by David Schek | Jun 8, 2017 | News
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is promoting safety in the month of June. June 12-18 is Safe+Sound Week, the goal being to encourage industries of all stripes to promote the importance of work safety. OSHA points out that a successful safety program has three core elements:
- Strong management leadership in establishing and managing a safety program. It must come from the top.
- A culture of safety that encourages workers to report safety issues and suggest safety improvements. Workers must feel comfortable about reporting safety hazards without fear of retaliation
- A “find and fix” approach that calls upon both workers and employers to routinely check workplaces for safety hazards before an accident or illness occurs.
Next week’s national focus is a good opportunity for employers, including staffing firms, to go over their injury illness and prevention programs to make sure they’re properly addressing all safety problems and encouraging to employees speak up.
A strong safety program means a safer workplace and fewer accidents. Fewer accidents means lower workers’ comp costs. This is also a good time to review your workers’ comp coverage. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | Jun 1, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
In our last blog we discussed the spike in drug use in workplace, including the use of opioids. Starting in August, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation will phase in prescribing guidelines for opioids for work injuries.
These guidelines will only apply to federal workers, but could possibly set a standard for states or even employers, if feasible. The federal standards include limits on how long an opioid can be prescribed and documentation from a physician for review by a claim administrator, if that limit must be exceeded. The guidelines also attempt to get doctors to consider tapering doses and consider whether an opioid is even necessary.
Opioid use has been connected to slower return to work rates, can cause impairment, and lead to harder drugs. Employers, including, staffing firms, to the extent they are able, should consider setting guidelines for opioid use. Fewer opioid prescriptions will lower work comp costs and get workers back to work faster. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | May 25, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
The good news from a recent study is that opioid use in the workplace is actually going down. Unfortunately, employees continue to use marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine at alarming rates.
Employees testing positive for marijuana climbed from 2.4% in 2015 to 2.6% in 2016. Cocaine saw a jump of 12% in 2016 reaching a seven year high of 0.28% of the population up from 0.25% in 2015. Meth increased more than 8% in the workforce in 2016. Even though opioids on the decline, they are still being prescribed in record numbers and can lead to harder drugs.
This study was based on urine and saliva testing mainly. Even in states where marijuana is legal, it is still permissible for employees to test. Staffing firms should have strict drug testing policies in place, and be on the lookout for impairment during work hours.
If these trends continue, employers can expect to see major performance and safety issues, which in turn lead to workers’ comp injuries and higher worker’ comp premiums. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | May 18, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
If states serve as laboratories for future federal policies, South Carolina one that is blazing the trail for workers’ comp coverage for the gig economy. Currently, Uber and Lyft ride-sharing services don’t provide mandatory workers’ compensation for drivers injured on the job.
Uber in South Carolina-one of eight states–will start offering workers’ comp type insurance in the form of a state personal injury policy. It will be optional for drivers who will pay -3.75 cents/mile for up to $1 million of coverage. Passengers will pick up the tab as Uber will jack up fees in the state.
The gig economy is transforming the temporary staffing landscape, but one of the benefits to employers and consumers is the absence of burdensome regulations, including workers’ comp.
It remains to be seen whether this will catch on in all markets and possibly lead to more stringent workers’ comp requirements. If that becomes the case, then Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
by David Schek | May 11, 2017 | Workers Comp, Workers' Compensation Insurance
If you think letting your employees choose their workers’ comp providers versus a system where the employer controls provider choice makes a significant difference in costs, think again. According to research done by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute, workers’ comp indemnity and medical costs differed very little in states with employee provider choice and employer provider choice.
WCRI notes that the type of injury has an impact. Namely, costs increased when employees had control over provider choice for expensive back injuries. Back injuries tend to be expensive anyway, so this would likely account for the higher indemnity costs.
In conclusion, this suggests that staffing firms are not likely to experience any workers’ comp savings if they restrict worker provider choice.
It makes more sense for employers to lower costs by finding ways to improve safety and prevent these expensive injuries occurring. In the event of an injury, employers should carefully monitor claims and medical treatment. Work Comp Staffing Solutions has many workers’ comp and general insurance solutions to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.
Visit our web site at www.StaffingCompSolutions.com, call us at 202-302-1212, or email us at david@StaffingCompSolutions.com for more information about all our staffing and workers’ comp offerings.
Sincerely
David Schek
President
StaffingCompSolutions.com
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