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.” winter 2019 53