Best practice injury management – how
to show ‘em you mean business!
Brett Solomon
Trent Forno
19 March 2013
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• One type of ‘injury management’
experience
• A different perspective
• Which makes more business sense?
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• One type of ‘injury management’
experience ...
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• A different perspective ...
• Like sport, you must:
Injury management rule book
• Must provide suitable
duties
• Must pay
compensation (weekly
benefits and medical
expenses)
• Must not dismiss
within 12 months of
injury (solely or
mainly because of the
injury)
• Must have the worker
assessed for
permanent impairment
if they request
• Must treat the
worker’s information
with sensitivity and
confidentiality
Injury management rule book
• Must not use a
workers’ compensation
document for a
purpose related to
employment
• Must not dismiss
worker while on a
‘temporary absence
from work due to
injury’
• Must afford the
worker equal
opportunity and not
unlawfully discriminate
• Must not take
‘adverse action’
against the injured
worker
Injury management rule book
• Must not unfairly
dismiss the worker
• Must comply with precourt procedures if a
Notice of Claim is
brought
• Must pay damages
where settlement or
judgment in worker’s
favour
• Must comply with
conditions of licence if
self-insured
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• What can happen if you don’t play by
the rules ...
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• However ... just like sport, rules shouldn’t
stop you from positive endeavour!
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• So how should you pursue positive
endeavour within the rules?
• Engage with the worker in the injury
management process ASAP
• Remember, “every day counts – must have
a sense of urgency” (Therese Rein – Day 1)
• Clearly state your intent – eg “My
number one goal is to help get you safely
back to work”
• Remember, “work really matters to people”
(Therese Rein – Day 1)
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Don’t let the worker think you’re trying to
screw them over – they’ll immediately
disengage!
• Actively involve stakeholders at all levels
(Dr Christine Randall – Day 1)
• High level risk meetings with senior site
management focussed on an integrated
solution (Steve de Kruijff – Day 1)
• Focus on achieving outcomes rather than
on claims management (Dr Christine
Randall – Day 1)
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Be flexible and open-minded ...
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Be open and honest with the worker –
let them know where things stand
• Update the worker on progress – eg a
need to change the rehab goal
• Try and understand where the worker is
coming from with their rehab – their
fears, aspirations etc
• Tap into positive worker’s energy; explore
their fields of fascination (Therese Rein –
Day 1)
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Avoid pre-judging the worker based on
unsubstantiated views about their
credibility
• Remember, secondary gain is very rarely
the worker’s motivation
• Don’t allow yourself to get too
frustrated! Hang in there and stay
focused
• Be decisive - difficult discussions don’t
become any less difficult through
procrastination
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Surround yourself with like-minded
people – doctors, physios, investigators
and yes, even lawyers!
• Multidisciplinary intervention one of the
features of a successful IM system (Dr
Christine Randall – Day 1)
• Be emotionally intelligent ... or at least try
to be!
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Above all else ... act at all times in good
faith and in a non-adversarial way
Best practice injury management – how to
show ‘em you mean business!
• Why it all makes good business sense
• Goodwill
• Loyalty
• Reputation
• Productivity
• Cost savings
• Coz it feels right!