Claim Management

The claim management function focuses on managing the internal administration of employee work related injuries and coordinating services between the Workers Compensation Claim Service Company and County agencies and departments for benefits payable within the self-insured program.

The claim management function also coordinates insurance recovery from Commercial insurers for claims related to property damage, vehicle accidents and subrogation recovery, premises slips and falls and Public Officials and Law Enforcement liability including coordinating defense strategies.

Rehabilitation

The goal of the rehabilitation program is to ensure the injured and disabled employees receive timely medical and rehabilitation assistance to reach maximum medical improvement following a work related injury and to return to productive employment within identified physical limitations. Research has shown that returning to work, even in a limited capacity, helps promote full recovery. For this reason, Union County agencies and departments are encouraged to offer injured employees temporary assignments, based upon their current work capabilities, as determined by the employee's treating physician.

Risk Analysis and Mitigation

This program element involves evaluating operational risks and identifying methods of treatment and reduction of risk exposures. Other responsibilities under this area include the monitoring and allocation of costs associated with losses to various general fund and non general fund agencies as a means of accountability; evaluating contractual transfer of risk; evaluating exposures of County physical assets; developing policies and procedures and providing Countywide training related to this program element.

Insurance Management

The insurance program assures that the County's financial integrity is protected through a combination of commercial insurance and self-insurance. Risk management is responsible for procuring and managing the County's purchase of commercial insurance policies insuring loss of County buildings, contents, computer equipment, library books and other valuable assets. Insurance is also purchased to protect the County against various liability exposures and excess insurance for self-insured exposures that may present serious loss potential.

Safety Management

The County safety program is administered by Risk Management and assists departments as requested in establishing safety committees. Each County agency or department is expected to establish a Safety Committee to oversee safety within the operating entity. A supervisory level employee should be assigned direct responsibility for this safety function. The Safety Committee is encouraged to meet monthly to discuss safety concerns, present information on safety related topics and to review accidents. The program's goals are to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents resulting from County operations. This is accomplished through a variety of methods such as safety training, providing technical assistance, inspections and audits of county facilities/operations, loss cause analysis of services and operations and development of safety related policies and procedures and related training programs for county employees.

Safety Committees are to provide the Risk Manager with a copy of their monthly itinerary in advance of their meetings in order to enable support material to be provided, as necessary.

To promote a safe work environment and to ensure public safety for visitors to County facilities, risk management provides employee training, OSHA technical assistance, self-inspection services and conducts accident investigations and coordinates other safety activities and events throughout the year.

Training available through risk management include:

• Defensive driving courses
• Blood-borne pathogens
• Hazardous communication
• Personal protective equipment
• Back (postural) safety
• Ergonomics
• Violence in the workplace

Technical assistance available through risk management include:

• Noise level measurement
• Indoor Air Quality measurement
• Office ergonomic measurement
• Regulatory compliance (NCOSHA)

Inspection and Audit

• Work site safety inspections
• Building safety