By Jamie Bourg, LWCC Senior Vice President, Chief Claims Officer
Key Takeaways
- Workplace safety starts with identifying hazards, providing relevant training, and encouraging employees to report concerns.
- Prompt injury reporting can help connect injured workers with care and resources sooner.
- When medically appropriate, modified or light-duty work can support an injured employee’s recovery and return to work.
- Employers can prepare in advance by establishing injury-reporting procedures and identifying potential modified-duty tasks.
As the United States prepares to celebrate the achievements of American workers on Labor Day, it’s worth considering just how much the way we work has changed. New technology, evolving workplaces, and changing job demands continue to reshape how work gets done. But one responsibility remains constant: protecting the people doing the work.
That starts with reducing exposures and preventing injuries whenever possible. And when an injury does happen, it means helping the worker get the right care, navigate recovery, and safely return to work and/or a meaningful life.
A commitment more than a century in the making
Labor Day has recognized the contributions of American workers for more than 130 years. The holiday became federal law in 1894, and around the same period, another important shift was taking place as states began to formalize protections for workers injured on the job.
Louisiana passed its original workers’ compensation law in 1914 More than a century later, the system continues to serve an important purpose: protecting workers and providing a path forward when workplace injuries occur.
When LWCC opened for business in 1991, Louisiana’s workers’compensation market was in turmoil. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity tosee firsthand how prevention, quality care, and a thoughtful approach torecovery can make a meaningful difference for both workers and businesses.
That experience has reinforced an important lesson; the bestworkplace injury is the one that never happened.
How employers can help prevent workplace injuries
Today, Louisiana companies are guaranteed access to workers’ compensation insurance. But access to coverage does not eliminate workplace risk. Injuries still happen every day, disrupting not only the workplace, but the lives of the people involved. In Louisiana, an average of one in 51 workers are injured on the job each year.
Reducing the risk starts with creating a culture where safety is art of how work gets done every day. Employers can make a difference by regularly reviewing workplace hazards, providing training that reflects actual work, encouraging workers to speak up about unsafe conditions, and addressing near misses before they become injuries.
What employers should do when a workplace injury occurs
Even strong safety programs cannot prevent every injury. When one occurs, what happens next can have a significant impact on the worker’s experience and recovery.
Behind every workers’ compensation claim is a person whose normalworkday has suddenly changed. They may have questions about medical care, theirpaycheck, their recovery, or when they can return to work. Experienced claimsprofessionals help workers navigate that uncertainty by coordinating benefits,helping facilitate access to care, and serving as a resource throughout therecovery process.
Employers have an important role, too. When an injury occurs, prompt reporting helps get the claims process underway so the worker can be connected with the appropriate resources. Employers should make sure employees know how and where to report an injury before one happens.
How return-to-work programs can support recovery
Research shows that employees recover from their injuries faster when they are on the job, even in a modified or light-duty capacity.
When medically appropriate, returning to work in a modified or light-duty capacity can be an important part of recovery. An effective return-to-work program requires communication among the injured worker, employer, medical provider, and claims professional. Employers can prepare before an injury occurs by identifying potential modified-duty tasks that could accommodate common restrictions. Having those options ready can make it easier to develop a safe, physician-approved plan when an employee is able to return.
Protecting the people who keep Louisiana working
Labor Day is an opportunity to recognize the people whose workkeeps Louisiana moving forward. One of the most meaningful ways businesses canhonor that contribution is by making worker safety and well-being a prioritythroughout the year.
That means looking for hazards before they cause injuries,listening when employees raise concerns, making sure workers know what to dowhen an injury occurs, and having a plan to support a safe return to work. Noneof those actions are complicated, but together they can make a meaningfuldifference for Louisiana workers and the businesses that depend on them.
At LWCC, we believe protecting workers and strengthening businesses go hand in hand. When Louisiana workers can do their jobs safely and receive the support they need when an injury occurs, our workplaces, businesses, and communities are stronger. That’s how we help Louisiana thrive. For more info, click here.
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Frequently asked questions
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