The good news is that manufacturers will continue to make use of temporary employees, until it makes economic sense to hire full time. As a result, staffing agencies will face increasing scrutiny from OSHA. You can expect state agencies to follow suit. There have been several recent accounts of temporary workers suffering grievous injuries on the job and having their comp rates sky rocket. One such incident included a temporary employee who had been on the job a mere 12 days when his arm was crushed in a packaging machine at a plastic bottle manufacturer. The result was a permanent disability.
In this case OSHA cited and fined the client employer, but an inspection of the staffing agency did not result in any citations. (But you can bet their work comp rates dramatically increased) You cannot be complacent regarding your obligations to provide qualified personnel or meet all the requirements for workers’ compensation and safety reporting. Back office administration requirements will fall heaviest on smaller firms as the demand for temporary workers increases.
It would be a good time to weigh your coverage options, in terms of who can provide the best service, depending on volume of employees and class codes. A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) may be your best option if your back office needs more experience and lower rates than your current carrier can provide.
Please call us for a FREE workers’ compensation quote at 202-302-1212. Or visit us as www.StaffingCompSolutions.com
Al the best
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com