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Are You Hiring Your Next Workers' Compensation Claim?

July 27, 2009 at 12:00 AM
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In the moving and storage industry, where competition is fierce and profit margins are thin, only companies that are diligent in controlling costs will be profitable in the long term.

Two major expenses for employers in the moving and storage industry include direct costs and indirect costs associated with Workers’ Compensation insurance. Direct costs include high premiums in the form of high base rates and/or increases in experience modification factors. Indirect costs include costs associated with decreased employee productivity, days off, lost management time due to documenting losses and possible litigation, re-training, and new hiring costs. According to a study by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI), the indirect cost of a Workers’ Compensation claim can be a multiple as high as 4.5 times that of the direct cost of the claim.

Two major expenses for employers in the moving and storage industry include direct costs and indirect costs associated with Workers’ Compensation insurance. Direct costs include high premiums in the form of high base rates and/or increases in experience modification factors. Indirect costs include costs associated with decreased employee productivity, days off, lost management time due to documenting losses and possible litigation, re-training, and new hiring costs. According to a study by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI), the indirect cost of a Workers’ Compensation claim can be a multiple as high as 4.5 times that of the direct cost of the claim.

How to Prevent Claims

Members of the moving and storage industry generally recognize the direct costs associated with Workers’ Compensation claims, and have developed effective safety programs aimed at preventing losses from occurring or mitigating losses after they occur. While these programs are effective at controlling costs and should always be maintained, why not make sure you are hiring applicants whose physical capabilities match the physical demands of the job? This will decrease the risk of an injury due to a pre-existing condition or overall lack of strength.

The Problem – Traditional Testing Methods

Traditionally, employers have used one of two methods for testing the strength of applicants:

  • Develop a detailed description of job-related functions and ask the employee whether he or she is capable of handling the tasks. This method depends entirely on the honesty and knowledge of the applicant.
  • Develop a post-offer Functional Capacity Evaluation where "conditionally" hired applicants are required to simulate the job in the presence of trained physical therapists or medical personnel. This process can take hours, is very subjective, and can cause injury to the applicant resulting in a Workers’ Compensation or liability claim.

The Answer – Pre-Employment Isokinetic Testing

The failure rate (i.e. the percentage of applicants who do not pass) of the above-mentioned testing is 1%. The rejection rate for the pre-employment isokinetic test is 16%. This means that 15% of applicants “un?t” for the job are missed by current testing standards. Implementing isokinetic testing on a pre-employment basis is an extremely effective employment screening tool that will help an employer avoid hiring an applicant incapable of performing the job due to lack of strength or pre-existing conditions. On a completely objective basis, pre-employment strength testing measures the degree to which candidates have the identifiable ability to exert joint torques, which can then be compared to the minimum torques required in a job. Testing of several joints (shoulder, knee, and trunk) provides suf?cient information to indicate whether a candidate is able to perform the tasks required for a job. In addition to measuring strength, isokinetic testing can uncover pre-existing conditions prior to employment. To view The Horton Group’s pre-employment strength testing website, go to www.thehortongroup.com/strengthtesting. There, you will ?nd case studies, answers to frequently asked questions, common myths about strength testing, case studies and a PDF of our brochure. Isokinetic testing is favored by medical practitioners, including physical therapists, because of the testing machine’s use of “accommodating resistance.” Accommodating resistance ensures that the muscle load will not exceed the applicant’s ability or tolerance during the test. Simply put, it is not possible to incur a sprain or strain injury while taking an isokinetic test. Avoidance has always been one of the bes

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Material posted on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal opinion or medical advice. Contact your legal representative or medical professional for information specific to your needs.

Hot Topics for Moving & Storage Professionals

  • Driver Qualifications And Driver Shortage
  • Pre-Employment Testing
  • Are You Hiring Your Next Workers' Compensation Claim?

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