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Loss Prevention Shift in Focus
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By Scott Walters, North Dakota Workers' Compensation The role of the Loss Prevention Specialist has changed over the years at North Dakota Workers Compensation (NDWC). While years ago safety inspections and safety standard compliance were the main scope of the work, the role now includes safety consultations as its major component. Ten years ago, approximately 90 percent of the work a Loss Prevention Specialist conducted was that of a safety inspection. Now, only about 10 percent of our business consists of conducting safety inspections. Statistics show that 90 percent of injuries result from unsafe acts, while only 10 percent of injuries result from unsafe conditions. Common sense tells us to devote the majority of our effort where the majority of injuries are happening. Although a "good" safety inspection should look at both unsafe acts and unsafe conditions, most inspections focus on unsafe conditions – those that result in only 10 percent of injuries. Here in North Dakota, we listened to the statistics and changed our ways. In 1994 our focus changed from safety inspections to safety management consultations when the Risk Management Program (RMP) was initiated. It is a voluntary program whereby employers can earn up to a 10 percent discount on their premium for implementing an 11-step safety program in their workplace. Although conducting safety inspections is only one element of the program, we focus on total safety management by assisting employers implementing the RMP and consulting with them on sound loss prevention techniques. From a statistical standpoint, we believe making the switch from conducting mostly safety inspections to providing safety consultations was a positive move. In 1992 NDWC had 8.09 claims reported per 100 covered workers in our state. In 2001 that number dropped to 6.78 claims per covered worker, a 16 percent decrease. In a more dramatic measure, in 1992 we had 1.69 wage-loss claims reported per 100 covered workers, while in 2001 that number was reduced to 0.87 wage-loss claims per 100 covered workers, a 49 percent decrease. Considering the fact that in North Dakota the average cost of a medical-only claim in 2001 was $400 and the average cost of a wage-loss claim was $29,500, much can be said for having an aggressive return to work program and minimizing or eliminating wage-loss claims. Although conducting safety inspections should be, and needs to be, an important element in the role of a Loss Prevention Specialist, providing quality safety consultations has proven to be a more effective way to conduct business.
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