2016 NWCDC

Ideas Worth Stealing

For the 2016 Teddy Award winners, employees are a key part of the secret to their success.
By: | December 1, 2016

Engaging employees to help prevent injuries, and to drive down claims costs and lost time was a common theme among the winners of the 2016 Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Awards.

Representatives from three of the winning companies shared their strategies on Thursday morning during the “Steal these Ideas!” session at the 25th National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference® & Expo.

Hampton Roads Transit engaged its employees with a safety perception survey to better identify where to direct their efforts.

“Workers are advocating for themselves,” said Jennifer Massey, corporate director of safety, health and claims management, Harder Mechanical.

“We learned that employees did not feel that they could speak about safety issues,” said Danielle Hill, human resources compliance manager, Hampton Roads Transit.

HRT used the survey results to identify further strategies for improvement, and now conducts town hall meetings to keep the dialogue open.

Harder Mechanical Contractors engages employees in the return-to-work process immediately, clearly communicating the benefits of remaining at work during recovery.

Workers, in turn, talk to their treating physicians and insist that they not be taken off work.

“Workers are advocating for themselves,” said Jennifer Massey, corporate director of safety, health and claims management, Harder Mechanical.

Excela Health markets its safety initiatives aggressively, engaging employees to police themselves and each other.

Laurie English, senior vice president and chief human resource officer, Excela Health, said it’s not uncommon for an employee say to another, “You better not let the safety department see you – you have the wrong shoes on!”

The panel was moderated by Roberto Ceniceros, senior editor at Risk & Insurance® and chairman of NWCDC, and John Santulli, executive vice president of PMA Cos., the sponsor of this year’s Teddy Awards.

Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2016 Teddy Awards.

Michelle Kerr is Workers’ Compensation Editor and National Conference Chair for Risk & Insurance. She can be reached at [email protected].

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