Occupational Medicine Provider
Why Partner with an Occupational Medicine Provider With a partner Lower costs The employee feels you care Fast service Better communication Less lost work time Stronger follow-up care Fewer OSHA recordable Easier Billing Without a partner Confusion Poor employee experience Billing issues Lose track of the employee Unnecessary recordables Higher costs Longer case duration Less control What to look for in a provider Established injury care programs and processes Focus on outcomes/ Occupational Medicine Expertise. Strong Physician relationships The structured and managed communication process Focus on Patient Experience Questions to ask Provider Are you certified by the NYSWCB? If so, what is your WCB number? What is your philosophy of treating work-related injuries? Do you understand OSHA Recordability? What is the average wait time? What are your hours of operation? How do you communicate with employers? What happens when a referral to a specialist is needed? How many of your doctors are full-time employees? What other services do you provide? Drug testing, BAT, Respirator clearance, etc. Why every business with employees Partner with an Occupational Medicine Provider With a partner, Skyscraper Insurance Risk management dep can set you up it keep your workers comp down as well! http://skyscraperinsurance.com/
Australian wildfire claims top 6,000 at a cost of $300M as fires rage on
After months of continuous burns, Australia’s bushfire crisis took a turn for the worse over the holiday season as hot, dry conditions, strong winds and persistent drought fueled the flames of hundreds of fires throughout the continent. As of January 6, insurers have received 6,000 bushfire-related claims since September, valued to cost nearly $300 million USD ($431 million AUD). Reports estimate about 2,000 homes have been lost, 24 lives have been claimed, and roughly 500 million animals have perished in the fires thus far — and the threat is far from over as forecasters warn the fires could continue to burn for months. Analysts project that payouts from the bushfire crisis could exceed $485 million ($700 million AUD) in the coming months, and if so, would lessen insurer profits and put pressure on future premium rates. Fires push IAG $80M over disaster claims budget IAG, Australia’s largest insurer, reported Friday that claims from the catastrophic bushfire season have surpassed its natural disaster claims budget for 2019. IAG said it has received more than 2,800 fire-related claims since September, totaling an estimated value of $160 million. IAG said it expects to pay out close to $400 million for natural disaster claims from the second half of 2019, which is above the insurer’s allowance for that period of $320 million and is 60% of its annual “perils” budget of $640 million. The roles of climate change Following years of worsening bushfire events and conditions, the early and devastating start to this year’s bushfire season has reignited the climate change debate in Australia, prompting even more questions about the government’s widely criticized climate policies. As the world’s largest coal exporter and one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, Australia has been targeted for its apparent failures to meet its agreement to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% by 2030, as per the Paris Climate Accord — a goal that was first criticized for being too low. Considered champions of Australia’s large coal industry, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his conservative Liberal Party are enemies of environmental groups and climate activists and have received backlash for denying any role of climate change in worsening bushfire conditions or the ongoing bushfire crisis, including from insurance groups. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) recently issued a statement on climate change, insurance affordability and accessibility in which ICA aimed to address concerns that parts of Australia will inevitably become uninsurable or unaffordable due to climate change, and affirmed its support of combating its effects. “It is important that extreme weather projections based on climate change models are agreed upon and understood by all relevant stakeholders before they are used in a way that may unnecessarily scare householders and businesses, disrupt communities and lead to poor decisions and outcomes,” the statement reads. “The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) supports the need for well-coordinated and prudent action on climate change.” The ongoing bushfire crisis has spurred other serious environmental consequences. Experts estimate nearly half a billion animals have been killed in the bushfires this season, including one-third of the total koala population. Scientists have expressed concern that a number of native species could now be considered threatened or endangered, and some might be wiped out entirely. The fires are also estimated to have released 350 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, comprising nearly two-thirds of Australia’s total annual CO² output and totaling an output climate experts warn would require over a century for forests to absorb.
The most notable consumer food and product recalls of 2019
In 2019, it seemed like everywhere you turned there was a new recall warning consumers about a dangerous product or tainted food. December 30, 2019 Recalls have a big impact on what consumers buy, where they shop, and the types of foods they eat. For businesses, a recall event can pack a devastating punch. In 2019, it seemed like everywhere you turned there was a new recall situation warning consumers about a dangerous product they should avoid or tainted food they shouldn’t eat. As the year comes to a close, we’ve put together a shortlist of the top recall events in 2019 in both foods and consumer goods. Food products Spinach. In January, the natural food retailer Whole Foods announced a recall of their Satur Farms’ baby spinach and other related greens due to Salmonella contamination. Beef. The month of October got even scarier for fast-food lovers when the fast-food chain Taco Bell recalled ground beef from many of its locations due to metal shavings found in the meat. Chicken recall #1. At the start of the summer grilling season, the USDA announced a recall of Perdue Foods chicken due to bone material found inside many of the company’s ready-to-eat chicken products. Chicken recall #2. Kicking off the holiday season, Tip Top Poultry also experienced a poultry-related recall of their ready-to-eat chicken products from a variety of store shelves. Hummus. In July, hummus fans had to forego the chickpea delight when the U.S. Food & Drug Administration recalled 10 Pita Pal hummus brands over concerns about listeria, a bacteria that can live in soil, water, dust, animal waste and other substances. Cookie dough. In November, refrigerated cookie dough connoisseurs had to put their cravings on hold when Nestle’ recalled many of its ready-to-bake cookie dough products after rubber was found in some items. Apples. In October, the fall apple season took a hit when more than 2,000 cases of apples were recalled in eight states due to a listeria outbreak. Infant ibuprofen. Tris Pharma voluntarily recalled three of its Infant Ibuprofen brands when it was discovered that the product contained higher than normal concentrations of Ibuprofen. Hotdogs. Just days before the Memorial Day holiday, an estimated 64,000 skinless beef hotdogs were recalled due to metal fragments found in the meat. Consumer goods other than food Target slap bracelets. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 22,500 slap bracelets from Target due to a laceration risk. Fisher-Price Rock n’ Play Sleeper. In April, Fisher-Price recalled its inclining infant sleeper due to safety issues. This recall event was soon followed by a warning issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics advising parents against the use of any infant inclined sleep product. Black and Decker hammers. In November, Stanley Black & Decker of Towson, Md., recalled nearly 211,000 Stanley brand 16-oz. wooden handle nailing hammers due to handle grips coming loose. Ford pickup tailgates. Earlier in November, Ford Motor Co. recalled nearly 262,000 of its heavy-duty pickup trucks in the U.S. and Canada due to tailgates opening unexpectedly. Takata airbags. Faulty Takata airbags are the latest recall event of 2019, affecting tens of millions of vehicles. But that’s not all. The newly discovered defect has recently prompted the recall of yet another 1.4 million vehicles, making it the largest auto recall in history.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION RECORDKEEPING
Businesses are required to keep two types of workers’ compensation (WC) records. The first is required by approved State Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) agencies and federal OSHA. The second is required by your WC insurance carrier. The details of both records are explained below. OSHA Recordkeeping, 29 CFR 1904 State and federal OSHA require the following instances be entered on the OSHA 300 Log: Any injury or illness that involves treatment greater than first aid Any injury or illness that results in lost time Any injury or illness that requires modified duty/work restrictions Sharps injuries or blood and body fluid exposure (maintained in a confidential manner) Any injury or illness that results in permanent impairment Death from a work-related cause (you must also notify OSHA via phone in this instance) NOTE: Other illnesses and injuries should not be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log. OSHA now requires records to be submitted electronically, but some businesses are exempt from this requirement. Check OSHA.gov/Recordkeeping to determine the requirement for your business. At the end of each calendar year, OSHA requires the accident and injury log to be summarized and posted in a central location within the workplace using OSHA form 300A. The posted summary must remain in place from February through April. Insurance RecordkeepingInsurance carriers generally require all events, including near misses, be reported to them. This ensures OSHA’s timeline for reporting injuries and illnesses is met. Late reporting can jeopardize an employee’s WC benefits. Furthermore, it can cast a shadow of doubt on a claim’s work-relatedness. If a claim involving only first aid is reported to the insurance carrier at the time of injury, but later worsens and requires treatment, the original date of the report of injury is used and ensures timely reporting. Be Mindful About Your Records It is very important to understand the difference in these reporting requirements. Recording every injury and near miss—even those that are not recordable under the law—on the OSHA 300 Log contributes to a higher injury rate. High injury rates prompt OSHA inspections, and inspections can result in fines.
How The Cloud Is Transforming The Insurance Sector
The late American inventor and businessman Charles Kettering once said, “If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong.” Innovation is the driving force for economic growth across many different industries. The insurance sector in particular has much to gain from the adoption of new technologies and processes. As technology has advanced over the last decade, the infrastructure of the internet has strengthened. As a result, software as a service (SaaS) companies have been able to offer off-premises applications and business solutions for agencies of all sizes. These cloud-based systems have a lot to offer the insurance industry, which is under constant pressure to offer excellence in service, manage an ever-growing array of financial information, and meet evolving industry standards. Here are a few ways recent technology innovations are impacting insurance brokers at every level of the business. Managing Risks Insurance agencies must comply with constantly changing regulatory standards, from the biggest agencies to individual brokers. This constant vigilance poses a significant challenge to resources. Many brokers and agencies turn to cloud-based risk management solutions to help clients manage their own risk and decrease the potential for claims, which ultimately impacts revenue. Traditional actuarial models of risk management are evolving to incorporate the nuances of modern business operations. Business processes and technology infrastructures must be analyzed and optimized to ensure they meet exacting requirements for security, transparency, and accuracy of reported information. For brokers, this means employing a variety of solutions in order to continue offering the best service and value to their clients. Modern risk management solutions support the framework for the platforms that agencies use most often to gain operational efficiencies, e.g., a cloud-based ERP system. These tools enable insurance brokers to make data-driven business decisions and more effectively connect clients to insurance providers. The advent of the cloud is helping shoulder the burden of managing compliance for insurance professionals. According to Sonny Singh, senior vice president for Oracle’s Financial Services Global Business Unit, “Now more than ever, insurers have to meet an array of regulatory and compliance requirements, including new financial standards. To do so, they need a comprehensive technological solution to properly comply with these increasingly complex requirements and reduce any adverse impact on their business.” Technology platforms aimed at addressing financial and legal risks are growing in popularity among differing insurance business models as the landscape evolves. Expanding Distribution Channels Insurer agencies have to compete for attention in a crowded market. To hold market share, they must diversify their offerings and branch out swiftly into new sales, customer service, and distribution channels. Cloud solutions can help streamline an omnichannel approach through a responsive, modular infrastructure of applications. Ernst & Young conducted extensive consumer research among a group of life insurance agencies in 2014, reporting that 80 percent of consumers were willing to use digital and remote channels to complete common transactions, such as changes of address, bill payments, and changes to beneficiary information. At the time, few life insurers offered such capabilities on the web or mobile platforms. Nowadays, agencies are moving toward offering mobile applications and other cloud-based platforms to streamline how they service accounts, from the sales process to their customer service strategy. Providing Consistent Service Customer service is key to success in any vertical. For insurance agencies, however, dealing with myriad pressures from regulatory bodies, internal revenue goals, and customer-facing obligations is a challenge. They must juggle providing best-in-class customer service with managing operational costs, two dueling priorities that don’t always align. A possible solution for modern insurance agencies is to optimize their internal processes. Improved internal efficiencies are thereby reflected in the quality of their customer care. Efficiencies created in the cloud enable brokers to streamline their policy lifecycles, centralize relevant information and processes, and deliver a consistent message to the customer from sales to support. Insurance agency leaders must leverage adaptive systems in order to remain profitable in a fast-moving, digitally focused economy. Migrating business functions to the cloud requires careful planning, with a clear eye for processes and governance, and investment in the right delivery technology. Proper cloud management and greater focus into data security and proactive transparency will ensure a more holistic approach to the future for insurance agencies of all sizes.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM
An effective drug-testing program consists of two key elements: (1) a general understanding of illicit drug use and the primary regulation that addresses drug testing, and (2) a written policy that is tailored to your business’s specific needs. Both are explained below. Fundamental Knowledge The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) speaks to when an employer can conduct a drug test. The law applies to employers with 15 or more employees. Pre-employment drug testing can be conducted “after” a conditional job offer is made. It can only be done if “all” candidates in the same job class/job title receive the same drug test. Reasonable-suspicion drug testing can be conducted when the employer believes the employee is unable to safely perform his or her job duties due to the potential use of illicit drugs. Random drug testing can be conducted when the employer has established the employee job classes subject to random testing and the system used to select those for testing. Return-to-work drug testing may be conducted following an employee having had a positive drug screen that did not result in termination. Return-to-work drug screening is needed to confirm the employee is free from the effects of illicit drugs before allowing him or her to return to work. You must decide whether the non-termination option is good for your company, build it into your policy, then administer your program consistently with this decision. Post-accident drug testing may be conducted following a job-related accident or injury. This is done to determine whether drugs played a part in the accident or injury. Some states limit workers’ compensation benefits if an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. Written Policy Your policy should include the following elements: Why the drug-testing program is being implemented What situations you hope to avoid by having the program Prohibited behaviors Consequences of violating the policy Who receives the drug test When drug tests are conducted Where the specimen will be collected—on-site at your facility or off-site at a local clinic—and whether the results will be analyzed by a laboratory. If a specimen is sent to a laboratory, a chain-of-custody process must be used. When laboratory testing is advisable and what a Medical Review Officer does Which type of specimen will be tested: urine, saliva, hair, blood Which panel of drugs will be tested How the results of a drug test will be handled: termination vs. employee assistance, etc. Where drug test results will be maintained and how confidentiality will be preserved Recognition of substance abuse Supervisor training Employee training Additional ResourcesThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a leading authority on substance abuse. At samsha.gov, you will find many resources that will help answer your questions. Additionally, our fact sheet on employer drug testing addresses a number of considerations for implementing an employer drug-screening program and speaks to the cost-savings of such a program. Our fact sheet on collecting drug-testing samples speaks specifically to the type of specimen used for drug testing, their benefits and limitations, and how samples should be collected.
New York to commemorate 18th anniversary of the September 11 attacks
It’s been 18 years since the September 11 attacks left nearly 3,000 people dead in the worst act of terrorism the nation has ever experienced. On Wednesday, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum will commemorate the lives lost with a ceremony honoring those killed at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and aboard Flight 93 — as well as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. As has happened in years past, the names of those killed will be read during Wednesday’s ceremony. Last year, some families of victims infused their own, personal messages of remembrance, inspiration and concern. CBSN New York will live stream the ceremony starting at around 8:25 a.m. ET from the 9/11 Memorial plaza in lower Manhattan. You will be able to watch the event at the top of this page or on the CBS News app.
Top U.S. insurers pulling out of coal due to climate change
Despite the increasing push across the insurance industry for carriers to divest and/or withdraw coverage of coal ventures, European insurers are ahead of U.S.-based carriers when it comes to such climate change initiatives, according to “Insuring Coal No More,” the third-annual scorecard and report on insurance and climate change produced by a conglomerate of international environmental organizations dubbed Insure Our Future. Coal is the single biggest contributor to global warming, which is linked to extreme weather events and wildfires, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. “As global actors, U.S. insurance companies have a huge role to play in curbing the worst impacts of climate change,” Lindsey Allen, executive director of Rainforest Action Network, said in a statement about the report released December 2, 2019. ”We are encouraged by initial leadership this year from Chubb and AXIS Capital, but the U.S. industry is still so far behind Europe.” Coal exit policies have been announced by 17 of the world’s biggest insurers, which control 46% of the global reinsurance market and 9.5% of the primary insurance market, according to the report. The number of insurance companies divesting from coal increased in 2019. At least 35 companies with combined assets of roughly $8.9 trillion — 37% of the industry’s global assets — have now adopted coal divestment policies. This is up from 15 companies with $4 trillion assets under management in 2017 and 19 with $6 trillion in 2018. See also: AXIS becomes first U.S. insurer to restrict coal and tar sands “The industry’s retreat from coal is gathering pace as public pressure on the fossil fuel industry and its supporters grows,” said Peter Bosshard, coordinator of the Unfriend Coal campaign and author of the report. “However, major U.S. and Asian insurers continue to undermine international climate targets by insuring and investing in coal projects.” The slideshow above depicts the 10 major U.S.-based insurers that are taking the lead in climate change initiatives, according to the report. The scorecard ranks 30 leading insurers on their action on coal and climate change, assessing and scoring their policies on underwriting, divestment and other aspects of climate leadership. It is based on responses to a survey that 24 of the 30 companies filled out, as well as publicly available information. Click here to view the full report. See also: Demonstrators call for insurance to act on climate change at NAIC meeting The complete scoring grid from “Insuring Coal No More: The 2019 Scorecard on Insurance, Coal and Climate Change,” follows…
Why Tire Health Matters For Commercial Fleets
Operating a fleet of vehicles for your business requires oversight. Therefore, you need to make sure the vehicles receive regular preventive maintenance. Some of the most critical components to maintain are the wheel and tire systems. What can you do to keep your tires in good shape? Regardless of the vehicle, they all need tires to work. Therefore, you must do your duty to keep tires in functioning order. To oversee tire health in your fleet, keep a few of the following ideas in mind. Why Tire Health Is Important When it comes to your vehicles’ systems, the wheels and tires are among the most sensitive. They make direct contact with the road. They face puncture and corrosion risks from exposure to debris and other objects on roadways. The also corrode over time due to use. As your tires break down, the risk to vehicles increases. Poorly-functioning tires cannot do their part in helping a car work appropriately. Therefore, at minimum, they put added stress on internal systems. This could lead to significant, costly problems. Not only that, if a tire fails while in transit, the risks of an accident could skyrocket. It’s very difficult to control a vehicle that has suffered a catastrophic tire failure. The better care you take of your tires, the safer you make your fleet. That makes you a better driver. It also lets you potentially avoid a claim on your commercial auto insurance. Protecting The Tires On Your Fleet Rather than waiting for fleet tires to fail, do what you can to prevent these accidents in the first place. Have regular maintenance on all vehicles. Mechanics can check the tires and tell you if you need to take care of developing problems. Make a point of checking tires yourself for signs of problems. Check tread to see if it has begun to deteriorate. Regularly test and adjust the tire pressure and inflation in all tires. Encourage employees to report any tire damage to you expediently. Put in place a reporting system to make it easier for you to track developing issues. Provide each vehicle with a tire safety kit. These kits should include at least a spare tire, jack and tools for changing the tire. Also consider such items as pressure gauges, emergency patches and valve caps. Include a copy of insurance and any available roadside assistance in each vehicle. With appropriate care, you can keep your vehicle fleet’s tires in good shape. The appropriate care will help you avoid potential problems along the way.
Active Threat Solutions
Emerging Risk: Workplace and Community Active Violence Situation Overview In today’s world of increasingly frequent violent situations, in both public and private environments, the civilized world has been forced to develop more sophisticated and advanced protective deterrents. Protests, riots, and terrorism have become more commonplace, particularly in the United States, where acts of violence include firearms and other weapons capable of physical harm. This new reality has changed the focus of our attention to many emerging target areas: public spaces, houses of worship, schools, restaurants, and nursing/hospital facilities, to name a few. Insurance Resources In the past, public venues, businesses open to the public and private companies have relied solely on standard General and Property Liability coverages, occasionally backed-up by Workers Comp. But, in today’s environment, these historically trusted strategies, are proving to be less than adequate. Today, perpetrators motivated by extremists, radical movements and other cult organizations, have caused the expansion of deadly threats in terms of both venue variety and frequency of occurrence. It is this expanding probability of threats to human life and physical property that created a climate requiring more comprehensive protection. Active-Violent Threats Unfortunately, mental illness, accessibility to weapons and political extremism are contributing to a growing threat affecting both work and public spaces. For many years, only large corporations with high-profile events and venues were equipped to better secure their need for expanded exposure coverage, while for the vast majority of mid-size businesses this level of coverage was beyond reach. Today, one American insurance group, Commonwealth Insurance Advantage, is teaming up with London Market partners to provide the broader marketplace with an innovative insurance program to both prepare for and interface with any active violent threats, including “active shooters”. The new insurance program, Active Threat Solutions, will be accepting applications in June of 2018 with early policies in force by the second half of 2018. “Active Threat Solutions” Active Threat Solutions (or A.T.S.) provides remote or on-site training, immediate hotline assistance at notification and additional, qualified personnel assistance when an incident occurs. This new insurance program is a third-party liability coverage for lawsuits, on-site disaster assistance, and counseling services, provided by industry leader and A.T.S. partner, Firestorm Solutions. A.T.S. is unique in today’s marketplace – providing essential coverage to small and mid-sized businesses or municipal operations. Active Threat Solutions Readiness for Today’s World Policy Coverage Details • Limits up to $100 million • $10,000 deductible • Claims-made and reported policy • Physical Damage coverage follows the event • No minimum deaths required to trigger coverage • 24-hour crisis management to assist in an emergency • Risk assessment evaluation and training (See endorsements below) Policy Endorsements • #1 – Assessment Endorsement (Within 45 days of binding) • #2 – Webinar Training (Within 45 days of binding) • #3 – Crisis Management – Sublimit $250,000 each and every event/$1,000,000 aggregate • #4 – Property Damage – Sublimit $500,000 each and every occurrence • #5 – Counseling Services – Sublimit $250,000 each and every event/$1,000,000 aggregate • #6 – Funeral Expenses – Sublimit $250,000 each and every event/$1,000,000 aggregate Definition of Weapons* • Firearms • Road Vehicles • Explosive Devices • Knives • Medical Instruments (Syringes) • Corrosive Substances • Hand-Held Instruments (Capable of causing death or bodily injury) Industries Covered* • Senior Living, Nursing Homes, Hospitals • Retail Operations • Public Entertainment (Sporting Events, Concerts, Cinemas, Parades) • Houses of Worship • Hotels • Restaurants • Schools Items needed to receive an indication – Name of Insured- Location address of each facility- # of employees for each risk- Type of risk (i.e what does the risk do; nursing home, school etc)- Effective Date- Limits requesting (1m, 3m, 5m)