Return to Work Safety Program

Purpose
This program is designed to provide policies and procedures for managing the return to work of injured company employees with minimum time lost

Policy
It is the policy of [COMPANY] to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees or the public. However when serious physical harm does occur to employees, [COMPANY] is committed to providing quality medical care and managing those costs associated with that medical care. [COMPANY] is also committed to the effective return to work of injured employees while enhancing their recovery.

Background
Returning employees to work who have been injured in the performance of their jobs is an important component of [COMPANY] ‘s loss control program. Benefits of a return to work program include:

• Faster, more effective healing
• Safer work environment
• Direct and indirect savings in lost wages, medical costs and productivity
• Improved morale by providing support to employees with alternate assignments during recuperation.

Statistic have shown that without a return to work program, employees have little incentive to return to work and are less likely to return to work the longer they are out of work. This safety policy and procedure includes provisions for supervisory training, a discussion of the return to work process, presents details on [COMPANY]’s preferred medical provider network and presents information on transitional work assignments, permanent job modifications and new position assignment requirements.

• Provide resources and support to supervisors in the return to work program.
• Assist in employee placement decisions.
• Encourage proper and ethical practices.

• Complete accident and other report forms in the event of an injury
• Pre-determine alternate duty options for the positions under their control
• Provide job descriptions and alternate duty options to the Workers’ Compensation Administrator, and Human Resources Manager
• Complete Return to Work forms upon the return to work of the injured employee

Employees are responsible for promptly reporting any injuries to their supervisor and going to the preferred provider as directed by their supervisor. They must also cooperate with the Workers’ Compensation Administrator’s, Safety and Human Resources Departments.

• Administer the [COMPANY] Return to Work Program
• Coordinate with preferred providers, Human Resources Department, and supervisors in the placement of employees into transitional work assignments, permanently modified jobs or new positions
• Coordinate program communication by ensuring that timely distribution of program materials are performed
• Coordinate vocational rehabilitation training for employees who have received a permanent disability as a result of a job injury
• Maintain a central list of all [COMPANY] preferred providers

• Provide prompt assistance to managers, supervisors, and others as necessary on any matter concerning this safety policy and procedure.
• Assist in and develop the Return to Work Program training
• Annually compile trends and statistical reports for tracking results of [COMPANY] return to work program.
• Provide consultative and audit assistance to ensure effective implementation of this safety policy and procedure
• Assist supervisors in returning employees back to work
• Meet with injured employees to explain alternate duty position(s)

• Assist the Workers’ Compensation Administrator in placement decisions that require new position assignments
• Provide information regarding wage and salary grade equity issues
• Approve temporary assignments greater than ninety days

Alternate Duty - Duties assigned on either a short term or permanent basis, and medically approved by the authorized treating healthcare provider, to an injured employee.

Permanent Job Modification - Jobs that are permanently modified for employees that have permanent restrictions upon return to work following an injury.

Preferred Provider - A healthcare provider that has entered into an agreement with the company to provide prompt healthcare services to an employee injured during the performance of their jobs.

Transitional Work Assignment - Work assignments (duties) that are short term and that employees with temporary restrictions are given upon return to work following an injury.

Workers’ Compensation Leave - Period of time that employees are recuperating from job-related injuries and during which the employee receive 66.667 % of their regular pay.

Training
Supervisors must accurately understand their key role in this program. Therefore, supervisors should receive training that includes specific details on the Return to Work process and their responsibilities under this program. This training will be initially conducted as a one-time training with re-training every two years.

Return to Work Process
When an employee, who has been injured on the job and placed on workers' compensation leave, has been released to return to work by the treating physician, there are three possible return to work options.

Option 1: An employee has reached maximum medical improvement and has been released to return to work by the treating physician. The employee is then returned to the original position he/she held prior to workers' compensation leave

Option 2: An employee has not reached maximum medical improvement and is ready to return to a transitional work assignment (limited or modified work duty) with approval of the treating physician, but retains some disability which prevents successful performance in the original position. The company will provide work reassignment suitable to the employee's capacity which is both meaningful, productive and advantageous to the employee and the company.

Option 3: An employee has reached maximum medical improvement and has been released to return to work by the treating physician, but has received a disability which prohibits employment in his/her previous

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