Risk Management

January 23, 2024

Best Practices for Return-to-Work Programs

One of the biggest components of workers’ compensation is an effective return-to-work (RTW) program. Eliminating injuries and illnesses is paramount for reducing workers’ compensation costs, but after an incident, an RTW program can significantly reduce workers’ compensation costs for employers and improve the lives of employees by getting them back to work when there is...

January 11, 2024

California Will Require Employers to Develop Workplace Violence Prevention Programs

On Sept. 30, 2023, California adopted Senate Bill 553 (SB 553), a bill that requires employers to establish a workplace violence prevention plan (WVPP), document incidents of workplace violence and train employees on how to identify workplace violence hazards by July 1, 2024. Affected Employers SB 553 applies to California employers. State law defines “employer”...

January 9, 2024

A Return to Balance: Brokers Say Reinsurance Renewals Were ‘Stable’

This year’s January reinsurance renewals were described by brokers as “stable,” “predictable,” “orderly,” “calmer,” “disciplined,” with “increased appetites” and a return to supply/demand balance. What a difference in tone from last year’s grueling January renewals. “In a marked change on a year ago, the supply of property catastrophe reinsurance capacity at the January 1 renewal was...

January 3, 2024

Workplace Safety Technology From a Vendor’s Perspective

The evolving workplace and role of the worker are top of mind for workers’ compensation stakeholders. One of the rising industry concerns about the shifting workforce and workplace is the potential impact to the frequency and severity of on-the-job injuries. As part of its ongoing dialogue with workers’ compensation stakeholders around the country, NCCI is often asked...

December 19, 2023

OSHA’s Safety and Health Bulletin on Safety Helmets in the Workplace

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....

December 13, 2023

2024 Workers’ Compensation Insurance Market Outlook

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...

December 7, 2023

OSHA Form 300A Posting Requirements Begin Feb. 1

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...

December 1, 2023

10 Tips to Winterize Your Business

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....

November 30, 2023

How Vulnerable to Cyberattacks Are Commercial Buildings?

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...

November 27, 2023

OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for FY 2023

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...