Cari's Safety Corner
Q: What is Lag time for a claim? How does it affect me and what can I do to reduce it?
A: Lag time is the time between when a workplace injury happens and when it actually gets reported into the Ohio BWC system. On the surface, it might not seem like a big deal. After all, there’s no cost or fine for reporting a claim late. But here’s the thing: waiting costs money—a lot more than you might expect.
Studies show that if you wait just one week to report an injury, the cost of the claim can jump by 10%. And if you sit on it for a month or more, you’re looking at 48% higher costs to settle the claim. Even a delay of just 24 hours can make the claim 33% more expensive. Additionally, the longer you wait, the more likely the claim ends up in court. Litigated claims can cost 40% more on average. So yeah, lag time doesn’t come with an upfront price tag, but it sure has a price.
And it’s not just about dollars. Early reporting of accidents has other benefits. It gets employees treated faster (which helps everyone), lets your team analyze the incident and take quick corrective action, and reduces the chance of things turning suspicious or hostile.
Want to reduce lag time? Try some of these items:
1. Set a time frame for injuries to be reported. I encourage before the end of the shift.
2. Have an easy way to report injuries. Reduce barriers and fear of reporting.
3. Make reporting part of new hire and annual training.
4. Assign a go-to person (plus a backup) to handle all claims.
5. Encourage timely accident investigations.
6. Track your lag time goals and hold folks accountable.
Bottom line: the faster you report, the better the outcome for your people and your bottom line.
Cari Gray is an Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC).
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