News

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls account for the 30% of fatalities in the construction industry. To raise awareness about falls and to help prevent them, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created…

Using preliminary data, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2020 fiscal year. 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…

While workers’ compensation requirements can differ between states, many policies include a routine premium audit process. Different from most other lines of commercial insurance (e.g., property coverage)—in which potential exposures can be identified upfront and premium expenses are final—workers’ compensation premiums paid at the beginning of policy periods are provisional amounts. In other words, these…

OSHA must adjust its civil penalty amounts for inflation each year. As such, the Department of Labor recently released its 2021 inflation-adjusted civil monetary penalties that may be assessed on employers for violations of a wide range of federal laws, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA’s increased amounts apply to any civil monetary…

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued new guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. This guidance—which pertains to organizations outside of the health care sector—is intended to inform both employees and employers of the risks of occupational COVID-19 exposure, as well as outline top COVID-19 control measures…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic defined 2020 and brought the importance of the supply chain to light as a result of the many closures and shortages. Businesses are planning for an unpredictable 2021 as well and are looking to strengthen their supply chains to preemptively avoid further disruption. Until recently, supply chains were largely a quiet…

Snow days were a highlight of winter when many of us were children, but now winter weather presents a host of difficulties for employers. There are safety concerns, OSHA regulations to comply with, potential liability risks, attendance confusion and pay-related issues to address. It’s important to be prepared for all scenarios associated with inclement weather…

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released an online mapping application, the National Risk Index (NRI), that identifies communities most at risk for 18 types of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, volcanoes and tsunamis. Based on the calculations of 80 experts over six years, the NRI provides a holistic view of community-level…

Insurance carriers play an active role in risk management, often assigning risk managers to inspect organizations’ facilities and work areas. If any issues are found during these inspections, the insurance carrier may provide recommendations that the organization must follow in order to maintain coverage and avoid higher insurance premiums. If your organization has an upcoming…

The prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine is exciting, but it also presents challenges for employers like you. Specifically, you may be considering whether vaccinations should be encouraged or mandated for your staff. The answer to this question depends on the unique aspects of your organization and its operations. And although there’s currently no federal law…