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“And there is no indication that this<br />
trend will be reversed.”<br />
To the extent that your state law<br />
allows, you can contest medical procedures<br />
that seem too frequent or<br />
costly. Turning again to Pennsylvania:<br />
In that state, if proper postings<br />
are in place and proper notification<br />
is provided to an injured worker,<br />
you can control the doctors seen by<br />
that employee during the first 90<br />
days following a claim.<br />
But after that period, the<br />
patient may go to any doctor.<br />
New Jersey, in contrast,<br />
allows the employer to<br />
control medical care for the<br />
life of the claim.<br />
State law also can affect<br />
how you monitor the ability of the<br />
employee to work. In Pennsylvania,<br />
you can require that the employee<br />
see a doctor of your choosing twice<br />
a year for that purpose.<br />
One more thing: Don’t treat accident<br />
victims like strangers.<br />
4800 S. Kilbourn Ave.<br />
Chicago, IL 60632<br />
46 | BedTimes | April 2010<br />
“Keep in mind that injured employees<br />
are staying at home, looking<br />
at ads from workers’ compensation<br />
attorneys on the TV and computer,”<br />
Moore says. “So reach out to them.<br />
Call them. Send them get well<br />
cards. Asking how they are doing is<br />
important. Except for your safety<br />
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A. Lava & Son Co.<br />
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program, it’s the best thing you can<br />
do to save money.”<br />
Progress ahead<br />
Safety programs have proven themselves<br />
effective tools for reducing<br />
workers’ comp costs and employers,<br />
including many in the mattress<br />
industry, have climbed aboard the<br />
bandwagon.<br />
“Safety has improved considerably<br />
over the years,”<br />
Wilkinson says. “Employers<br />
are increasingly focused<br />
on making the workplace<br />
safer and reducing worker<br />
exposure to hazardous<br />
activities.”<br />
But bear in mind that<br />
safety doesn’t happen by itself: It<br />
must be managed.<br />
“A safe work environment starts<br />
with the attitude of top management,”<br />
Moore says. “Water runs downhill: If<br />
managers don’t care about safety then<br />
employees won’t.” BT<br />
Ph: (800) 777-5282<br />
Fax: (773) 254-0800<br />
www.sleepproducts.org/bedtimes
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