As an employer, you care about the health and safety of your team. You take the appropriate safety measures and adhere to all regulations. This is so important in preventing workplace injuries, however it is not foolproof. 

Workplace injuries do sometimes occur, despite your best efforts. When this happens, it’s natural to be concerned for your employee and want to support them as they recover and return to work. The best way to offer this support is through early intervention. 

Early referral to an injury management provider sets you and your employee up for success. By proactively managing the return to work process, you’ll enjoy better outcomes, happier employees, and cost efficiency. 

What is Early Intervention?

Early intervention means starting to plan for the worker’s return to work as soon as possible after an injury. Depending on the nature of the injury, this can start just days after the injury, once the employee has begun to recover. 

For many companies, early intervention starts by referring the claim and the worker to a workplace rehabilitation provider or an injury management provider, such as Employer Health Solutions. With their expertise, injury management providers can help provide support for the employee, coordinate insurance and legal needs, and maintain productivity for the business.

Why is Early Intervention Important?

One of the most critical factors in successfully returning an employee to work after an injury is early intervention. The longer an employee is off of work after getting injured, the less likely they are to ever return. 

After just 20 days off work, the probability of the employee returning drops to only 70%. After 45 days, less than two months, there is only a 50% chance of the worker returning. 

This not only leaves the worker unsupported, but can cause stress on a business as well. Morale can suffer after losing a valued member of a team. Hiring and training a replacement is time and cost intensive. Productivity is likely to suffer. 

Early intervention helps prevent these undesirable outcomes. 

Increase return to work rates

Recent reports show that across Australia, return to work rates have remained high, around 90%, over the past decade. However, some individual jurisdictions, NSW included, are showing a decline in their return to work rates. 

This is especially concerning when taken in correlation with the decrease in number of cases referred to a workplace rehabilitation provider and the delay in those that are referred. It’s clear from these trends there is a gap in support for injured workers. 

Luckily, a study in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that early intervention is an ideal solution. 

According to the study, injured workers that received early intervention were more likely to be back at work within six months. They were 50% more likely to be back at work within 12 months. 

Early intervention provides the support that worker’s need to recover quickly and safely so they can get back to work sooner. This increases return to work rates and benefits businesses and individuals alike. 

Reduce employer costs

It is estimated that the yearly cost of workplace injuries is over $60 billion, with over 20% of that falling to companies. For small businesses, that can be the difference between success and failure. 

Through early intervention, those costs can be significantly reduced and employers get a strong ROI. Every dollar invested in early intervention was found to have a $7 return.

This is thanks to the efficiency and expertise that early intervention and workplace rehabilitation providers offer. A provider like Employer Health Solutions can act as a representative at medical appointments and with the insurance companies to handle all claims quickly and efficiently.

Minimise claims costs and the need to hire additional labour by helping your employee return to work as quickly as possible. Keep premiums low by reducing wages paid by the insurer. Stay focused on your productive business while an experienced provider handles every detail of the process for you. 

Early intervention is a cost effective way to support your employees and your business. 

Protect other employees

An injured worker affects more than just your productivity and bottom line. It can also affect the morale of your team. Other employees may be worried about their team member and concerned about their own health and safety in the workplace. 

Early intervention helps address this concern as well, especially when a workplace rehabilitation provider was involved. It’s never good when an employee gets injured, but it does give employers the chance to evaluate their current safety practices and eliminate risks. 

When they are engaged early, an injury management provider can help you understand how the injury happened and how to prevent it in the future. This reassures your employees and makes them feel safe and confident that you are caring for them. 

You don’t have to wait for an injury to do this, though. Many return to work experts like Employer Health Solutions, will conduct regular health and safety audits and offer guidance on how to prevent injuries before they have the chance to occur. 

The importance of early intervention cannot be overstated. It is the best way to support your employees through an injury and get them back to work quickly and safely. Don’t wait for an injury to start thinking about your return to work process. Give Employer Health Solutions a call today to set your business and your employees up for success.