns

Having a safety-minded culture is the number one answer survey participants give as the most effective measure they have taken to control workers' comp costs. That was the response from 65 percent of the more than 3,500 respondents.

The survey was conducted among employers nationwide between Jan. 6 and Feb. 24 by Zywave, a software-as-a-service technology solution for the insurance and financial services industries. The survey offers a glimpse into the concerns and actions being taken by employers throughout the U.S.

While more than half the respondents -- 59 percent -- said a light-duty or return-to-work program was effective at controlling costs, only 45 percent said they actually have a written RTW policy. Other cost control measures cited in order were:

On-site accident evaluations.
Loss prevention evaluations.
Zero-accident goals.
Having a dedicated claims manager.
Safety committee efforts.
Using a preferred occupational medicine facility.

New whistleblower committee named; first meeting announced (01/28/13)
NIOSH: Promote work-family balance to reduce workplace injuries (10/29/12)
Wolf Horejsh to take over reins at IAIABC (09/19/11)
Safety council warns of overexertion injuries (08/01/11)
Fire-related fatalities doubled in 2010, according to BLS annual census (09/01/11)

While cost containment was the most frequently mentioned workers' comp concern among the respondents, more than a third said increasing exposures and renewals were troubling to them. Some 31 percent said rising fraud behaviors was their top concern followed by market availability and carrier stability.

The survey participants came from 20 business sectors with the heaviest representation from manufacturers, followed by health care, social assistance providers, and construction.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

April 9, 2012

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