Employability Assessment for Workers Compensation in Washington State

Employability Assessment for Workers Compensation in Washington State

There were 2.7 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2020. With statistics like these, it doesn’t matter how many workplace safety measures you take, workplace injuries are bound to happen at some point.

With workplace injuries being somewhat inevitable, it is important to understand workers compensation policy isn’t uniform from state to state and Washington state has its own unique set of rules.

One of its biggest components is the employability assessment for Washington workers compensation claims. Don’t stress if you aren’t familiar with it, though. Read on to learn all about it and workers compensation in Washington state from the Vocational Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc.!

What is the Employability Assessment for Washington Workers Compensation Claims?

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is behind this vocational assessment. The goal is to determine an injured person’s ability to return to the workforce. If they aren’t ready to return to work, the vocational assessment also determines whether training will help them get back to work.

Injured employees meet with private vocational counselors as part of the process. The vocational counselor asks questions about their injury, work history, and educational background. The counselor also asks about pre-existing mental or physical conditions.

Ultimately, L&I seeks to get injured parties back to work as soon as possible. This assessment determines what each individual needs for that to happen. If you have an employee going through this process, they may ask you for information about their position to give to their counselor.

What Comes Out of the Vocational Assessment?

The end result is a report that gets sent to L&I. The report is a thorough documentation of an individual’s work and education history, and their ability to get back to work. The vocational counselor also provides information about potential jobs someone might qualify for.

How can you Reduce Workers Compensation Claims in the Future?

The best way to prevent workers compensation claims in the future is a solid workplace safety plan. That means creating a safe working space and ensuring all of your employees are properly trained.

For example, ergonomics training helps prevent long-term injuries like musculoskeletal disorders. It helps you design ergonomic workstations that provide comfort and prevent injury. Being mindful of how injuries occur is key.

If you don’t already have a safety plan in place, then now is the time to get it started!

Is Your Business Prepared for Workers Compensation Assessments?

The employability assessment for Washington workers compensation claims is one of the biggest components of the workers compensation process. As an employer, it’s important to know how the process works so you can help guide injured employees and make informed employment decisions. In the meantime, you can enact safety measures to prevent further injuries.

Are you looking for an agency with a proven ability to help understand vocational evaluations as well as how to maintain a safe and healthy workplace? You’ve come to the right place! contact Solutions Northwest today to learn how we can help you!

Our experts are knowledgeable about ADA accommodation issues, disability and injury management, and workers’ compensation. We are happy to assist you!

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