If not, you have a problem. For the past several years, more and more states and cities have limited or banned driver use of cell phones. Warns the Web site DrivingLaws.org, “Although employer responsibility isn’t specifically defined in the cell phone legislation, there have been an increasing number of lawsuits relating to employer responsibility regarding mobile cell-phone use [by] employees.”
With motor vehicle accidents the leading cause of work-related injuries, using cell phones behind the wheel ups the ante for litigation in case of death, injury, or other third-party claims. What’s more, drivers injured while phoning on company time will generally be eligible for Workers Compensation.
The first step is to create and implement a cell-phone use policy for employees driving company vehicles. Although this won’t protect you completely from legal responsibility, it demonstrates your forethought and responsibility.
This plan should include guidelines for:
- Training. Provide instruction manuals so employees know the features of their phones.
- Safety. Remind employees not to dial or talk when driving conditions are hazardous, keep conversations short, tell the other person that the employee is calling while driving, and turn off phones whenever they pump gas or use jumper cables.
- Making calls. Discourage cell-phone use behind the wheel and require drivers to pull over and stop when dialing.
- Voice mail/caller ID. Make sure drivers’ phones have these features so they can screen calls behind the wheel.
- Accident/injury reports. Require employees to report any accidents or injuries resulting from cell-phone use while driving.
- Discipline. Punish workers who violate these rules or local or state laws about using cell phones behind the wheel.
We’d be happy to help you develop a comprehensive policy for drivers’ use of cell phones. Just give us a call.
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Most states allow company owners and executives to opt out of (or not opt in to) Workers Compensation insurance. But did you know that if you choose this option your Health insurance policy might well not pick up work-related medical claims?
If you carry Health coverage through your company Group plan, you can usually arrange to be covered for work-related injuries under this policy – which then becomes “24-hour” coverage for you. However, many small business owners and managers are insured under the Health Plan of their spouse or parents – which almost always exclude work-related injuries.
Let’s say that you exempt yourself from Workers Compensation and have coverage under your spouse’s Health insurance – and you suffer a serious injury in a work-related, at-fault auto accident. Once you have exhausted the Medical Payments coverage under the company’s Commercial Auto policy, the chances are that you’ll have to pick up the tab for the rest of your medical bills. You might even have to choose between limiting your treatment options or going bankrupt (unpaid medical bills are the nation’s leading cause of bankruptcy).
Even if you have “24-hour” insurance under your own Health policy, this coverage will not reimburse you for income lost during your convalescence.
So, what’s the solution? You might consider buying a Disability income policy – or decide to cover yourself under Workers Compensation, after all.
As always, our agency stands ready to offer our professional advice. Just give us a call.
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We are the land of the free,
we are the home of the brave.
Let’s pay tribute to our brave American Heroes on this special day and forever.
Happy Independence Day!
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4th of July fireworks, parades and cookouts are an excuse for you to relax with family and friends. As you plan your celebration this year, take several steps to ensure safety for everyone involved in celebrating the United States’ birthday.
Use Fireworks Safely
Public fireworks displays are the safest way to enjoy the beautiful colors and terrific booms of this July 4th tradition, especially when you maintain a distance of at least 500 feet between you and the show. Firework displays at home can be fun though too. If you go that route, take these precautions.
- Follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Never allow children to play with the fireworks.
- Stock a fire extinguisher or water supply nearby.
- Wear eye protection when lighting fireworks.
- Remove flammable materials from the area.
- Never point fireworks toward people, animals, vehicles or structures.
- Properly dispose of duds rather than trying to relight them.
Take Precautions While Grilling
Burgers, hot dogs, fruit and pizza taste delicious when they’re grilled. Grab your favorite side dishes and follow a few precautions that ensure you and your guests grill safely.
- Always supervise the grill when it’s in use.
- Never grill indoors or in a fully enclosed area such as a garage or tent.
- Use lighter fluid sparingly and never after the coals are ignited.
- Keep children and pets away from the hot grill.
- Remove flammable objects, including trees, from near the grill.
- Use long-handled tools to handle food.
Stay Safe on the Beach
Swimming is a fun summer activity, and it’s good exercise. At the beach, lake, public pool or backyard pool, stay safe with these tips.
- Swim only in designated areas.
- Obey the lifeguard and all posted signs.
- Get out of the water during a storm or if you hear thunder or see lightening.
- Require children to wear life jackets.
- Don’t dive into shallow water.
Wear Sun Bathing Protection
Picnics are part of many July 4th celebrations. You should also take these protective measures.
- Wear sunscreen that’s at least 15 SPF.
- Remember to apply sunscreen to your ears, hair part and the tops of your feet.
- Avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the UV rays are strongest.
- Reapply sunscreen every two to three hours or more frequently if you’re sweating.
- Drink plenty of water even if you’re not thirsty.
- Wear a hat, sunglasses and long sleeves if you have to be in direct sunlight.
- Watch for signs of heat stroke, including hot, red skin, shallow breathing and rapid, weak pulse.
Your July 4th celebration will be safe when you take these steps. For more advice, talk to your health insurance agent. He or she stands ready to help you have the best birthday party ever.
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Voluntary Vision and Dental insurance is becoming increasingly popular among mid-sized companies as a way to bolster their employee benefits programs.
Since passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, benefit providers have been adding Vision and Dental care, giving mid-market companies a variety of choices among competitively priced plans that can help attract and retain quality workers. “We continue to see that benefits like these are good for driving employee loyalty and job satisfaction,” says Alan Hirschberg, vice president of dental and vision products for MetLife Inc.
Sales of Voluntary benefits keep growing: a survey last by industry association LIMRA International, Inc. showed that Vision coverage increased 75% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2012, while Dental care rose 1%.
To help curb costs, mid-sized businesses often ask employees to pick up at least 30% of premiums for these plans. Most workers are fine with this because the premiums are relatively inexpensive.
In addition to supplementing Group Health insurance, Vision and Dental plans cover tests and procedures that can reduce employers’ health care costs down the road. For example, eye and dental exams can be crucial in early detection and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
When it comes to Voluntary benefits, one size does not fit all. For instance, highly compensated employees might want a Dental plan that covers adult orthodontics, while lower-wage workers might prefer coverage for cleaning, fillings and other basic care. Companies can also offer multiple plans, allowing workers to select the premiums and coverage they prefer.
We’d be happy to work with you in tailoring cost-effective, comprehensive voluntary Vision and Dental plans that can benefit your business – and your employees.
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Nearly one of four people aged 64 to 75 are still at work – and the number is skyrocketing, with more Baby Boomers who reach retirement age staying in the workplace. The good news: Older workers have a lower injury rate. The bad news: Their injuries tend to be more serious and require more time away from work.
Senior workers have specific safety issues. Their retention is often shorter, they’re more easily distracted, have slower reaction time, declining vision and hearing, and a poorer sense of balance. These physical limitations lead to specific types of injuries for older workers, ranging from falls to accumulated injuries after years of doing the same task What’s more, they sometimes deny their deteriorating abilities, which can lead to them to trying to work past their new limits.
Indicators that older workers might need accommodations can be physical (fatigue or tripping), psychological/emotional (loss of patience or irritability), numbers and patterns of sick days, or more frequent minor injuries or near misses.
You can help protect your senior workers by:
- finding ways for them to work smarter, not harder
- decreasing activities that require exertion, such as working in heat or cold or climbing ladders
- adjusting work areas with better lighting, reduced noise, fewer obstacles, and less need to bend or stoop
- redefining standards of productivity
- learning the limitations of older workers, perhaps by conducting annual hearing or vision tests
Make sure that safety culture becomes an institutional value for all employees. For example, when on-the-job feedback indicates that an older worker is having trouble, don’t fire the person. This will discourage honest input from employees who might feel responsible for their co-worker’s loss of employment.
For more information on making your workplace safer for older employees, feel free to get in touch with us.
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