Worker's Compensation Insurance Challenges for School Districts

Written by Mike Pehrson, RJ Ahmann Company

Worker?s compensation insurance for a school district is not only an important aspect of the school district?s risk management planning efforts, but is also a key budgetary issue as well.? School districts face numerous workers? compensation challenges and while one would suspect that the exposures faced by today?s modern educator are minimal, it is actually quite the opposite.? Truth be told, school districts are quite broad in scope, geographically as well as in the duties and responsibilities performed by their personnel.? Altogether, the typical school district has multiple schools at multiple locations with personnel responsibilities ranging from classroom leadership, custodial duties, cooking, transportation risks, violent events and everything in between.? Without question, schools district?s today present a dynamic environment for their employees and thus generating some meaningful challenges for their worker?s compensation insurance program.

Let?s look at just a few of the challenges presented when insuring school districts?and explore practical solutions.

Educating School District Personnel about Workers Compensation Insurance

A prominent aspect of worker?s compensation insurance is understanding how it works for the employer and employee.? District personnel not only need to understand the purpose of worker?s compensation, but the function of the insurance within the school district.? Timely reporting of claims, waiting periods, partner clinics, QRC support and return to work programs are all important elements of a school district worker?s compensation program.

Educating district leadership and personnel is key to effective utilization of worker?s compensation insurance, as well as avoiding claims confusion and frustration at the time of injury.? Ongoing education through payroll stuffers, departmental meetings and district communications are all sound ways to help educate district personnel and avoid unforeseen challenges in the area of worker?s compensation insurance.

Effective Risk Management Policy Affects School District Workers Compensation Insurance

Along with educating district personnel, risk compliance and regulatory measures are constant challenges for school districts.? Keeping pace with regulations of OSHA, DOT and related governmental bodies is a safety and risk management challenge for any school districts and its member schools.

Developing an effective risk management policy that sets forth the school district?s policy on employee safety and accountability is key in communicating important expectations to district personnel.? While employee education is key to communicating important aspects of the district?s worker?s compensation insurance, written safety standards give ?legs? to the district?s expectations for a safe and productive workplace. For more information regarding safety in the workplace, please click on the following link; OSHA Safety & Health Information for the Workplace.

Specialized Insurance & Risk Management Partners

As a part of their ongoing education and risk management efforts, School Districts should also make a concerted effort to identify experienced worker?s compensation insurance partners who specialize in providing insurance and risk management solutions to school districts.? In facing the challenges that come with managing a dynamic and changing workplace, partnership with organizations that have experience in effectively managing worker?s compensation programs can go a long way in minimizing the district?s worker?s compensation challenges with respect to claims issues and risk management deficiencies.

There are a number of? experienced insurance companies in the marketplace that specialize in worker?s compensation insurance for schools, as well as brokers who can bring the needed expertise to help in the overall insurance and risk management planning effort.? Make it a point to partner with a professional broker that has the experience necessary to help your district explore and implement a successful approach to your worker?s compensation and risk management efforts.

For more information on school district worker?s compensation insurance and risk management support, please contact RJ Ahmann to speak with an agent.

No school district is without challenges in the area of worker?s compensation insurance.? A good start to a successful approach to your school district?s worker?s compensation challenges is to discuss and implement a strategy consistent with the points outlined above.? While worker?s compensation can be a complex matter, having a proactive approach to your worker?s compensation program will go a long way toward simplifying your school district?s workers compensation insurance program and the premium costs that go along with it.

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Mike Pehrson is an experienced Education Risk Specialist with RJ Ahmann Company, a regional insurance agency located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Source: http://www.rja.com/Business_Insurance/workers-compensation-insurance-challenges-for-school-districts/

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