Insurance & Safety – Workers Compensation Best Practices

CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION

  • Prompt claim reporting.
  • Have an insurance coordinator.
  • Conduct accident investigations.

SAFETY AND LOSS PREVENTION

  • Have a safety committee.
  • Conduct restaurant safety inspections.
  • Follow proper floor cleaning procedures.
  • Wear personal protective equipment when needed.

Best practices to prevent slip/trip and falls

  • Wear approved, slip resistant shoes
  • Strategically place wet floor sign when mopping floor
  • Use approved floor cleaning chemicals
  • Repair irregular floor surfaces
  • Keep floors clean and dry
  • Wipe up spills immediately, no matter how small
  • Walk, DO NOT RUN
  • Keep trash, boxes, bun racks, other obstacles from aisles, walkways, doorways and stairwells
  • Do not carry load that could block your vision
  • Repair pot holes and uneven surfaces in parking lot and sidewalks
  • Clear snow and ice from sidewalk and other traffic areas with ice melt, salt or sand.

COST CONTAINMENT

  • Utilize workers’ compensation preferred provider organizations (PPO).
  • Work closely with claim adjusters to return injured employee back to work.

Best practice actions to follow after an employee is injured.

  • Provide first aid, if needed.
  • Call nurse.
  • If directed by nurse, send employee to PPO.
  • Report claim.
  • Get employee back to work as soon as possible.
  • Mail medical bills to insurance adjuster.

REWARDS, RECOGNITIONS AND INCENTIVES

  • Using rewards, recognitions and incentives has a positive influence on improving safety and reducing claims.
  • Keep the incentives simple such as movie tickets, an extra day’s vacation, a store party, etc.