MONTEREY PARK/SAN FRANCISCO – The State Compensation Insurance Fund will hold a comprehensive seminar for policyholders entitled “Workers’ Compensation 101,” on May 9 in Monterey Park. The seminar will cover the basics of workers' compensation, provide an overview of the claims process, and explain what employers should do when an injury occurs in their workplace.

Featured speakers for the seminar include State Fund Senior Loss Control Consultants Alfred Varela and Julie Lavezzari; State Fund Assistant Claims Manager Jay Zaveri, and Susan Duprey, State Fund Senior Return-to-Work Consultant.

In the first section of the seminar, Varela and Lavezzari will address basic facts and information about workers' compensation insurance. They will explain to employers how to better understand their workers' compensation policies, how to take advantage of free services that are available to them through State Fund.

Highlights of this session include:

• Employers’ legal responsibilities in protecting their employees’ safety
• What to do when an injury occurs and how to define a serious injury
• The importance of conducting an accident or injury investigation
• The consequences for not reporting serious injuries by Cal/OSHA's deadline

During the second part of the seminar, State Fund’s Zaveri will outline and review the workers’ compensation claims process. Among the numerous topics he will discuss:

• The necessity of having a "Claims Kit" handy, and how to properly use it
• Posting a notice for employees regarding the Medical Provider Network (MPN)
• How to access information regarding State Fund's MPN
• What to do when an employee requires emergency treatment

During the final portion of the seminar, State Fund’s Duprey will provide employers with a variety of suggestions about how to handle work-related injuries. She will explain the roles and responsibilities of employers in the event of a work-related injury, as well as how to ensure that an injured employee receives prompt medical attention.

Additionally, she will speak about the value of having an effective “Return-to-Work” program. By implementing a written “Return-to-Work” program, the time an injured employee spends away from work can be minimized. Duprey will also explain other benefits of workers returning on a timely basis, including retaining trained employees and decreasing injury-related compensation.

The seminar is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at State Fund’s Monterey Park District Office, 900 Corporate Center Drive, 1st Floor. Registration and complimentary continental breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m. Free parking is available.

The Monterey Park seminar is part of a series of educational programs State Compensation Insurance Fund is holding throughout the state in order to help employers create safe workplaces. State Fund has the largest safety and health services program among California workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

Register now for this or other available seminars.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Established by the California Legislature in 1914, San Francisco-based State Compensation Insurance Fund is a self-supporting, nonprofit, fairly competitive public enterprise that provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage at cost to California employers.