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Guide to Injury ManagementGuide to Injury Management

Process and Responsibilities for Process and Responsibilities for Supervisors and ManagersSupervisors and Managers

John Figredo OHS Coordinator Transpacific Industries John Figredo OHS Coordinator Transpacific Industries GroupGroup

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IntroductionIntroduction

Purpose of this training is to ensure all managers Purpose of this training is to ensure all managers and supervisors are aware of TPI’s processes for and supervisors are aware of TPI’s processes for the management of injured employees including:the management of injured employees including:

– Timely reporting and investigation of incidentsTimely reporting and investigation of incidents– Medical assessment of injured employeesMedical assessment of injured employees– The Early Intervention Program (EIP)The Early Intervention Program (EIP)– Workers’ Compensation Claims (Safety, Workers’ Compensation Claims (Safety,

Rehabilitation & Compensation Act, 1988)Rehabilitation & Compensation Act, 1988)

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You as a supervisor are responsible for all of your people – including the injured

ones!

(The OHS Co-ordinator is there to assist you in returning your injured employees to pre-injury duties but is not responsible for the supervision or management of them).

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The Importance of Effective Injury The Importance of Effective Injury ManagementManagement

In 2008 – TPI became In 2008 – TPI became ‘self-insured’‘self-insured’ under the under the federal federal Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act, Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act, 19881988 (Comcare Scheme) (Comcare Scheme)

TPI is responsible for the TPI is responsible for the total costtotal cost (visible cost) (visible cost) of all work-related injuries:of all work-related injuries:– Medical expensesMedical expenses– Incapacity paymentsIncapacity payments– Rehabilitation costsRehabilitation costs

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Hidden Costs of InjuriesHidden Costs of Injuries

Loss of esteem of injured employeeLoss of esteem of injured employee Pressure on family unitPressure on family unit Lost production timeLost production time Need for other employees to cover shift/ casual labourNeed for other employees to cover shift/ casual labour Cost of retrainingCost of retraining Time spent in administration related to injured Time spent in administration related to injured

employeeemployee Loss of morale in business unitLoss of morale in business unit

It is widely estimated that the hidden costs of an injury It is widely estimated that the hidden costs of an injury are 5 times greater than the visible costs!are 5 times greater than the visible costs!

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Commission IndicatorsCommission IndicatorsPREVENTIONPREVENTION

Incidence rate of claims with one week lost timeIncidence rate of claims with one week lost time Number of death claimsNumber of death claims Frequency rate with one day lost timeFrequency rate with one day lost time

CLAIMSCLAIMS

Days taken to process new claims (injury and disease)Days taken to process new claims (injury and disease) Percentage of new claims processedPercentage of new claims processed Days taken to process reconsiderationsDays taken to process reconsiderations

REHABILITATIONREHABILITATION

Percentage of claims with RTW plansPercentage of claims with RTW plans Incidence rate of claims with 6 weeks (30 days) lost timeIncidence rate of claims with 6 weeks (30 days) lost time Incidence rate of claims with 12 weeks (60 days) lost timeIncidence rate of claims with 12 weeks (60 days) lost time

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COMCARE FOCUS ONCOMCARE FOCUS ON

LOST TIME INJURIESLOST TIME INJURIES

IN IN 44 OUT OF OUT OF 99

COMMISSION INDICATORSCOMMISSION INDICATORS

(Frequency & Duration)(Frequency & Duration)

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Lost Time InjuryLost Time Injury = =

Where the injured employee is not capable of returning to their normal job at their next shift, the employee shall ensure that a correctly completed medical certificate is provided to their Supervisor

and TIG OHS F 1340 1 Claim for Workers

Compensation completed.

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YouYou as the supervisor/manager of an employee as the supervisor/manager of an employee are in the are in the bestbest position to get the best outcome position to get the best outcome for the injured employee for the injured employee andand the business – the business – a a

quick return to work.quick return to work.

YourYour attitude to attitude to early reporting, medical early reporting, medical assessmentassessment and the and the subsequent management subsequent management of an employee in the workplaceof an employee in the workplace can mean the can mean the difference between a short-lived injury and one difference between a short-lived injury and one

which becomes costly to the organisation!which becomes costly to the organisation!

LEAD FROM THE FRONTLEAD FROM THE FRONT

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FACTFACT An employee who is difficult to manage BEFORE An employee who is difficult to manage BEFORE

an injury is likely to become more difficult to an injury is likely to become more difficult to manage AFTER an injury! manage AFTER an injury! (OHS Coordinators don’t have (OHS Coordinators don’t have magic wands!)magic wands!)

Some of our highest costing or most contentious Some of our highest costing or most contentious claims arise from employees who have claims arise from employees who have ‘concerned’ management prior to injury.‘concerned’ management prior to injury.

Normal industrial processes and management Normal industrial processes and management principles should apply even to injured personnel.principles should apply even to injured personnel.

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Our AimOur Aim

To encourage timely reporting of To encourage timely reporting of allall workplace workplace injuries and treat the injury seriously;injuries and treat the injury seriously;

To facilitate access to appropriate medical To facilitate access to appropriate medical treatment;treatment;

To maintain our employees in the workplace by To maintain our employees in the workplace by offering suitable duties;offering suitable duties;

To return our employees to pre-injury duties as To return our employees to pre-injury duties as quickly as possible;quickly as possible;

To reduce the visible and hidden costs of To reduce the visible and hidden costs of workplace injuries within TPI;workplace injuries within TPI;

To prevent Lost Time Injuries where possible.To prevent Lost Time Injuries where possible.

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Incident ReportingIncident Reporting

If you sustain an injury arising out of, or in the course of your employment with TPI, you must immediately report it to your supervisor/manager.

Reporting occurs via Reporting occurs via Incident Non Incident Non Conformance Report Form and the VaultConformance Report Form and the Vault

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Assessment of InjuryAssessment of Injury

As soon as injury occurs or is reported, an As soon as injury occurs or is reported, an immediate immediate assessment of injury should occurassessment of injury should occur::

– Contain the area if necessary – is it safe?Contain the area if necessary – is it safe?– Does the employee require First Aid?Does the employee require First Aid?– Can the injury be effectively treated on-site by First Aid Can the injury be effectively treated on-site by First Aid

Officer?Officer?– Does the employee require/request assessment by a Does the employee require/request assessment by a

doctor?doctor?– Does the employee require hospitalisation?Does the employee require hospitalisation?

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Facility Nominated DoctorFacility Nominated Doctor

Where employee requires/requests a Where employee requires/requests a medical assessment of injury, appointment medical assessment of injury, appointment should be made with the local should be made with the local TPI approved medical practitioner

This is This is notnot a ‘company doctor’ and should a ‘company doctor’ and should not be referred to as such;not be referred to as such;

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Facility Nominated DoctorFacility Nominated Doctor

Appointment can be made by supervisor/manager Appointment can be made by supervisor/manager or delegate thereof;or delegate thereof;

Supervisor should accompany employee to Supervisor should accompany employee to medical facility;medical facility;

Employee should return to TPI/TIS with Employee should return to TPI/TIS with appropriate medical certificate after assessment;appropriate medical certificate after assessment;

Outcome of assessment to be communicated Outcome of assessment to be communicated immediately to OHS Coordinator.immediately to OHS Coordinator.

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Medical TreatmentMedical Treatment

Employee cannot be compelled to attend a TPI approved medical practitioner

May choose to seek treatment from own GP – May choose to seek treatment from own GP – if this occurs, OHS Coordinator must be if this occurs, OHS Coordinator must be notified immediately;notified immediately;

In the absence of OHS Coordinator, the In the absence of OHS Coordinator, the supervisor/manager must contact the treating supervisor/manager must contact the treating doctor by phone/fax or attend in person and doctor by phone/fax or attend in person and assure him/her TPI is in a position to provide assure him/her TPI is in a position to provide alternative suitable duties.alternative suitable duties.

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Early Intervention Program or Early Intervention Program or Claim?Claim?

When employee returns from doctor, When employee returns from doctor, supervisor should:supervisor should:– review medical certificate, noting restrictions;review medical certificate, noting restrictions;– arrange for employee to see OHS Coordinator arrange for employee to see OHS Coordinator

as soon as possible.as soon as possible.

Certificate will indicate whether it is Certificate will indicate whether it is appropriate to offer access to EIP or appropriate to offer access to EIP or whether a claim needs to be lodged.whether a claim needs to be lodged.

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Early Intervention Program (EIP)Early Intervention Program (EIP)

TPI in-house initiative;TPI in-house initiative; Designed to ensure employees who suffer a Designed to ensure employees who suffer a

genuine, genuine, minor,minor, work-related injury are work-related injury are afforded immediate medical care at no cost afforded immediate medical care at no cost and can remain in the workplace and can remain in the workplace with/without restrictions;with/without restrictions;

Completely voluntary – employee Completely voluntary – employee cannotcannot be be compelled to choose EIP.compelled to choose EIP.

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Early Intervention Program (EIP)Early Intervention Program (EIP)

EIP applies EIP applies onlyonly in the following circumstances: in the following circumstances:

An employee sustains a work-related injury;An employee sustains a work-related injury; There has been There has been nono lost time as a result of the lost time as a result of the

injury;injury; Medical costs are not likely to exceed nominated Medical costs are not likely to exceed nominated

amount of $500amount of $500 An employee completes an Incident Report with An employee completes an Incident Report with

supervisor within 24 hours as per company supervisor within 24 hours as per company procedure.procedure.

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Early Intervention Program (EIP)Early Intervention Program (EIP)

EIP EIP maymay apply at manager’s discretion: apply at manager’s discretion:

Where a work-related injury is reported outside 24 Where a work-related injury is reported outside 24 hour period and there is genuine reason for this;hour period and there is genuine reason for this;

Where a supervisor/manager observes an Where a supervisor/manager observes an employee to be having difficulty in the workplace employee to be having difficulty in the workplace due to injury/illness;due to injury/illness;

Where a critical, work-related incident occurs Where a critical, work-related incident occurs resulting in trauma to employee.resulting in trauma to employee.

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Early Intervention Program (EIP)Early Intervention Program (EIP)

Participation is voluntary;Participation is voluntary; Does not preclude the employee from Does not preclude the employee from

lodging a claim at any time;lodging a claim at any time; Does not imply liability upon TPI should Does not imply liability upon TPI should

claim be lodged;claim be lodged; TPI reserves right to withdraw program at TPI reserves right to withdraw program at

any time and ask that a claim be lodged.any time and ask that a claim be lodged.

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Early Intervention Program (EIP)Early Intervention Program (EIP)

If deemed appropriate, program must be If deemed appropriate, program must be explained to employee;explained to employee;

Appropriate paperwork must be completed; Appropriate paperwork must be completed; Where certificate is issued with restrictions, Where certificate is issued with restrictions,

Injury Management Plan developed by OHS Injury Management Plan developed by OHS CoordinatorCoordinator and signed by supervisor; and signed by supervisor;

All certificates and accounts for treatment to All certificates and accounts for treatment to be passed to be passed to OHS OHS CoordinatorCoordinator immediately.immediately.

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Compensation ClaimsCompensation Claims

Compensation claim should be lodged:Compensation claim should be lodged:– Where injury results in ‘lost time’;Where injury results in ‘lost time’;– Where injury involves restriction on hours to Where injury involves restriction on hours to

be worked;be worked;– Where there is a delay in reporting or doubt Where there is a delay in reporting or doubt

as to mechanism of injury;as to mechanism of injury;– Medical costs exceed nominated amount Medical costs exceed nominated amount

($500)($500)– Employee requests that such a claim be Employee requests that such a claim be

lodged.lodged.

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Compensation ClaimsCompensation Claims

OHS OHS CoordinatorCoordinator /Manager will be required /Manager will be required to assist employee to lodge the claim;to assist employee to lodge the claim;

Supervisor/manager will be required to:Supervisor/manager will be required to:– actively participate in any rehabilitation programactively participate in any rehabilitation program– be available for Case Conferences as be available for Case Conferences as

necessarynecessary– ensure that suitable duties and appropriate ensure that suitable duties and appropriate

supervision are available for employee.supervision are available for employee.

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The OHS CoordinatorThe OHS Coordinator will work with will work with supervisor/Manager to help identify potential supervisor/Manager to help identify potential suitable duties, but the ultimate provision of suitable duties, but the ultimate provision of duties and supervision of injured employees duties and supervision of injured employees remains the responsibility of the remains the responsibility of the supervisor/manager.supervisor/manager.

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Supervisor/Manager ResponsibilitiesSupervisor/Manager Responsibilities To intervene as soon as possible where a work-related To intervene as soon as possible where a work-related

injury/illness is reported;injury/illness is reported;

To ensure the injured employee receives appropriate first To ensure the injured employee receives appropriate first aid or medical treatment;aid or medical treatment;

To accompany the employee to a medical assessment;To accompany the employee to a medical assessment;

To complete an Incident Notification and (where required) To complete an Incident Notification and (where required) Investigation Form with the employee as per Company Investigation Form with the employee as per Company protocol;protocol;

To enter the incident into the vault (To enter the incident into the vault (Tranpacific's new Tranpacific's new Incident Management System)Incident Management System)

Supervisor/Manager ResponsibilitiesSupervisor/Manager Responsibilities

To involve the OHS Coordinator in the process as To involve the OHS Coordinator in the process as soon as possible where necessary;soon as possible where necessary;

To provide a range of suitable duties and To provide a range of suitable duties and appropriateappropriate supervision for employee consistent supervision for employee consistent with restrictions;with restrictions;

To participate actively in any vocational To participate actively in any vocational rehabilitation program;rehabilitation program;

To maintain contact with the injured employee To maintain contact with the injured employee (weekly phone-call minimum).(weekly phone-call minimum).

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Employee ResponsibilitiesEmployee Responsibilities

Promptly reporting immediately to their employer the Promptly reporting immediately to their employer the details of any accident, injury or disease that might be details of any accident, injury or disease that might be related to their workrelated to their work

To participate in any investigation where required to To participate in any investigation where required to identify cause of injury and to minimise risk of identify cause of injury and to minimise risk of reoccurrence;reoccurrence;

To co-operate fully with initiatives and directives aimed at To co-operate fully with initiatives and directives aimed at job maintenance or; job maintenance or; OHS Coordinator OHS Coordinator

To attend medical reviews and supply consecutive medical To attend medical reviews and supply consecutive medical certificates in a timely manner;certificates in a timely manner;

To maintain contact with workplace management.To maintain contact with workplace management.

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OHS Coordinators ResponsibilitiesOHS Coordinators Responsibilities

To make contact with the injured employee as soon as To make contact with the injured employee as soon as notified;notified;

To provide necessary information regarding suitable duties to To provide necessary information regarding suitable duties to medical practitioner;medical practitioner;

To accompany employee to medical assessment if required;To accompany employee to medical assessment if required; To assist employee to access EIP or lodge a compensation To assist employee to access EIP or lodge a compensation

claim as appropriate;claim as appropriate; To ensure an Injury Management Plan is implemented and To ensure an Injury Management Plan is implemented and

monitored where EIP is appropriate;monitored where EIP is appropriate; To ensure any statutory rehabilitation activity is initiated in a To ensure any statutory rehabilitation activity is initiated in a

timely manner and monitored closely;timely manner and monitored closely; To maintain communication with the employee, medical To maintain communication with the employee, medical

practitioner and rehabilitation provider throughout the process practitioner and rehabilitation provider throughout the process to ensure a timely return to pre-injury duties.to ensure a timely return to pre-injury duties.

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Important Points to NoteImportant Points to Note

Your Your influence as a supervisor/manager can have influence as a supervisor/manager can have a significant impact (positive or negative) on how a significant impact (positive or negative) on how seriously injury management is taken in your seriously injury management is taken in your workplace.workplace.

YouYou are a key player in the process and the steps are a key player in the process and the steps you take in the wake of a workplace injury will you take in the wake of a workplace injury will have a direct impact on the cost and duration of have a direct impact on the cost and duration of that injury.that injury.

LEAD FROM THE FRONTLEAD FROM THE FRONT

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In SummaryIn Summary

Encourage early reporting of all workplace injuries;Encourage early reporting of all workplace injuries; Be sympathetic;Be sympathetic; Ensure medical treatment is offered, at TPI’s Ensure medical treatment is offered, at TPI’s

approved medical practitionersapproved medical practitioners Ensure OHS Coordinator is notified;Ensure OHS Coordinator is notified; Stay in touch with employee – take an interest;Stay in touch with employee – take an interest; Be supportive and help locate suitable duties;Be supportive and help locate suitable duties; Actively participate in all rehabilitation initiatives.Actively participate in all rehabilitation initiatives.

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Any Other Questions?Any Other Questions?