workers comp

November 14, 2024

Employer-reported Nonfatal Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Down 8.4%

Private industry employers reported an 8.4% decrease in nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023. The decrease was driven by a 56.6% drop in illnesses in...

October 29, 2024

Study Finds Extreme Temperatures Increase Workers’ Compensation Claims

The National Council of Compensation Insurance (NCCI) recently published a new study showing the relationship between injury frequency and weather conditions as they relate to workers’ compensation claims. In the study, the NCCI found that employees file 10% more workers’ compensation claims on hot and cold days than on days with moderate temperatures.  The data...

October 15, 2024

OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for 2024

OSHA recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2024 fiscal year using preliminary data. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds, as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them the information they need to plan their compliance programs. For 2024, the top 10...

September 26, 2024

Proposed OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard

OSHA recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register regarding heat injury and illness prevention. If finalized, the new standard would apply to all employers conducting indoor and outdoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime and agricultural sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction, subject to limited exceptions. It would also be the...

September 16, 2024

Ensuring Proper Workplace Ergonomics

October is recognized as National Ergonomics Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the purpose of this yearly initiative is to raise awareness of and help reduce occupational injuries caused by poor workstation design. Ergonomics is the science of fitting a workspace to an individual’s needs to increase efficiency while reducing...

July 25, 2024

CAL/OSHA Indoor Heat Requirements Update

On June 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3396, “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment”. This standard applies to most workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F. It establishes required safety measures for indoor workplaces to prevent worker exposure to risk of heat...

July 22, 2024

California Enacts New Workers’ Compensation Poster Requirements

On July 15, 2024, California enacted Assembly Bill 1870, requiring employers to notify injured workers that they can consult with a licensed attorney regarding their rights under workers’ compensation laws. This law becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2025. Overview of the New Posting Requirements California’s workers’ compensation laws generally require covered employers to post a notice...

July 9, 2024

2024 Midyear Market Outlook: Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Profitable underwriting results have generated favorable conditions across the workers’ compensation insurance market for nearly a decade. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the segment produced combined ratios of 84.5 and 84.9 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, demonstrating continued profitability. Industry experts initially reported that reserve redundancies stemming from reduced presumptive liability...

July 2, 2024

CMR Webinar: California PAGA Updates

Join us for an insightful webinar co-hosted by CMR Risk and Eric De Wames, Employment Law Managing Partner at Michael Sullivan & Associates, where we delve into the intricacies of California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims. Governor Newsom’s office recently announced a much needed and long-awaited agreement to reform PAGA. The proposed changes aim...

June 13, 2024

U.S. Job Growth Expected to Spike Workers’ Comp Claims

Employers will likely face an increase in workers’ compensation claims in light of the U.S. Labor Department’s May 2024 report indicating the country added 272,000 new jobs. “New employees not only equal more workers’ comp premiums, they are significantly more likely to incur a claim,” Joe Paduda, owner of Health Strategy Associates, said in an interview with PropertyCasualty360.com. “Jobs in health care and...