Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division to host 22nd educational conference May 7-8 in Wilsonville

The Oregon Workers' Compensation Division (WCD) is hosting an educational conference May 7-8 for employers, insurers, attorneys, medical providers, union representatives, safety and human resource managers, and vocational assistance providers. People with a professional interest in the workers' compensation system will benefit from this opportunity to learn, engage in professional networking, and refresh their skills.

The 22nd Workers' Compensation Educational Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Portland - I-5 South (Wilsonville), 25425 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, Oregon. Conference topics include a state-of-the-industry update, return-to-work program trends, and first payment of time-loss.

WCD, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, is hosting the conference with the International Workers' Compensation Foundation.

On Friday, May 8, the conference's keynote is a session titled "A Guide to Claim Filing," a collaboration by three members of WCD's Audit, Employer Compliance, and Sanctions and Medical Resolution units. Auditor Sara Kessler, Senior Field Investigator Sarah Jones, and Medical Reviewer Sophie Serlin will cover the claims process - from the moment a worker becomes injured to the employer's response and what medical providers must do.

The conference, which includes breakfast, lunch, and exhibits, offers many workplace safety and health topics. They include:

• Case law updates from the Oregon Workers' Compensation Board
• A session covering workers' compensation basics
• An overview of Oregon's nationally recognized return-to-work programs and the benefits to employers, insurers, and injured workers
• Oregon legislative update
• Progress report on the WCD Modernization Program
• Workplace recordkeeping and reporting
• Worksite modification
• "Effective solutions to prevent workplace stress and burnout," presented by Oregon Health and Science University
• A deep dive into the first payment of temporary disability
• Oregon OSHA Consultation: Hazard identification and risk reduction

Conference attendees will have the unique opportunity to attend the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the host hotel. This meeting is also open to the public. MLAC reviews issues in the workers' compensation system and makes recommendations to the Oregon Legislature. To learn more, go to https://www.oregon.gov/dcbs/mlac/Pages/index.aspx.

Immediately following the MLAC meeting at 5 p.m., conference attendees are invited to attend a special networking event, also at the Holiday Inn, where they can meet workers' compensation professionals in the region. Light refreshments will be served.

Registration for the two-day event is $350 until April 1, when the cost increases to $425. Register at https://workcompevent.com/oregon/oregon-workers-compensation-conference/. For more information about WCD conferences, go online, email [email protected], or call 971-286-0162.