As the economy begins to grow again, businesses will start to add workers to their payrolls. This is good news for those workers and for the economy, but statistics show that the first year on a new job is also very risky to the workers’ health. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 41% of work-related injuries occur each year to workers who have been on the job for less than a year. On top of that, younger employees get hurt on the job more often than do their older colleagues. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study showed that workers under age 24 are twice as likely as older workers to have non-fatal workplace accidents. In addition to the pain and suffering these workers endure and the disruption to their lives, employers face increased Workers Compensation costs. Therefore, preventing new employees’ accidents should be a top priority for all employers. There are several things employers can do toward that end.
Review and update job descriptions. If management has not compared job descriptions to the actual work being done recently, this is the time to do it. Work tasks are changing constantly as new tasks take priority, old tasks become less important, and technology changes how workers perform current tasks. Without a clear understanding of how employees are performing their work (or, more importantly, how they should be performing it,) managers will be unable to train new employees effectively or to determine why they are getting hurt and how to keep Workers Compensation claims down.
Conduct training programs that require the employee’s active participation. When people learn how to drive, they do not just watch a video or listen to a lecture about which pedal is the brake and which is the accelerator. They get behind the wheel and actually drive. Safe job performance works the same way. An employee will retain the knowledge far better if he watches a demonstration and then performs the tasks in a safe, controlled environment.
Closely supervise new employees. Interactive training alone will not guarantee safe work performance and help to keep Workers Compensation claims low. Supervisors should pay close attention to new workers during their first days and weeks on the job to make sure that they are using the knowledge gained during training and not falling into bad habits. Pointing out unsafe practices and correcting them quickly should instill good habits and make working safely an automatic part of the employee’s routine. Ideally, the employee should need less supervision the longer he is on the job without injuring himself or others.
Every day in business, competition becomes more fierce; only high-value, low-cost providers of products and services can thrive. A company gains an edge by attracting and retaining excellent workers and by holding down variable costs. Preventing workplace injuries does both. By making the effort to keep all employees, especially new employees, safe, the company will develop a reputation as a good place to work and reduce Workers Compensation costs, adding dollars to the bottom line. Businesses should view workplace injuries as a preventable expense that they do not have to accept.
Read more
Your eyes are constantly at risk on the jobsite — whether you work in a manufacturing plant, a lab, or a construction site. Some studies show that about 2,000 eye injuries take place each and every day and Workers Compensation claims skyrocket. Sadly, 10% to 20% of these eye injuries result in temporary or permanent vision loss.
Perhaps even more eye-opening is this statistic: Three out five people who suffer from eye injuries were not wearing eye protection when the accident occurred. If you want to shield your eyes from harm on the worksite, read on to learn more about jobsite eye injuries and how to prevent them with the proper protective eye wear.
The Usual Suspects: Common Causes of Eye Injuries
Although there are countless causes for jobsite eye injuries, some of the most common offenders are:
- Flying objects: About 70% of jobsite eye injuries are caused by flying debris or falling objects, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey.
- Chemicals: Many injuries are the result of eyes coming into contact with dangerous chemicals.
- Negligence: Poor maintenance, substandard safety habits, the misuse of tools, and improper eye protection result in a great deal of eye injuries.
Eye Protection 101
It is extremely important to choose the right eye protection for your specific job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that employers provide workers with suitable eye protection. Some workers might need to use a different type of eye protection from day to day or even hour to hour as their duties change. Here are the different types of eye protection available to workers:
- Goggles: If you work around a lot of liquid pesticides, toxic chemicals and/or dust, goggles might be your best option. They provide better protection against splashes and dust than safety glasses. Make sure that the goggles fit tightly against your face for the ultimate protection. This will reduce Workers Compensation claims.
- Glass eye protection: Not only are glass lenses less likely to scratch, but they can withstand chemical exposure as well as protection from flying objects. Additionally, if you have vision problems, you can get prescription lenses.
- Plastic and polycarbonate eye protection: These eye protection products are generally lightweight and protect well against welding splatter. Although they are less likely to fog up, plastic and polycarbonate products are not very scratch resistant and do not accommodate prescriptions.
- Shielded safety glasses: If you job requires safety glasses, make sure to choose shielded safety glasses. Shields will offer your eyes more protection from flying debris as well as chemicals suspended in the air.
- Full face shields: If you work in an environment where you could be exposed to an airborne substance, you should wear a full face shield. However, a face shield alone is not enough to protect your eyes — wear approved safety glasses beneath the shield.
For more information on different ways to keep Workers Compensation claims down, visit our website today!
Read more
Insurance deductibles are a common feature for property coverages such as Comprehensive and Collision coverage on an auto, or coverage on a building or personal property. They are less common for coverages applying to bodily injuries. However, some employers are finding that Workers Compensation deductibles make financial sense for their organizations. The options vary from state to state and among insurance companies; before deciding whether to accept a deductible program, a business should learn the alternatives and the consequences of each.
Small deductibles are those ranging from $100 to $10,000 or more, depending on the particular state’s laws. They might apply to medical benefits, indemnity benefits (which compensate an injured worker for lost wages), or both, again depending on the laws of the state. For example, Colorado law permits small deductibles of $500 to $5,000 applied to both types of claims, while Hawaii allows $100 to $10,000 applied only to medical benefits. Some states, such as Hawaii, require insurance companies to offer small deductibles, some require them to offer deductibles upon the employer’s request (Pennsylvania), and others require an offer only if the insurance company determines that the employer can handle it financially (Colorado). The employer receives a small premium discount. Depending on state law, insurance companies may report losses to rating bureaus on a “gross” basis (not reduced by the deductible) or on a “net” basis (reduced by the deductible). The amount reported impacts the employer’s experience modification.
Some insurance companies offer “medium” deductibles, which range from $10,000 to $75,000. No states require the companies to offer these plans; employers who want them must negotiate them with the companies.
Deductible plans can improve employers’ cash flow, reduce their insurance premiums, provide increased tax deductions, and give them more control over their Workers Compensation costs. However, they are appropriate only for employers that can afford the potentially large cash reserves required. Any employer contemplating a deductible plan should implement an effective workplace safety program — and consult with our professional insurance agents who can identify and explain the alternatives.
For more information about workers compensation in your area, contact us today!
Read more
Professional athletes are generally covered under workers’ compensation and are entitled to team benefits in many cases that are an offset against any workers’ compensation payments. There are some statutory and case law exceptions to the general rule, and the laws vary by the state and the sport involved.
Jockeys and professional boxers are the classic examples of athletes with workers compensation coverage issues in many cases. The jockey or professional boxer may be considered an independent contractor with no employer to secure their workers’ compensation benefits.
Professional football players (and baseball players) in a majority of states are covered by workers compensation laws. The National Football League (NFL) players have experienced many injuries not only during their careers but also on retirement. NFL 1990 stats show that more than one-third of the 645 players with careers between 1940 and 1986 retired with injuries. Two out of three retired NFL players live with permanent injury.
The following is a summary of significant laws in several states that address football players. Many states, however, do not have specific provisions for professional football (or baseball) players.
Visit our website today for more information on Workers Compensation information!
Read more
Every employer should be prepared to conduct their own on the spot workplace injury investigation. In cases of serious injury, or injuries of a questionable nature, early intervention by the employer is essential. By being proactive, an employer can more readily reduce their liability to exposure by preventing a situation from spiraling out of control rather than engaging in a costly court action.
The main reasons to investigate are:
- This is your only opportunity to conduct your own discovery into the cause or legitimacy of the injury while the incident is fresh.
- Allows you to obtain the witness versions of the incident before details are forgotten, in some instances to prevent possible deception or collusion.
- Provides the best opportunity to understand the underlying cause of the incident and to make an informed management decision.
Understanding How to Conduct an Investigation
Every investigation is really nothing more than a step-by-step logical process. You are best served to have specific individuals designated to perform the investigation.
Your purpose as an investigator will be to determine whether the alleged workplace injury had a casual connection with the worker’s employment. You want to know whether the worker was exposed to a particular danger or possibly some other risk peculiar to the Worker’s Compensation actions at the time of the alleged injury.
Read more
Professional athletes are generally covered under workers’ compensation and are entitled to team benefits in many cases that are an offset against any workers’ compensation payments. There are some statutory and case law exceptions to the general rule, and the laws vary by the state and the sport involved.
Jockeys and professional boxers are the classic examples of athletes with workers’ compensation coverage issues in many cases. The jockey or professional boxer may be considered an independent contractor with no employer to secure their workers’ compensation benefits.
Professional football players (and baseball players) in a majority of states are covered by workers’ comp laws. The National Football League (NFL) players have experienced many injuries not only during their careers but also on retirement. NFL 1990 stats show that more than one-third of the 645 players with careers between 1940 and 1986 retired with injuries. Two out of three retired NFL players live with permanent injury.
For more information on Workers Compensation, please visit our website
Read more
