Managing injuries in the workplace: Why is it important?

In a return-to-work program, certain regulations must be outlined. Employees who ignore regulations and return to work too early may worsen their injuries, for which the company is not liable. Likewise, employees should be provided with the right procedures once the recovery period is over if they do not return to work.

Fremont, CA:As well as personal safety, occupational health and safety (OH&S) is a serious issue in Australia. Businesses and employees can suffer greatly from on-site or work-related injuries. 

Injuries to employees are especially horrifying for companies when they affect their future capabilities. Often, disabled employees find it much harder to care for their dependents when they are unable to earn the same income due to a work injury.

What Is Injury Management?

For each individual company, injury management is a workplace management process used by employers and medical management teams. During the process, various injury-related aspects are examined, such as leave, hospitalization, recovery duration, recovery rate, and medical bills of the employee.

Why Is Injury Management Important?

The benefits of injury management include physical, psychological, and financial ones. As well as minimizing work disruption, effective injury management also reduces employer and employee costs. 

The Injury Management Process

A business needs to understand the injury management process before identifying the right processes for all employees to follow. Taking a quick look at injury management's main steps.

When the injury occurs, your employee needs medical treatment. In addition to assessing the extent of the damage, this practitioner will issue your employee with a Workers Compensation First Medical Certificate that guides them on when they should return to work. 

This form must be completed by the employee and sent to the right safety and health institution as soon as possible. Injuries need to be managed in a way that allows workers to return to work. The injury management consultant must prepare a return to work program and give it to the employee, as well as to their supervisors, managers, as well as to medical professionals. 

Return to work –

In a return-to-work program, certain regulations must be outlined. Employees who ignore regulations and return to work too early may worsen their injuries, for which the company is not liable. Likewise, employees should be provided with the right procedures once the recovery period is over if they do not return to work.

Ongoing management –

Inquire about future medical procedures and keep supervisors informed about the employee's process. Safety and health institutions must also receive progress medical certificates. Returning to work or maintaining the same productivity level may be challenging in some cases. An injury management consultant should be consulted, and the employee may need vocational rehabilitation guidance.

Finalization –

After the employee returns to work or gets transferred to a suitable alternative position, injury management is no longer required, and a compensation final medical certificate will be required.

Ascot Family Practice offers injury management and corporate services.