Once limitations are defined and DOL approval is received, the injured employee is placed in a light duty assignment. It is critical to monitor an employee's progress in the limited assignment to avoid exacerbating the injury. It is generally recognized that an effective workers' compensation management program must also address the prevention of injuries. The first step in this process is hazard recognition. A hazard surveillance team consisting of the safety officer, the facility manager, a nursing representative, and someone from administration is most effective in identifying problem areas.
Data management is an important component of a safety program.
Responsibility for investigation of injuries or unsafe conditions should be assigned to an individual or department. Basic principles of public health should be used to determine top priorities for correction. The entire process, then, must be examined to determine if the intervention was successful. If the intervention strategy was not successful, the issue must be referred to the safety committee for consideration of alternative strategies. However, certain elements of the program may require a period of time to phase them in.