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JELD-WEN: Leading the way in Risk Management

In 2011, Risk & Insurance magazine honored JELD-WEN with the Theodore Roosevelt Workers Compensation and Disability Management Award. The award was great recognition for hard work that resulted in lower claim counts, indemnity per claim and lost time per claim over the last 6 years.

Making safety a core effort

JELD-WEN is one of the largest manufacturers of windows and doors in the country. Founded in 1960, JELD-WEN has grown to more than 20,000 people worldwide and has manufacturing and distribution locations across the United States and in more than 20 countries.

The manufacturing process includes manual material handling and physical labor. Handling materials such as wood, vinyl, metal and glass frequently involves repetitive motion. Employees have to be ever vigilant of their surroundings and the materials they are handling.

In late 2003, the Board of Directors of JELD-WEN recognized the safety of the company’s employees as one of their highest priorities. They established a company-wide initiative to reduce workers compensation claims by 75%. Using this target, the company’s risk managers got to work to meet the challenge.

Executing on insight

First, JELD-WEN studied and analyzed the types and frequency of its claims. By looking at the data in several ways, the risk management department found the majority of claims were coming from two groups: new employees and employees with more than one claim. With this information in mind, the department began evaluating how to educate and influence these groups.

They started a multipronged approach that involved each location and made every level of employee accountable for its actions and performances. They created safety committees, safety meetings and ongoing trainings. Safety incentives reward employees for suggested improvements and actions that helped stem accidents. These were just some of the many initiatives established across the company.

At the same time, JELD-WEN’s team also reviewed hiring and orientation procedures. In addition to a stringent substance abuse policy, tests measuring integrity, basic reading and basic math skills were added to the new hire process. Today, of the 8,000 tests administered, 22% signal caution. The exams along with reference checks and management interviews result in the elimination of 50% of applicants.

Along with new hiring policies, the company instituted a comprehensive employee orientation that included instruction in personal protective equipment, hazard communication, emergency plans, standards of conduct and disciplinary procedures. The training helped bring down the number of accidents by new employees and made the workplace safer for all employees.

Follow Through

When a claim does occur, JELD-WEN is ready. It tracks all claims or incidents from the first notice to closure in its own in-house system. First reports are entered at the facility where the incident occurred. Data can then be automatically filled to save time and provide a more accurate report. The claim is quickly reviewed by the JELD-WEN claims department and then electronically submitted to Broadspire’s claim professionals.

The company uses Broadspire’s Medical Management services to control medical costs and to provide care for employees. JELD-WEN uses case management for select injuries. Telephonic and field case managers help these employees through the recovery process and back to work. Of those injuries where a return to work is possible, case managers helped 93.55% back to productivity, representing over $200,000 in savings for JELD-WEN.

Prospective, concurrent and retrospective reviews help make certain that all treatments are appropriate. These reviews have produced more than $85,000 in medical expenses averted over the last two years.

In addition to medical management, the company has also constructed a progressive return-to-work program. They have found it beneficial to offer modified duty and modified hours to ease employees back into the work schedule. JELD-WEN is dedicated to helping its workers achieve the fullest and fastest recoveries possible.

As a result of its commitment to safety and associated efforts, JELD-WEN has dramatically lowered injuries and saved tens of millions of dollars. The employees are safer. The program has become a success across the globe.