Washington Business Winter 2019 | Washington Business | Page 53
business backgrounder | economy
One employee who had been working as a mechanic
was injured and off the job, unable to do that type
of work any longer. CompWise introduced her to
programs that provide state support to get injured
employees back to work.
“We got him back, in our parts department,” Mayer
said. “That’s worked out great for us to bring him
back, because he is a good employee. And I think he
really appreciates being back.”
“We’re trying to solve a problem for the employer and
we can be their advocate. What’s best for the employ-
ers and the employees is truly what it’s all about. We’re
pretty much a one-stop-shop to help with anything
related to an employer’s workers’ comp program.”
— Debra Brown, president, Forterra, AWB’s member services subsidiary
compwise services support employers, employees
The goal of CompWise is to prevent injuries through a safer
workplace, and to actively help employees who are injured to heal
and get back to work appropriately and safely. They return to making
a full wage, and they are fully engaged with life.
“Long-term, financially and psychologically, it’s better for
employees to get back to work,” Brown said.
Workplace safety and workers’ compensation are key issues for every
employer, and that’s why AWB offers the comprehensive workers’
compensation retrospective rating (Retro) program.
CompWise covers a full range of comprehensive services, ‘they went right to work’
including regulatory compliance, consulting, safety training, field Hewes Marine, an aluminum boat manufacturer in Colville with
audits, active claims management, even representation before the 164 employees, noticed an immediate improvement after signing up
with CompWise, according to Roxanne McComas, safety coordinator
Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
If an employee is injured, CompWise will help evaluate the at Hewes.
situation to get the claim closed and get the employee back to work “They’ve really been outstanding. They’re very easy to get
ahold of. They call me right back,” McComas said. “They took on
safely and appropriately.
“We’re trying to solve a problem for the employer and we can some cases that were left over from a different retro company, and
be their advocate,” said Debra Brown, president of Forterra, AWB’s boy, they went right to work on them and have at least some of
member services subsidiary. “What’s best for the employers and the them solved.”
employees is truly what it’s all about. We’re pretty much a one-stop- She said that Hewes tried handling its workers’ comp claims by
shop to help with anything related to an employer’s workers’ comp themselves, but that didn’t work out. There was too much to it,
McComas said, especially on top of ensuring your company’s safety
program.”
Time has shown that CompWise’s safety audits and proactive programs and production. CompWise has smoothly taken over
claims management make a difference in lowering costs by helping workers’ comp, freeing up Hewes staff to do what they do best —
avoid injuries and getting injured employees back to work. That safely crafting high-quality welded aluminum fishing boats.
means lower workers’ comp premiums, a lower experience factor What would she tell other employers who haven’t experienced
(which affects the rate employers pay into the industrial insurance CompWise personally?
“If they are having any struggles at all with any
system) and the opportunity for
of their L&I insurance claims, old or new, these
employers to qualify for premium
guys are top of the game,” McComas said. “They
refunds over time.
know their stuff... They helped us get back on track.
I n 2 0 1 7, f o r exa m p l e, t h e
They’ve been amazing.”
CompWise manufacturing Retro
group qualified for a 29.5 percent
refund.
Washington’s Retro programs
additional information
date back to the early 1980s
and are a way for Washington’s
AWB’s CompWise program offers help for
monopoly state-run workers’
employers on a comprehensive range of workers’
compensation system to
compensation needs. To learn more, contact
introduce a bit of private-sector
Debra Brown at [email protected], or
innovation and energy, leading to
— Roxanne McComas, safety
visit www.awb.org/workers-compensation
better outcomes for employees
coordinator, Hewes Marine
and lower costs for employers.
“They’ve really been out-
standing. They’re very easy
to get ahold of. They call me
right back. They took on some
cases that were left over from
a different retro company, and
boy, they went right to work
on them and have at least
some of them solved.”
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