Don Dressler Consulting

Several recent studies indicate that how you, as an employer, handle employees with back injuries has a critical impact on your company’s workers’ compensation costs. Back injuries account for more than 1 in 5 claims and more than 1 in 3 benefit dollars in California’s workers’ compensation system.

The first in a new series of Injury Score Cards has just been produced by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, based on a sample of more than 169,000 California workers’ compensation back injury claims over the past 4 years.

Key lessons: Strains are the number one workers compensation injury, representing 1/3rd of all injuries and 2/3rds of all back injuries.

#1- Provide training on safe lifting, and equipment and procedures for material/work handling. (Almost 1 in 3 back injuries are caused by strains due to lifting.)

#2- Use medical provider networks: (In 2005 only 63% of treatments were by MPN providers.)

#3- Take injured workers to medical treatment immediately upon the report on an injury.
(In 2004, the median days to first treatment for back injuries was 5 days; for all injuries, the median days to first treatment was 2 days.) Employer action in transporting injured workers ensures that treatment is provided and by the correct medical provider.

#4- Return injured workers to work, even if modified duty is required (43% of back injuries involve lost time. The average cost of a claim with NO LOST TIME is $700, but the average cost of all back injuries was $13,299. )

#5- Keep in contact with the injured employee during periods of their treatment and recovery. Encourage their compliance with treatment and therapy recommendations.
(1 in 6 back injuries result in permanent disability. The recent UCLA study on Access to Medical Care for Workers’ Compensation reports significant failure to follow through on recommended therapy by injured workers, which affects their recovery. The same study reports that 56% of injured workers report that they have not fully recovered from their injury one year afterward.)

#6- Review Cal/OSHA Injury Logs to determine your company’s incidence of back injuries, strains, etc. Plan strategies to reduce frequency and lower lost time, or seek help.

#7- Consider pre-employment physical exams which can be done on a “post offer” basis if designed on a non-discriminatory manner. Also, physical capacity testing can be an important part of a return-to-work program.

For a free copy of the CWCI latest Back “Injury Score Card”, e-mail or fax a request to Don Dressler Consulting at info@dondressler.com or Fax # 949-266-9561.

Our firm can help you lower your workers’ compensation costs, reduce your experience modification or obtain better credits on your compensation policy renewal.

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Don Dressler Consulting provides on site Sexual Harassment training which meets the requirements of California law. Training is available in English and Spanish. The firm also reviews employee handbooks and personnel policy manuals for a small fixed fee, to assure they are timely and up-to-date with California law, regulations and court decisions. For help, just call 949-533-3742 or E-mail: info@dondressler.com