In this 45-minute webinar, Colleen Harris, of Harris Worksystems and Aubrey Sakaguchi, of Benchmade Knife Company will explain what Oregon’s Employer-at-Injury Program (EAIP) is all about, how employers can utilize the program, and how the EAIP can impact workers’ compensation and an organization’s budget.

1. Getting Back to Work
How Employers Can
Encourage an Early Return
to Work After Injury
PresentedbyAubreySakaguchi&ColleenHarris
Hostedby

2. Housekeeping Items
• 45 Minute Presentation + 15 Minute Q&A
• Enter questions in the chat window during presentation in
prep for Q&A
• Slides & Recording Available 24-48 hours after webinar
• Get alerts about other live events, webinars, and podcasts at
xeniumhr.com
• Contact the moderator: Brandon.Laws@Xeniumhr.com
Moderated by
Brandon Laws
Director of Marketing
Xenium HR

3. Aubrey Sakaguchi
• Risk Management / Insurance Agent
• Risk / Safety Consulting (public sector)
• Early Return to Work Consulting
• EH&S Specialist
• Previous Injured Worker
• 11 car accidents (She’s a good driver!)
• Didn’t walk for almost 6 weeks following the worst
• Thus began the journey into ergonomics
Colleen Harris
About the Instructors

4. Preview
• What is EAIP and PWP
• How employers can become eligible and what employees are
eligible
• How the EAIP program can impact your organization’s bottom
line
• What an EAIP overhaul can look like for your organization

5. Return to Work Programs
The Employer-at-Injury Program (EAIP) and
Preferred Worker Program (PWP) were designed to
encourage re-employment of qualified Oregon
workers who incurred injury caused limitations
from an on-the-job injury.

6. Return to work programs
How are the programs funded?
• EAIP and PWP are funded by worker and employer
contributions to the Workers’ Benefit Fund (WBF)
• Oregon workers and employers pay about 3.3 cents per
hour for every hour worked

7. Return to work programs
How are the programs designed?
Employer-at-Injury Program (EAIP)
• Available when the claim is deferred or open
• Speeds return to work, lowers claim costs, keeps workers working
and productive
Preferred Worker Program (PWP)
• Available after claim closure or when medical evidence indicates the
worker knows he or she cannot return to work because of
permanent work restrictions

8. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
When are you notified about EAIP?
• Upon acceptance or reopening of a claim; and
• Within five days of a worker's first release for work after claim
opening unless the release is for regular work
• Notification language
Because of your worker's injury, you may be eligible for assistance
through the Employer-at-Injury Program to return the worker to
transitional work while the worker's claim is open. To learn more
about the assistance available from the program, please call [insurer
name and phone number].

9. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
Insurer responsibilities
• Assist the employer to:
• Obtain medical releases
• Identify transitional work
• Process wage subsidy requests
• Make worksite modification purchases
• Make EAIP purchases
• Request reimbursement from WCD

10. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
Employer criteria
• Must maintain Oregon workers’ compensation
insurance coverage
• Must be the employer-at-injury as defined in OAR 436-
105-0005
• Must be employing an eligible worker.

11. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
Worker criteria
• The worker must have an accepted or deferred Oregon
workers’ compensation injury or occupational disease
claim at the time of the Employer-at-Injury Program
• The worker must not be covered by the Injured Inmate
Law

12. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
What Starts the Employer-at- Injury Program?
• (5)(b)(A) A medical release that states the worker’s specific
current or projected restrictions. These restrictions stay in
effect until another release is issued.
• No longer do you have to bridge the gaps in work releases

13. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
What’s available?
• Wage subsidy - 45 percent of gross wages for transitional
work:
• Limited to 66 work days within a 24-consecutive -
month period
• May not start or end with paid leave
• Paid leave is limited for hourly restrictions

14. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
EAIP Purchases
Clothing - $400 Tools & Equipment – combined with
worksite modification for a total of
$5,000
Tuition, books, and fees - $1,000

15. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
Worksite Modification
 Up to $5,000 (combined with the Tools and Equipment
category) for altering a worksite (rent, purchase, modify,
or supplement)
 Must be ordered during EAIP
 Reimbursable if employer purchased in good faith and
worker refuses to return to work

16. Employer at Injury Program
(EAIP)
Worksite Modification (continued)
 Property of the employer
 Insurer determines appropriate worksite modification for worker
 Must link the modification to the accepted conditions
 Insurer documents reason for approval

17. EAIP at Benchmade
Claim for left arm strain
Thought process?
1. Prevent timeloss
2. Improve work/station where possible
Limitations:
Limited use of arms
Benefits utilized:
$1,001.76 Equip
$216.49 Wages

18. EAIP at Benchmade
Claim for thoracic (upper back) strain
Thought process?
1. Prevent timeloss
2. Improve work/station where possible
Limitations:
No LCPP >10 lb. (at first), alternate sitting and standing, only
occasional reach/push/pull
Benefits utilized:
$1,672.58

19. EAIP at Benchmade
Claim for thoracic (upper back) strain

20. Colleen Harris
President
Harris WorkSystems

21. Your only fully
stocking dealer in
Portland!

22. Installation team with over 20 years of
experience.
Your employee’s need to return to work as soon as possible not
just for the company’s productivity but for their own livelihood.
They need the correct tools to do this while preventing further
injury.
We understand how
urgent this need is.

23. One Size Does Not Fit All

25. Capsico – The best position is the next
position.

26. • Ergonomic – Stylish – Practical
• Dual monitor mount
• Monitor mount adjustment
• Easily move from a sitting to a
standing
• Extra work surface space for three-
ring binders and manila folders
• Keyboard tray goes below the desk
surface
• Quickly and securely attaches to most
any work surface
• Easy height adjustment. No tension
springs to adjust

27. Don’t Forget About That Weight on Your Shoulders
What You See What You Forget
When considering ergo equipment
do not neglect the strain that is
put on the neck on a daily basis.

28. Relief from:
• Chronic Pain
• Injury
• Post Surgery
Recovery
• Swelling
• Vascular Issues

29. Electric Height
Adjustable Desks

30. Providing for injured executives.

31. Let’s Work
Together to
get Back to
Work!

32. Contact information
Colleen Harris, Harris WorkSystems
colleenh@harrisworksystems.com
(503) 924-6300
Aubrey Sakaguchi, Benchmade Knife Co.
asakaguchi@benchmade.com
(503) 655-6004 ext 209