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Washington Injury Reporting for Workers� Comp

December 10th, 2006 Posted by Mark

We’re talking the state of Washington next. We’re not talking about Washington D.C. I know, we haven’t gotten around to talking workers’ comp in the nation’s capital just yet, and I promise that we will eventually. In the meantime, let’s deal with the state of Washington on the West Coast. Both places are named after the famous general and first president, but both of their workers’ comp situations are different and worthy of their own look.

First, let’s go to the state of Washington. There, it’s important for all employers with workers’ comp coverage for their employees to understand all about injury reporting and making a claim on your workers’ comp policy. You should be familiar with how such a claim will affect your policy and how much it will affect your premium, more importantly.

For instance, in the state of Washington, disability payments can much more greatly affect your workers’ comp insurance rates than if you just have to pay the medical bills for an injury. That’s because disability payments are what are called long tailed claims, meaning they can stretch on for years and years, during which time the insurance company will make regular payments to your employee. Medical bills typically are one time payments, and end as soon as they are paid.

Employers should also know that once they report an injury, that claim isn’t over. You shouldn’t forget about that worker and that injury. Instead, you should make certain to be regularly updated on the workers’ condition and how your insurance company is handling their claim.

Last but not least, employers should not forget that a first report of injury form may not even have to be used if you follow simple safety guidelines at your work sites. That is where safety posters ergonomic training can certainly come in handy with your workers.