BATON ROUGE, La.--Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation (LWCC) has launched its new safety and loss prevention management software, SafetyNet. In-house developers, working with a team of loss prevention and underwriting representatives, designed this landmark program over a two-year period.

SafetyNet will automate the LWCC loss prevention and safety program's workflow and manual paperwork, allowing field representatives to collect policyholder data more accurately and efficiently. The system will improve the workflow for loss prevention consultants in all phases of client relations,before, during and after a visit.

"With SafetyNet, we can capture all of the data necessary to implement class-specific safety programs," said Mike Dileo, LWCC vice president of operations. "We will now be able to measure the results of our loss prevention efforts and better assist our policyholders with reducing their claims frequency and severity."

Prior to scheduling a visit, consultants assemble a preparation packet containing all the paperwork needed to take to the policyholder. Previously, all of these documents had to be collected manually, but SafetyNet includes a feature that will automatically assemble the packets from a single source.

Once in the field, loss prevention consultants can electronically transport all of their documents via laptop computers. Utilizing interactive touchpad technology, SafetyNet allows the consultants to complete their basic evaluation report on-site with the policyholder.

Data fields like the policyholder's name and address are pre-populated with information from LWCC's databases, and the consultants can use the laptop's stylus pen to complete the report directly on the screen. The form features drop-down menus and radio buttons for fields with standardized answers. In fields that require manual entry, input panels will recognize the consultant's handwriting and automatically enter the text. SafetyNet will also compile the policyholder's loss prevention rating based on the consultant's input.

SafetyNet provides several key organizational tools for consultants to use after completing a visit, enabling them to organize upcoming service items and track recommendations more efficiently. For example, when recommendations from safety and loss prevention have received no responses by the end of the agreed time frame, SafetyNet will generate and send reminders to policyholders. The program also maintains an electronic inventory of policyholders that loss prevention consultants can sort by visit due date, location, customer size and type of visit.

Insurance agents and LWCC's underwriters will benefit from the program as well. Since SafetyNet enhances internal communication between loss prevention and underwriting, underwriters will have improved tools to provide the best possible pricing. Agents will be copied on the follow-up letters sent to policyholders after a loss prevention visit. When a policy change warrants a loss prevention visit, SafetyNet will notify field consultants. If a serious accident does occur, loss prevention consultants will be notified immediately so that they can assist the policyholder with the necessary controls.

Bruce Lambert, LWCC's director of safety and loss prevention, commented on the program's merits. "I've worked with a number of loss prevention database tools, and none come close to the capabilities of SafetyNet," he said. "This software enhances our ability to provide our customers--agents and policyholders--with more value-added services than in previous years. LWCC has developed a 'best-in-class' product."

LWCC (www.lwcc.com) is a private, nonprofit mutual insurance company.  It is the largest writer of workers' compensation insurance in Louisiana, covering about 22,000 policyholders. The company carries an "A" (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best and, for the fifth year in a row, was named one of the top 50 property and casualty insurance companies in the nation by Ward Group, the leading authority on insurance industry benchmarking.