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R&R Insurance Blog

R&R's Hottest Headlines of 2016

Posted by the knowledge brokers

Its hard to believe that 2016 has come and gone. Wnew year.jpgith another year in the books, we took a look back at the top 5 most popular R&R articles of last year.

We hope you have a happy, healthy new year and look forward to serving you throughout 2017!

Follow the links below to view these articles.

1) Preparing for Changes to the Wisconsin Workers Compensation Act

2) Update on Wisconsin Cell Phone Laws While Driving 

3) Workers Compensation Audit Noncompliance Charge | Effective January 1, 2017

4) OSHA | New Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements

5) Criminal Hackers Targeting Payroll Data

Topics: OSHA, Work Comp, Cell Phone Usage and Driving, blog, Cyber Crime

Establishing and Implementing a Safety & Health Program

Posted by Tricia Dretzka-Kaye

group-of-professionals.jpgAccording to OSHA, establishing a safety and health program in your workplace is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity and turnover.

While beneficial, implementing these programs can be a daunting task. OSHA recommends the following steps to simplify the process and create structure for your program.

Getting Started:

  1. Set safety and health as a top priority
  2. Lead by example
  3. Implement a reporting system
  4. Provide training
  5. Conduct inspections
  6. Collect hazard control ideas
  7. Implement hazard controls
  8. Address emergencies
  9. Seek input on workplace changes
  10. Make improvements

Core Elements Needed:

  1. Management leadership
    • Creates a culture of safety, facilitates trust, and reinforces the core elements
  2. Worker Participation
    • Results in improved design, implementation and evaluation
  3. Hazard Identification and assessment
    • Identifies and documents all known suspected hazards
  4. Hazard Prevention and control
    • Prevents injuries using hierarchy of controls: engineering, work practices, administrative, PPE
  5. Education and Training
    • Ensures all workers understand safe work practices, are familiar with hazards and know how to participate.
  6. Program Evaluation and Improvement
    • Assesses program effectiveness and modifications as needed.
  7. Multiemployer worksites: Communication and coordination for host employers, contractors and staffing agencies.
    • Ensures communication and coordination to protect all workers onsite.

Preventing workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths as well as the suffering and financial hardship these events can cause for workers, families and the employers is incredibly valuable. Businesses with Safety and Health programs typically see an improvement in product, process and service quality, improved workplace morale and employee recruiting and retention, and a more favorable image and reputation among the community.

For more information on the development or improvement of your Safety and Health program, contact a Knowledge Broker at R&R Insurance.

Information provided by www.osha.gov/shpguidelines.

Topics: Safety Programs, OSHA, Safety Program, Health Program, Health and Safety

Top OSHA Citations for 2016

Posted by Maureen Joy

OSHAEvery October OSHA releases a preliminary list of most frequently cited safety and health violations for the fiscal year.  From 32,000 workplace inspections, topping the list for 2016 top hazards include lack of adequate fall protection, unsafe scaffolds, hazard communications problems, and lack of machine guarding.

According to OSHA, "one remarkable thing about the list is that it rarely changes.  Year after year our inspectors see thousands of the same on-the-job hazards."

From the OSHA website, consider this list a starting point for workplace safety:

  1. Fall protection
  2. Hazard communication
  3. Scaffolds
  4. Respiratory protection
  5. Lockout/tagout
  6. Powered industrial trucks
  7. Ladders
  8. Machine guarding
  9. Electrical wiring
  10. Electrical, general requirements

While the list is not all encompassing, employers are urged to go beyond minimal requirements to create a safe working environment.  A culture of safety has been shown to reduce costs, raise productivity, and improve morale.

Related content:

OSHA Webinar Series
OSHA Inspection Guide
OSHA - New Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements

Topics: OSHA, Construction

OSHA | New Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements

Posted by John Brengosz

OSHA-Recordkeeping.jpgUpdated June 29, 2017: OSHA Delays Electronic Recordkeeping Deadline to December 1, 2017

 

Mandatory reporting of OSHA is just around the corner! Be sure you are completing your OSHA 300 log accurately because you will very likely be sending the information to OSHA in 2017.

OSHA has updated the rules that pertain to the reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses. The new rule requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data beginning in 2017. The goal is to encourage employers to better identify hazards, address safety issues, and prevent future injuries and illnesses.

New Requirements:

  • Employers with 20-249 employees in high-hazard industries must electronically submit their OSHA 300A form for the year 2016. – Effective December 1, 2017 (originally July 1, 2017)
    • These same employers must electronically submit their OSHA 300A information for 2017 by July 1, 2018. Beginning in 2019, these employers must submit their OSHA 300A information (for 2018) by March 2, 2019.
    • These same employers must electronically submit their OSHA 300A, OSHA 300 and 301 forms. – Effective July 1, 2018.
    • Beginning in 2019, these employers must submit OSHA information (for 2018) by March 2, 2019.
  • Employers with 250 or more employees in industries covered by the record-keeping regulation must electronically submit their OSHA 300A form for the year 2016. – Effective December 1, 2017 (originally July 1, 2017)

 

Submission Year

 Establishments with 250 or More Employees

 Establishments with 20-249 Employees

 Submission Deadline

 2016

 Form 300A

 Form 300A

December 1, 2017

 2017

 Forms 300A, 300, 301

 Form 300A

 July 1, 2018

2018

Forms 300A, 300, 301

Form 300A

March 2, 2019

 

In addition to these upcoming requirements, the information submitted will also be posted publically on the OSHA website. For more information about the new OSHA recordkeeping requirements, contact a Knowledge Broker or register for our upcoming webinar.

Topics: OSHA, osha 300 log recordkeeping, OSHA requirements, OSHA 300 webinar, OSHA 300 log, OSHA recordkeeping, recordkeeping requirements

OSHA Penalties to Increase as of August 2016

Posted by Scott Shaver

OSHA.jpgIn 2015, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to advance the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. That law directed agencies to adjust their penalties for inflation each year using a much more straightforward method than previously available, and required agencies to publish “catch up” rules this summer to make up for lost time since the last adjustments.

As a result, the U.S. Department of Labor announced recently an interim final rule to adjust its OSHA penalties for inflation based on the last time each penalty was increased.

So what does that mean to you? OSHA’s maximum penalties, which have not been raised since 1990, will increase by 78 percent. The top penalty for serious violations will rise from $7,000 to $12,471 and the maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $70,000 to $124,709.

Click here to download a complete list of the OSHA penalty increase.

Topics: OSHA, OSHA fines

Update: OSHA Placing Emphasis on Healthcare Inspections

Posted by Maureen Joy

OSHAOSHA recently announced they will be expanding their enforcement resources in hospitals and nursing homes. Targeting the most common causes of workplace injury and illness in the healthcare industry, OSHA will primarily focus on musculoskeletal disorders related to:

  • Patient handling
  • Bloodborne pathogen
  • Workplace violence
  • Tuberculosis
  • Slips, trips and falls

 

OSHA states that in 2013, US Hospitals recorded nearly 58,000 work-related injuries and illnesses – amounting to 6.4 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time employees. These numbers are almost two times as high as the overall rate for private industry.

How Can You Prepare?

Don’t wait for OSHA. At R&R, we highly recommend taking action now to develop a plan and prepare for a potential inspection. To better prepare your organization and your administrators, take time to answer the questions below and determine an execution plan for each of the key areas. We have also provided links below to audit materials centered on these key topics.

 

OSHA Healthcare Inspection Audit Image

 

For audit materials on any of the topics below, or to learn how your organization can better prepare for an inspection, contact safety@rrins.com.

  • Patient Handling
  • Infection Control
  • Exposure Control
  • Workplace Violence
  • Tuberculosis
  • Slips, Trips and Falls

Topics: OSHA, Healthcare, Business Insurance

Understanding the Difference Between Experience Mod and DART Rate

Posted by Maureen Joy

Fully understanding your organization’s Work Comp Experience Mod and OSHA DART Rate will not only help you achieve your desired outcomes for employee safety, but will also give you a point of reference for benchmarking against others in your industry. In addition, knowing your DART rate will help you prepare for a potential site visit from OSHA.

 

However, in order to better understand these you two variables, you need to first recognize the difference between the two. The following is a breakdown of their differences:

 

Experience-Mod-vs-DART-Rate-Graphic

 

EXPERIENCE MOD

The Work Comp Experience Mod is a numerical expression of a company's accident and injury record compared with the average for the firm's industry. An organization’s e-mod is calculated using payroll and loss data for the oldest three of the last four years.

 

An experience mod of 1.0 means a company has an average safety record, while an experience mod of 0.80 means a company has a good safety record that merits a 20 percent discount. An experience mod of 1.20 means the firm's accident rate is above the industry norm and raises a company's costs by 20 percent.

 

DART RATE

OSHA’s DART Rate, which is an acronym for Days Away or Restricted Time, is a measure of accident severity. It counts the number of cases in the calendar year in which a company had an employee away from work due to an injury or who was working under restrictions due to a work injury.

 

As you can see from the breakdown above, the common denominator between these two variables is eliminating lost time injuries. R&R Insurance has multiple resources available for helping you understand as well as achieve your desired outcomes for both your Experience Mod and DART Rate. Contact a knowledge broker for additional information.

Topics: OSHA, Workers Compensation, Experience MOD, Business Insurance, DART rate

OSHA: What to Do After You Make the Call

Posted by Maureen Joy

OSHALate last year, we discussed the OSHA reporting changes for 2015. In addition to reporting, it’s also important to consider and plan for potential site visits when OSHA is contacted. The National Safety Council states that “reacting quickly to the incident with a prescribed procedure and actions can demonstrate your company’s commitment to safety. It also ensures the proper information is collected to fulfill an incident investigation’s ultimate purpose – to prevent future injuries.”

According to an article by Ogletree Deakins, employers are reporting more injuries than expected (particularly with regard to hospitalizations) and OSHA does not have the resources to inspect each incident. Instead, most Area Offices are asking employers to do the following:

  • Conduct an incident investigation (Also known as Attachment A, this is a “non-mandatory investigative tool” that employers may complete in lieu of providing an incident investigation report. Employers are instructed to submit the information by a certain date or risk an immediate on-site inspection.)
  • Document findings and send corrective actions to the relevant Area Office
  • Post a copy of the letter where employees can readily review it
  • Fax or email a copy of the signed Certificate of Posting (Also known as Attachment B) to the relevant Area Office

How should employers respond to these communications?

Ogletree Deakins recommends the best course of action is often to respond the same way an employer would respond to an OSHA complaint letter. The employer’s goal should be to show the incident was investigated and corrective measures were implemented. At the same time, the employer does not want OSHA to be interested enough to inspect the worksite. In addition, employers should be aware of potential civil liability issues.

Rather than using Attachment A, you may also consider submitting a letter briefly describing how you investigated the incident, exactly what happened, and what corrective steps were taken (i.e., retraining or fixes to equipment). The letter may be supplemented with the First Report of Injury (if you are in Wisconsin) or the OSHA 301 form and proof of corrective steps. Employers must recognize that OSHA does not provide assurances that it will not cite an employer on the basis of the information provided.

If you have additional questions or concerns, contact your knowledge broker at R&R Insurance!

Topics: Safety, OSHA, Accident Investigation, reporting injuries, prompt reporting

OSHA Reporting | New for 2015

Posted by John Brengosz

OSHA 2015 ReportingWhat is currently required to be reported to OSHA?

  • All work related fatalities
  • Work-related hospitalizations of 3 or more employees

Starting 1-1-2015, what will employees have to report to OSHA?

  • All work-related fatalities (within 8 hours of finding out about them)
  • All work-related inpatient hospitalizations of 1 or more employees
  • All work-related amputations
  • All work-related losses of an eye

Important note on who is covered by this ruling
All employers under OSHA jurisdiction must report the 4 events listed above and this includes even small employers with less than 10 employees. (who are exempt from OSHA record-keeping)

How soon must these be reported?

  • Fatality: within 8 hours of finding out about it or if the death occurs within 30 days of a work-related incident.
  • For inpatient hospitalization, amputation and eye loss, employers must report within 24 hours of learning about it. (employers only have to report an inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye that occurs within 24 hours of a work-related incident.)

How do I report one of these events to OSHA?

  • CALL: Your local OSHA office or use the 24 hour hotline at 1-800-321-6742
  • ELECTRONICALLY: OSHA is working to have this in place soon! (www.osha.gov)

What information do I need to report?

For fatality, inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye, report the following:

  • Company name
  • Location of the incident
  • Time of the incident
  • Type of injury sustained
  • Number of employees who suffered the event
  • Names of the employees involved
  • Contact person and his/her phone number
  • Brief description of the work related incident

Employers DO NOT have to report an event if it:

  • Resulted from a motor vehicle accident on a public street or highway. (it does need to be reported if the event happened in a construction work zone)
  • Occurred on a commercial or public transportation system (airplane, subway, bus, ferry, streetcar, light rail or train)
  • Occurred more than 30 days after the work-related incident if a fatality or more than 24 hours after the work related incident in the case of an inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye.

What about heart attacks?

Employers do have to report an inpatient hospitalization due to a heart attack, if the heart attack resulted from a work-related incident.

2015 OSHA reporting explained: download flow chart

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NOTE: In the same ruling, OSHA has also changed the list of occupations that are now required to complete the OSHA 300 log. It is important to note that employees who had fewer than 10 employees in a calendar year are still exempt from having to complete an OSHA 300 log.

For the new list of industries now required to complete a 300 log as well as additional information can be found at: www.osha.gov/recordkeeping2014.

 

Have additional questions? Contact your knowledgebroker.

Topics: Safety, OSHA, Accident Investigation, OSHA 2015, OSHA requirements, Business Insurance

Electronic Reporting of OSHA 300 Log? Be Careful What You Record!

Posted by John Brengosz

On Nov. 7, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a proposed rule to require certain employers to submit injury and illness reports electronically. The proposed rule does not create additional recordkeeping or reporting duties for employers. Rather, it would dictate how this information must be submitted to OSHA. Summary of OSHA's proposal to require electronic submission of injury and illness reports.

Even though this is only in the proposal stage, you can believe that the information will be used to generate inspections in an attempt to “help”, and will create more targeting of "compliance assistance and enforcement"! The importance of completing the 300 log ACCURATELY will never be more important if/when mandatory submissions start. The main point we stress in our OSHA 300 Log webinars is that most companies are actually over-reporting their injuries on the 300. This was bad to do in the past, but would really be problematic if we get to the point where EVERYBODY is submitting their 300 log to OSHA. (currently not the case)

300 Log webinars:
Gain control over your OSHA 300 Log! Basic questions about the OSHA 300 log will be answered along with tips to keep your recordkeeping compliant and accurate. R&R offers free annual webinars - click here to register.

 


Originally published November 2013; last updated August 2015

Topics: Safety, OSHA, Risk Management, OSHA electronic reporting, 300 Log, Resource Center, osha 300 log recordkeeping, John Brengosz, Business Insurance, control your osha 300 log