For this purpose, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has workers’ compensation specialists and attorneys available to the public either by telephone or on a walk-in basis. Contact information can be found in the Resource Directory section of this Guide. If informal methods are unable to resolve the problem, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and the Office of Administrative Hearings offer administrative conferences and mediation sessions. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry offers administrative conferences to try to resolve medical and rehabilitation benefit issues. The judges at the Office of Administrative Hearings conduct conferences to determine if the workers’ compensation insurers are to be granted their request to discontinue disability benefits to an injured worker. The holder of an administrative conference will attempt to help the parties reach acceptable resolutions of the issues, but if this is not possible, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry will issue a decision and order, which is appealable. Administrative conferences are designed to be fast, informal proceedings to resolve workers’ compensation disputes. Attorneys may represent the parties but are not mandatory. Mediation sessions are also used as a method to expedite the handling of disputed workers’ compensation claims. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry will conduct a mediation session at the request of the parties. All parties must be agreeable to the mediation. Unlike other types of dispute resolution proceedings, the presiding official does not issue a decision. The mediator assists the parties in their efforts to work towards solutions and makes sure the agreements are in conformity with the workers’ compensation laws. If the parties are successful in reaching resolutions, the mediator will prepare the mediation award and arrange for it to be properly signed, awarded, served and filed. As with administrative conferences, attorneys may represent the parties, but are not mandatory. Other dispute resolution services offered at the Office of Administrative Hearings are settlement conferences, small claims court, special terms hearings, attorney fees and cost hearings, and formal hearings on workers’ compensation issues. Some decisions are appealable to the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court. REDUCING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COSTS Workers‘ compensation insurance rates are set within broad limitations by the insurance company. Rates are adjusted by payroll risk classifications and by the employer’s experience rating, which is the history of injuries in the business. It is difficult to control the payroll risk classification because it is determined by the nature of the business and the type of work employees do. However, there are a number of ways to control the cost of workers’ compensation premiums for the future. Employers who have accident prevention programs generally will have lower workers’ compensation costs. The employer can take an active role in lowering workers’ compensation costs by: • Developing wellness programs that incorporate physical fitness and health education. • Providing employee education on proper lifting techniques and appropriate body mechanics.
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