A backlog of more than 400 workers' compensation cases pending before the State Industrial Commission has been eliminated in the past six months by a double-scheduling program.
Chairman Stephen M. Hadley said that because the backlog has been eliminated, a hearing before the commission is scheduled within four months of a request, compared with a minimum of seven months before the program was started.The program calls for scheduling two hearings in the same time slot. Many of the cases are settled shortly before the hearing time, which means that if a case in a certain time slot is settled, the other hearing can proceed without having to give people short notice.
"With double scheduling, more hearings are actually held, resulting in an overall reduction in the length of time involved in obtaining a hearing," said Timothy C. Allen, chief administrative law judge.
Allen said the double-scheduling program was started at the urging of a task force comprised of attorneys who practice workers' compensation cases before the commission.
Hadley said the success of the program has been the result of the "dedication, support and tireless efforts on the part of practicing attorneys, administrative law judges and other supportive parties."
Other changes have been re-engineering the work flow of the Adjudication Division by using new computer software to schedule hearings and to track all disputed cases before the division.
The division also published the Employee's Guide to a Workers' Compensation Hearing, which provides accessible information to injured workers regarding the hearing process at the commission.