Duty to Cooperate Part 1 of 4: Early and Safe RTW Plans

June 30, 2012 - June 30, 2022

RE-02-1

General Information

YWCHSB recognizes that injured workers can benefit from returning to work in some capacity before full recovery is achieved. Returning to work can improve a worker’s physical and mental health, while easing the transition to full or maximized duties. Statistically, injured workers who participate in early and safe return to work plans return to work more quickly than workers who do not have return to work plans as part of their recovery.

The Case Management Team should jointly develop and agree upon an injured
worker’s customized early and safe return to suitable and available employment with the pre-injury employer. The Early and Safe Return to Work (ESRTW) plan should accommodate the injured worker’s functional abilities and have a rehabilitative focus.

The primary goal of the ESRTW plan is to return the injured worker to the pre-injury job in accordance with the return to work hierarchy of objectives.

Purpose

This policy will be used to assist an injured worker to return to work during their recovery. It is intended to provide direction for the identification of suitable and available employment and the development of an ESRTW plan for the injured worker.