Workplace Safety

Question One

Kim​ Galvin, head of Human Resources at the California Healthcare​ Foundation, noted that​ workers’ compensation costs are the most obvious economic side effect of workplace injuries. A principle of​ workers’ compensation laws related to costs is that employers should pay for injuries regardless of fault. These findings are quite important to my professional life because I will use the worker’s compensation as an insurance for providing medical care or cash benefits to workers who are injured or fall ill in the event of performing their duty (Hood, Hardy & Simpson, 2016). Employers must fully cater for this insurance without expecting employee contributions towards the compensation cost. I will therefore adhere to the interventions presented by this Board in ensuring insurers are held responsible for reimbursing the amounts payable. In this regard, the amount granted to the claimer is not affected by his carelessness nor increased on basis of an employer’s fault (Hood, Hardy & Simpson, 2016). It will only necessitate a worker to lose the right to worker’s compensation on condition that it resulted from personal intoxication from drugs or from personal intention to injure himself.

Question Two

The employees of the California Healthcare Foundation are covered under​ workers’ compensation laws. ​ Workers’ compensation laws cover​ virtually all employees in the United States. As directed by the Worker’s Compensation Board, this is a state agency that is responsible for processing claims and ensuring employer’s insurance carrier pays for the medical care for all Citizens within the US to ensure all employers take full responsibility of the medical care expenses (Hood, Hardy & Simpson, 2016). This will be applicable to my field of profession because I will ensure anyone who returns to work but is limited by the physical injuries from accessing same wages as before is immediately entitled to benefits that collectively sum up more than two thirds of the difference (Moore & Viscusi, 2014). They can equally resume duty in light or alternate duty in the event they have not fully recovered.

Question Three

Although the video noted​ workers’ compensation as an economic concern for the​ organization, the intent of​ workers’ compensation is to provide a public benefit. A basic objective of​ workers’ compensation laws is to​ provide prompt and reasonable income and medical benefits for work-related injury or illness (Moore & Viscusi, 2014). However, such claims are only paid if the insurance carrier or employer agrees that the resultant illness or injury is fully work related. Upon disputing the claim by an employer, paying of cash benefits is restricted until the workers’ compensation law judge makes a decision of who is right (Hood, Hardy & Simpson, 2016). This is applicable in my line of profession because I will ensure all workers receive compensation, and whoever is limited because employers’ arguments that a certain illness is not job related is eligible for disability benefits for the time being. However, such payments under the Disability Program will still be deduced from future workers’ compensation awards.

Question Four

The California Healthcare Foundation promotes safety in part to control costs such as​ workers’ compensation. It is important for organizations to understand their obligations under​ workers’ compensation​ programs, such as how programs are funded. The option that best explains the funding of worker’s compensation program is that programs are funded according to guidelines in each state. Such entities therefore are meant to serve specific groups of employees entirely covered under relevant regulations and statutes through mitigation of financial burden that results from workplace injuries (Hood, Hardy & Simpson, 2016). This will equally be properly applicable in my field of profession as I will seek to ensure all employees injured while on job or employment by both state and local government agencies as well as private companies contact their particular state worker’s compensation board under which they are assigned to. It entails wage replacement benefits, vocational rehabilitation, medical treatment among others.

Question Five

The video discussed several initiatives by the California Healthcare Foundation to reduce workplace​ injuries, noting the costs associated with​ workers’ compensation. Companies can reduce​ workers’ compensation costs through reducing the likelihood of claims by​ implementing safety and health promotion programs (Hood, Hardy & Simpson, 2016). Integration of occupational health and safety measures in conjunction with worksite health promotion initiatives is key in improving the overall workers’ health behavior. It equally entails introduction of environmental- and organizational-level systems include the policy structures, organizational context as well as management for supporting general health of workers through provision of a healthy and safe work environment. This concept is of great application to my professional field as it equips one with measures for controlling potential hazardous work exposure at workplaces to ensure employees’ general safety whereas reducing medical costs during compensation.

References

Hood, J., Hardy Jr, B., & Simpson, L. (2016). Workers’ compensation and employee protection laws in a nutshell. West Academic. Retrieved from; The California Healthcare Foundation: Safety.

Moore, M. J., & Viscusi, W. K. (2014). Compensation mechanisms for job risks: wages, Workers’ Compensation, and product liability. Princeton University Press.

The California Healthcare Foundation; Retrieved from;

http://mediaplayer.pearsoncmg.com/assets/2013-MGMT-HRM-hrm_0502_512