“The thing that runs workers’ compensation costs up is the injured worker who lingers off work or drags out treatment;

1. Slips and Falls Top the List for
Worker’s Compensation Claims

2. Slips, falls and trip
injuries were the
number one
reason for workers
compensation
claims, for
Richland County
employees in
2013.

3. According the risk manager for Richland County, Lu
Blankenship, the county had 17 workers
'compensation claims from falls. 3 of them were related to
icy conditions. To date, there has already been 14 related
claims this year, 10 of them stemming from icy conditions.

4. Sprains and strains was the
second-leading cause of
injury for Richland County
employees in 2013, with 8
reported injuries. So far
this year, there have been
2 similar workers’
compensation claims filed.

5. In total, Richland County had 56 workers’ compensation
claims filed last year. This year, during the first 15 weeks of
2014, thirty claims have been filed so far. That’s an average
of two injuries per week.

6. Richland County workers’
compensation
coverage includes wage
continuation when
employees are taken out
of work due to a work-
related injury. Last year,
employees missed a total
of 203 days due to work-
related injuries.

7. One way the county is
keeping claims cost down
is by offering light-duty
work, to their injured
employees until they are
cleared to return to their
regular positions. Last
year, injured workers
reported a total of 1,061
days on light duty.

8. Blankenship said that the goal was to figure out how to avoid
employees getting injured on the job. “Injuries are expensive
but, more importantly, the commissioners, other elected
officials and department heads want to send people home at
the end of their work day able to enjoy their families and
activities,” she said.

9. Claims are paid by the
Bureau of Workers’
Compensation and they
are later reimbursed by
Richland County. In total,
the county reimbursed
BWC a total of $147,756
in claims for 2013. May
seem like a lot, yes, but it
was $17,000 less than the
previous year.

10. The County also pays a
premium to BWC in
addition to its claims
cost. Last year, that
premium was around
$231,000.

11. “I would add that it
seems lots of people
think there are lots
of false claims — not so
here. We rarely have a
claim that is not valid.
Most of our claims end
up being a little
treatment and right back
to work

12. “The thing that runs workers’ compensation costs up is the injured
worker who lingers off work or drags out treatment; however, this
is not the norm with our injured workers. Only a few people are
willing to take advantage of the taxpayers in this way,”
Blankenship said.

13. Talk to a Cost-U-Less insurance expert
If you have any questions regarding workers’ compensation
insurance, contact a Cost-U-Less agent today.