Ailan Client Receives Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Comp. Award

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Kelly Beegle, vice president of risk management for JELD-WEN, an Oregon maker of windows and doors, recalls an early conversation with COO Bob Turner. “He said, ‘It seems like we’ve been making incremental progress with our safety program. What I want to do is make a huge impact on it, and I want you guys to put a plan together to help us accomplish that.’ ”

The risk management team saw the proposal as a significant opportunity, but the group was also a little daunted. JELD-WEN was already achieving a 7 percent to 11 percent improvement in claims costs year over year despite rapid growth, and had a better than average workers’ compensation experience modification factors. Just how big of an impact was Turner looking for?

Really big, Beegle said. Turner threw a number out, right off the top of his head. “What about a number like 75 percent?” Turner suggested. “Let’s make a quantum leap.”

Recognizing that vast improvement, JELD-WEN was selected the 2011 winner of the Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Award in the for-profit sector. The Teddy Award is sponsored by Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.

JELD-WEN contracts with Ailan Corporation to provide a robust risk-control management system.

“I think there are companies still out there that regard cost of claims and the cost of premiums just as overhead like the cost of electricity,” said Marsha Sorum, JELD-WEN’s global claims manager. “And they don’t really understand the true impact that you can have on that cost if you get in there and roll up your sleeves and get involved. And if you can bring the costs down ? by looking at it more as a cost and not as overhead, that’s going to impact your bottom line.”

Excerpts taken from the November 2011 edition of Risk & Insurance Magazine article: Opening the Door to Risk Reduction, by Michelle Kerr. To read the article in its entirety go to:

www.riskandinsurance.com/story.jsp?storyId=533342677

JELD-WEN is a worldwide manufacturer of doors and windows.

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