Incident Incident Investigation &Investigation &

Getting Accurate Getting Accurate Recorded Recorded

StatementsStatements

Why is it important to promptly do a Why is it important to promptly do a professional investigation & statements?professional investigation & statements?

• Get the facts while they are fresh!

• People’s recollections degrade over time.

• People come and go.

• Prevents witness accounts from changing later…

• Provides a timely, visible, credible response to questionable claims.• A company’s reputation for resisting fraud is built over time.

• Deters potential future fraudsters

•Employers

need to look

out for

Themselves!

When you get a reputation forpaying everyone that comes to your door…….

When you get a reputation forpaying everyone that comes to your door…….

You soon have a lot of peoplecoming to your door!

Effective investigation may Effective investigation may

•Mitigate questionable claims

•Defeat fraudulent claims

•Assist in preventing future accidents

A good investigation is:A good investigation is:

•Focused/Relevant

•Thorough

•Objective

•Professionally conducted

•Professionally organized

•Professionally documented

Skilled Interviewing is an Art & Science:Skilled Interviewing is an Art & Science:

•Reluctant/hostile witnesses

•Deceptive witnesses

•Witnesses with hidden agendas

•Poorly-educated witnesses

•Disinterested witnesses

•Language barriers

Skilled Interviewers should:Skilled Interviewers should:

•Know relevant worker’s compensation issues

•Be armed with the facts

•Be prepared for the interviews

•Have good people skills

•Have good communication skills– Ask the right questions

– Listen to the answers

– Keep asking relevant questions until question is answered

•Be able to analyze, summarize and document results

Logic PathLogic Path

• What do I know about this incident?

• What do I suspect?

• What issues am I trying to resolve?

• What information would help me resolve those issues?

• Where can I get that information?

The finished product should be:The finished product should be:

• Professionally done

• Objective

• In-depth

• Accurate

• Relevant

• Well-organized

• Well-written

The net result of a good investigation:The net result of a good investigation:

• Accurate and thorough documentation of the incident.

• Permanent record of the facts.

• Basis for action by employer, L&I

• Learning tool for Safety improvement.

The bottom line….The bottom line….

• L&I can only act on the information presented to it.

• The worker’s side of the claim will be documented by professionals :

•Doctors

•Attorneys

• The employer’s side of the claim also needs to be professionally documented!

Good Investigations Save Money!Good Investigations Save Money!