Claim Costs: Tip of the Iceberg

When a workplace injury occurs, workers’ compensation will cover the direct claim costs of the injured worker. Direct costs include medical expenses and lost-time wages. However, direct costs are just the tip of the iceberg. The employer is left with incremental costs that are indirectly associated with the injury. According to the Occupational Safety and Healthy Administration (OSHA), these can be up to 4.5 times the direct costs.