The footing crew was already behind when a laborer rolled his ankle stepping off a form. He could still walk, but the supervisor, balancing trucks, rebar deliveries and an afternoon inspection, sent him to urgent care. Two hours later, the doctor issued a week of “no work.” By the next morning, a minor sprain had become a lost-time claim, and the crew was short a key person.
Situations like this unfold quickly during the peak summer construction season. A small injury meets a rushed decision, and the job absorbs the impact.
Amanda Kurt, vice president and managing partner of Kurk Inc., saw this pattern at her family’s Wisconsin concrete and excavation company. As workloads and staffing grew, so did the company’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR), an insurance rating tied to workers’ compensation claims and the injury-related costs behind them.
“They added up, and they cost us a lot of money,” Amanda says.
Even one lost-time case can raise premiums, jeopardize bids and stall already-lean crews.
Contractors are increasingly using near-site care options to evaluate injuries before they spiral into lost-time claims.
THE FIRST 24 HOURS DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF THE CASE
Amanda recalls when Kurk Inc.’s EMR continued to climb, signaling significantly higher injury risk and driving up workers’ compensation costs. A common thread in minor injuries that turned costly was the default to urgent care.
Terrence Kern, chief operating officer and president of The Amphibious Group, says frequent turnover in urgent care creates disconnects between providers and the realities of construction work. “The average doctor in an urgent care is there less than 90 days,” he notes.
Without clear information about the employee’s actual job duties, clinicians often set restrictive work limitations or remove workers from the job entirely.
Terrence recommends that supervisors send injured employees with:
- A task-specific job description
- A completed restriction form
- Clear company contact information
- A written return-to-work (RTW) policy if available
When supervisors respond quickly, explain next steps and stay in contact with the employee, claims are far less likely to spiral.
Terrence recalls two workers with nearly identical injuries sustained one week apart. One employee was sent directly to the insurance carrier with little contact from the employer, resulting in a $67,898 claim. The other received immediate communication, daily check-ins and a clear RTW plan. That claim cost $5,789.
“The only difference was what happened in the first hours,” Terrence shares.
KEEPING SMALL INJURIES FROM BECOMING BIG PROBLEMS
Contractors are increasingly using near-site care options to evaluate injuries before they spiral into lost-time claims.
That can include:
- Telehealth access for immediate clinical guidance
- Mobile first-aid responders who evaluate workers onsite
- Real-time injury triage for sprains, strains and soft-tissue injuries
In many cases, conservative steps like ice, compression and elevation keep a case at first-aid level instead of escalating into unnecessary treatment or recordable claims.
Near-site care also helps supervisors make better decisions in the moment. Instead of reacting under pressure, they can quickly determine:
- Whether the worker needs emergency care
- Whether the injury can be managed onsite
- Whether diagnostics are truly necessary
- Whether modified duty is possible immediately
Once the injury is stabilized, the next priority becomes keeping the worker connected to the company.
The best RTW programs are built before the injury happens. Contractors who already maintain modified-duty task lists can place workers back into productive roles the same day restrictions are issued.
That work may include:
- Tool organization
- Material counts
- Equipment inspections
- Safety audits
- Inventory checks
- Site cleanup
For companies without light-duty capacity onsite, carriers and nonprofit partnerships can help fill the gap. Amanda’s team used a carrier-supported volunteer program that placed workers with local nonprofits while keeping them on payroll.
RTW programs matter even more as construction’s workforce ages. Musculoskeletal injuries often take longer to heal, making early communication and realistic recovery planning even more important.
WHAT CONTRACTORS SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY THIS MONTH
A reliable injury‑management system is ultimately built on a short list of repeatable steps:
- Update job descriptions and bring them to every clinic visit.
- Set up a near-site or telehealth partner for sprains and strains.
- Train supervisors in first-aid and injury triage so they can stabilize issues immediately.
- Implement a written RTW policy that guarantees modified duty.
- Call clinics before sending workers to confirm capabilities.
- Maintain regular communication with injured employees during recovery.
Most costly claims do not start as catastrophic injuries. They start as rushed decisions, poor communication and unclear next steps during the first few hours after someone gets hurt.
Editor’s note: This is the third part of our Summer Safety series. Read part one and part two for actionable ways to keep your workers safe all year.
Learn more about Reducing Work Injury Claims and Recovery Time With Near-Site Care & First Aid Programs. Watch the full session by purchasing On Demand Education Access from the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 show.
PHOTO CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK/STUDIO ROMANTIC
