R&R Insurance Blog

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In June 2011, OSHA implemented their new residential fall protection rules. This short video explains a common sense approach to comply with these new rules. A copy of the new rules can be obtained by visiting www.OSHA.gov. This video addresses how these new rules affect the obligations of the general contractor. These rules apply to any tradesmen that work more than six feet off the ground or a lower level.

View OSHA's directive.

The new rules require fall protection for any employee working on the roof. The historical problem with this approach is that residential structures do not have an obvious attachment point for a harness. Commercial structures usually have flat roofs so a guardrail system can be used in that scenario. The pitched roofs on residential structures, with their gable ends, make the guardrail solution impractical.

By using the DBI Sala U-Bolt Roof Anchor, a personal fall arrest system can be easily attached to a pitched roof. The homebuilder supplies this device.

The framing contractor attaches the anchor to a roof truss while the truss is on the ground.

The roof anchor is easily incorporated into a contractor's use while on the roof.

An additional benefit to the homeowner is that the anchor is a permanent installation. It's there for the homeowner to use for future maintenance needs.

Wisconsin businesses, for more information on OSHA compliance issues contact knowledgebroker Paul Seitz 262-953-7245.

Allegations of Billing Fraud- In the form a Medicare, medicaid or commercial audit, hospitals are under constant threat of investigations that could lead to costly legal expenses as well as enormous fines and penalties. Government agencies, private consulting firms, patients and employees are targeting the healthcare industry for allegations of fraud.

FFActs plus expands coverage beyond governmental audits and provides defense costs for commercial payor investigations for billing fraud. The program will continue to cover fines and penalties and related defense costs for government audits (Medicare/Medicaid).

For more information please contact a knowledgebroker.

LOST TIME

A “Lost time” claim is one where the WC carrier made a payment to the employee for either wage loss or permanent disability.

WAITING PERIOD

Wisconsin WC statute has a 3 day waiting period before an employee will be paid wage loss benefits by the carrier and the date of injury is not included. This waiting period only applies within 7 calendar days from the first time the employee missed work due to the injury. If the disability occurs beyond 7 days the waiting period is waived.

“It doesn’t help to close the door after the horse is out of the barn”.

Have you heard the expression? There is a parallel in Workers’ Compensation. Our Takeaway #8 discussed the importance of prompt reporting of injuries.

Your opportunity to remain in control of the situation is at the moment of reporting. This is when you explain your process for handling the workers compensation claim.

Employers have one chance to explain the process. If that is missed, then the employee is in control.

For more information please contact the knowledgebrokers.

Nine out of ten WC claims that go sour were reported late.

For prompt reporting to be effective, your goal should be to have 90% of all of your incidents reported before the end of the shift. Notice we say “all incidents.” We did not say all claims. An incident may not result in a claim for medical treatment or disability.

For more information please contact the knowledgebrokers.

What Gets Measured Gets Done!

Accountability has to start at the top and move down.

• Up to whose expectations do employees perform?
• Has the leader’s role in safe behavior been defined?
• Do those leaders understand their role?
• Do you know what is being measured or what should be measured?

Accountability is the backbone of all successful safety programs

What must be in place (the backbone) to hold someone accountable?

For example:

A curfew for your kids

• Do you want a curfew (Decision)
• Set a time (Policy)
• Tell them frequently (Communication)
• Explain why (Relation to outcome)
• Stay awake until they are home (Measure it)
• Accountability (Reward/Consequence)

For more information contact the knowledgebrokers

WC Claim Reserves Cost You Money!

What is the balance in the WC claim "check book" when your loss history is reported to the Rating Bureau?

The entire cost of a claim, including the unspent reserves will impact your experience modification. It is critical that these reserves be reviewed prior to the data being reported to the WC Rating Bureau.

When is the data reported?

What is a claim reserve?

To find the answers to these questions and more information please contact a knowledgebroker.

THE FIRST CONVERSATION

Have you heard the expression "It doesn’t help to close the door after the horse is out of the barn?" There is a parallel in Workers’ Compensation. Take Away #8 discussed prompt reporting of injuries. When the injured worker does report it is critical that someone explain the process.

Employers have one chance to explain the process. If that is missed, then the employee is in control.

R&R provides tools to our clients to assure the First Conversation takes place.

TOOLS

The First Conversation is simple in content but needs structure in place to make it happen.

R&R has developed several tools to assist clients.

1. It starts with policy development. R&R has sample policy language.

2. Training of key personnel on the policy and their role in implementing the policy

3. Tools such as WC Claim Kits and wallet cards the either explain the process or prompt a conversation about the process.

4. Measurement via claim reviews to verify if the process is working.

Contact the knowledgebrokers for more information

Get the Most Bang for Your Buck!

There are most likely dozens of areas you could focus your efforts on regarding creating a safer work environment. We suggest picking those items that can actually make a difference on your bottom line.

Pick the items that have caused an injury.

Use your OSHA logs, loss runs and first aide logs to determine where your high impact item concentration should be. Logic would say that if an unsafe act has caused an injury, changing or fixing that specific behavior would have a huge impact.

Accident Investigation is key to understanding and changing the behavior.

Accident investigation done properly has to impact your injuries because it’s done following an injury.

For more information contact the knowledgebrokers.