Today’s employers are recognizing the value of implementing safe and timely return-to-work programs for injured workers. While significant improvements have been made over the past decade, reducing duration and claims costs in construction remains a challenge.

An ongoing focus on injury prevention and claims management is required to keep down costs and reduce future WorkSafeBC premiums. During 2003 to 2007, the average claim cost for the construction industry was $10,200, and the average number of days lost was 44.  In 2007 WorkSafeBC accepted close to 10,000 claims, a total of 418,900 days were lost, resulting in a cost of $80,753,875. Every day off the job for a construction worker is costing the industry $193.

The latest numbers from WorkSafeBC contain excellent news for the construction industry –  on a per capita basis, fewer workers are being injured, the lowest rate ever recorded by WorkSafeBC.


Injury rate data for Sector 72

            person        #       injury
year     years     claims    rate

2002     91,200    6010    6.6
2003     98,600    6130    6.2
2004    114,500   7390    6.5  
2005    131,200   8350    6.4
2006    145,100   9280    6.4
2007    160,200   9780    6.1        
 
According to Ray Zukanovic, account manager of construction at WorkSafeBC,  “Injury management / return-to-work programs are a proactive way for employers to help injured workers stay at work or return to productive and safe employment as soon as physically possible. This is based on the fact that many injured workers can safely perform productive work during the process of recovery. Over the past ten years there have been significant changes in return-to-work (RTW) thinking on behalf of employers, WorkSafeBC, and medical and rehabilitation health care professionals. Progressive and innovative employers are offering RTW programs as a form of rehabilitative therapy.”

RTW and Injury Management Benefit Both Worker and Employer
Injuries and illnesses cost everyone. Modified work keeps workers connected to the workplace, which has a significant impact on healing and on a successful return to the job. It also maintains productivity and reduces the employer’s cost of training replacements. The employer benefits from reduced injury costs, retention of experienced workers, improved morale and employee relations in the workplace, lower disability insurance and WorkSafeBC premiums, and a reduction in errors and lost productivity.
The injured worker experiences a shorter recovery time, maintains self-worth as a productive and contributing member of society, maintains a positive connection to the workplace through early assistance, maintains financial stability, and returns to full duties faster than workers who remain off the job.

What is the Research Telling us About Good RTW Practices?

A significant number of BC’s construction companies have effective return-to-work programs including ITC Construction Group, a builder of residential concrete highrises. Although the company has only 30 employees, ITC may contract up to 500 workers per day on a project.

According to Jeff Lyth, director of corporate health and safety at ITC,  “When developing the RTW system we started by taking safety courses offered by the Construction Safety Association of BC. As part of its Certificate of Recognition program, CSABC offers a claims and disability management course.

“This year, we added CSABC’s  Injury Management/RTW Audit. This was a terrific exercise. The new system was good when starting out, but adding the audit gave us a framework to put it in place. The new enhanced RTW program has benefited ITC not only financially, but has helped us to build a culture and a community within the organization. Our injury rates are now down to less than half of the industry average,” says Lyth.

CSABC’s COR program and RTW/Injury Management Audit assist employers in developing and implementing effective occupational health and safety and return-to-work programs, resulting in safer work places and more profitable businesses. To further enhance the RTW process, CSABC has launched a new Intervention Program for the assessment and treatment of injured workers. The program provides employees with early access to physiotherapy assessment and treatment within 24 hours of referral.

For more information on CSABC’s programs and services visit <www.csabc.ca>.