A workplace injury management process or Injury Reporting Centre (IRC) is a 24-hour service. It provides employers with the first point of contact when employees sustain an injury or need to advise that they’ll be absent from work. It is managed by a team of experienced allied health consultants who are dedicated to assisting injured workers.
Businesses choose to implement a workplace injury management process when they are looking to streamline all aspects of the reporting process and ensure that all their legal obligations are met. This includes safety compliance reporting and occupational injury reporting, meaning that they are all met in an efficient and timely manner.
How does a workplace injury management process work?
A workplace injury management process or IRC team member will directly contact those involved in the aftermath of an incident, allowing them to swiftly develop recommendations for action. The IRC team member can also liaise between all relevant parties including management, staff members, and other stakeholders including but not limited to insurers, treating doctors and treatment providers.
How can a Workplace Injury Management Process help a business?
1. Save Time
When a staff member is absent or injured, using the services of an Injury Reporting Centre will save your business time. For many injured people, the workers’ compensation system is complex and can be difficult to navigate. An IRC will offer a 24/7 triage system to make sure that a worker who is injured is given the directions, treatment and assistance they need to access support and make a safer return to work as soon as possible. A worker who informs the reporting centre of their absence will also receive instructions about how best to address the reasons for them not attending work (such as linking them with health service providers, facilitating GP or other professional consultants). Appointing an IRC to act as a liaison between all stakeholders (including insurers and health professionals) saves you from managing the various lines of communication yourself. This leaves you free to concentrate on your business.
2. Save Money
Furthermore, using a workplace injury management process not only saves time but also saves money. IRC team members are equipped with the knowledge, skills, procedures and contact networks needed to handle your case efficiently and effectively. This means that your workers’ compensation costs and other expenses can be contained as much as possible from the outset. Injury reporting centres will also ensure that you meet your legal obligations correctly, saving you from potential legal costs or fines later. Additionally, when a worker returns to work as soon as they safely can do so, employers will save on the time lost to their injury.
3. Increase in Productivity
Moreover, research shows that an early return to work provides the best outcomes for both workers and employers. It helps businesses maintain productivity, even if resources are reallocated so an injured worker can perform suitable duties. Furthermore, a workplace injury management process helps employees be accountable for their absences. This prevents the duration of the absence from being longer than reasonable or necessary and helps limit the extent of the productivity lost to absenteeism.
4. Streamline Reporting Requirements
All businesses have an obligation to report certain types of injuries or incidents, called ‘notifiable incidents’. The work, health and safety regulator for each state or territory dictates what constitutes a notifiable incident, and how employers should report and handle these occurrences. When an employee experiences an injury in the course of their work, the staff in the Injury Reporting Centre will guide you through this process to make sure you have acted according to your legal obligations and the specifications of the regulator in your area.
5. Generate Data to Assess
When you use the services of an Injury Reporting Centre, you will be given access to reports on the trends in your business, such as how, when and where injuries occur as well as in what areas of your business the most absences are recorded and why. These reports give you the opportunity to identify any patterns and understand the conditions of these injuries and absences so you can then address any issues. For instance, if you find that a lot of employees are sustaining injuries while completing a certain task, you can make adjustments to that task. You can also assess the safety precautions that they undertake or the environment around them to prevent injuries from occurring. Similarly, if there is an increase in employees advising that mental health concerns are the reason for their absences from work, you may be able to implement strategies to increase their engagement and role satisfaction at work. Additionally, implementing avenues for them to access more support and improving team morale and workplace culture can also be beneficial.
How we can help
At Recovery Partners our Injury Reporting Centre (IRC) operates as a 24-hour service managed by our team of experienced allied health consultants dedicated to assisting injured workers. Our team will streamline all aspects of the reporting process and ensure that all your legal obligations, including safety compliance reporting and occupational injury reporting, are efficiently met.
Using IRC not only enhances workplace safety but also affords you the time and resources to focus on what’s important to you and your business.
Recovery Partners continue to deliver outstanding results with our overall RTW success rate standing at 99% for our customers.
Want to find out more?
Our services are available nationwide. For more information about our services contact us.
Our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email enquiries@rrp.com.au
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Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/