On Nov. 22, 2023, OSHA provided a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) on the use of safety helmets in the workplace. The SHIB provides the key differences between safety helmets and traditional hard hats. The SHIB also describes the advancements in design, materials, and protective features that help to protect a worker’s entire head....
Market Outlook Profitable underwriting results have generated favorable conditions across the workers’ compensation insurance segment for nearly a decade. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the segment produced a combined ratio of 87 in 2022, demonstrating continued profitability. These conditions pressed on in 2023, but industry experts reported that reserve redundancies stemming...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers subject to its recordkeeping requirements to post copies of their OSHA Form 300A between Feb. 1 and April 30 of each year. The OSHA Form 300A, also known as the “Summary of Work-related Injuries and Illnesses,” must be completed by Feb. 1 using data from the...
As winter approaches, it is crucial for small businesses to prepare for the challenges the season’s weather brings. Whether it’s potential property damage or changes in customer behavior, winter can significantly impact a company’s operations. This article provides 10 tips for effectively winterizing a small business. Being ready for winter weather requires a proactive approach....
At first blush, the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline(link is external) in May 2021 and a hacker’s attempt to poison the water supply(link is external) in Oldsmar, Fla., in February of the same year may not appear to have much bearing on the safety of the average commercial building. But in reality, most buildings are vulnerable to these types...
OSHA recently released its list of the top 10 most frequently cited standards following inspections of worksites by federal OSHA. The list, which consists of preliminary data and is subject to change, reflects the citations across industries and accounts for citations that occurred between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 29, 2023. OSHA notes that workers...
Fostering a strong safety culture provides many benefits. In addition to reducing the risk of workplace accidents, such a culture can also help improve employee morale, enhance a business’s reputation and minimize related costs and liabilities. This article explains what it means to have a strong safety culture, outlines associated benefits and provides strategies companies...
On Oct. 31, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a partnership to strengthen worker safety protections. The partnership is designed to enhance protections for workers who speak out about health and safety conditions in the workplace or engage in a...
Social engineering refers to a cyberattack method in which a cybercriminal preys on key human behaviors (e.g., trust of authority, fear of conflict and promise of rewards) to obtain unwarranted access to targets’ technology, systems, funds or data. These attacks can be deployed through various tactics, such as digital impersonation, deceitful messages or malicious software...
Private industry employers reported a 7.5% increase in nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2022 compared to 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The incidence rate of total recordable cases was 2.7 cases per 100 workers who are full-time equivalent (FTE). In 2022, the rate of injury cases remained at 2.3 cases...