Even though you may be confident in your ability to avoid slips and falls, don’t let yourself become complacent about the hazards.
Falls are among the most common type of injury both on and off the job; Several hundred thousand American workers suffer injuries from falls on the job every year—a number of these related to slipping accidents. Read the rest of this entry »
MetLife Auto & Home has compiled essential holiday party safety information (view flier) outlining how Americans are planning for their parties and highlight some potential pitfalls to watch out for. With half of Americans planning to have a holiday party this season, hosts need to consider basic safety issues and accident prevention when opening their homes.
While planning your parties, simple precautions can help reduce the risk of potentially serious accidents, such as drinking and driving or holiday fires. Preparation and awareness can help assure that your party is not only enjoyable, but safe for both you and your guests. Read the rest of this entry »
Great California Shake Out
Employers and employees alike should participate in this critical event tomorrow.
To learn how to get more information contact Don Dressler by phone: 949-533-3742 or E-mail: DonDressler1@hotmail.com
Don Dressler
© 2011
First Aid Kit
Adequate first aid materials must be “readily” available for all employees at the worksite, according to the regulation. The first aid materials at the worksite are to be approved by a consulting physician. Over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, generally should not be included in a workplace first aid kit unless they are recommended by the company physician.
The first aid material will be:
More specific first aid requirements appear in the Construction Safety Orders, Section 1512. These regulations require minimum first aid supplies to be determined by “an employer-authorized, licensed physician” or according to a table based on the number of employees.
All California Employers Should Be Aware …
New Workplace Poster:
Effective November 14, 2011, most private-sector employers are required to post a new notice issued by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) entitled: “Employee Rights under the National Labor Relations Act.” NLRB will be releasing the 11”x 17” posters soon.
Workers’ Comp Rates Will Likely Stay Flat for 2012
Workers’ compensation premiums in California, which have been creeping up the past four years, are expected to stabilize in early 2012. That’s a far cry from the early 2000s, when soaring rates touched off a mammoth debate about the cost of doing business in California.
This month, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California actually called for a 1.8 percent cut in premiums. Premiums have risen about 10 percent the past four years, according to the bureau’s statistics. Still, they’re about 60 percent less than their peak in 2003.
Temporary Disability Workers’ Compensation
At the same time, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute released updated information about the cost of temporary disability workers’ compensation claims in California. For claims 12 months old, the average amount of TD paid has risen 11.3 percent (from $5,436 to $6,050), as the average number of paid TD days has increased from 89.8 to 102.5. For claims 24 months old, the average amount of TD paid has increased by 13.4 percent from a post-reform low of $8,158 in AY 2004 to $9,255 in AY 2008, as the average number of paid TD days has climbed from 125.6 to 136.5.
How do you control these TD costs? Use a proactive Return to Work Program, and aggressive use of your Medical Provider Network. If you help with these issues, just contact me.
As an employer are you ready to conduct an injury investigation immediately following an incident?
Early intervention on your part is also essential in cases where there’s been a serious injury or an injury of questionable nature. Such a proactive approach will allow you to keep the incident from spiraling out of control and reduce your liability exposure.
Three Main Reasons Employers Must Investigate an Incident Immediately:
Remember that employee safety communications and training are required to be part of your written safety plan or Illness & Injury Prevention Plan in compliance with Call/OSHA’s regulations.
We’re offering the latest edition of safety and wellness tips at no charge. We hope you find this month’s information both interesting and helpful. These tips and other materials can be used when you present employee training sessions, in employee newsletters or e-newsletters, payroll stuffers, in training sessions or however you find beneficial.
This month’s Mayo Clinic YouTube video could be particularly helpful: Mayo Clinic Presentation of Continuous Chest Compression CPR
If you have any questions, just e-mail DonDressler1@hotmail.com
OSHA Record Keeping: How To Ensure Your Injury & Illness Records Are Accurate and Compliant
Please join our September 1st BLR Webinar!
Late last year, OSHA extended its Recordkeeping National Emphasis Program (NEP) through early 2012. They’re looking for employers who are under-reporting injuries and illnesses, and they’ve got their fine-toothed combs out.
Now, in other words, is not a good time for you to be unprepared.
In addition to helping you avoid costly OSHA citations, smart recordkeeping practices can also help you make injury-reducing and profit-boosting improvements by allowing you to learn from past mistakes.
Join us for an in-depth Webinar designed to help you track and record injuries and illnesses in compliance with the OSHA record keeping standard. Bring your managers along as we walk you through the key elements of an effective record keeping program. Webinar Link
Don Dressler, Principal and Legal Counsel at Small Biz HR
(949) 533-3742
August 2011
Below is a true scenario of dealing with Cal/OSHA regulations upfront. A legal situation can go several directions … depending on whether the employer is prepared.
In a litigated workers’ compensation injury involving a home care worker, we filed an “Employer Bill of Rights” petition on behalf of the employer with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and a written objection to the claim with the insurer. We then appeared at the WCAB mandatory settlement conference on behalf of the employer and the claim (then reserved for $230,000) was settled for 10 cents on the dollar. Read the rest of this entry »
August Latest News from the HR Front
A recent court decision reminds us that how you handle a claim of discrimination as an employer can be as important as whether there actually was discrimination.
In a lawsuit by a paralegal against her law firm employer (don’t laugh), even though the court ruled that there was no sexual or racial harassment of the employee, the employer:
a) Did not take the complaint seriously and failed to adequately investigate it
b) Had not done training of managers or employees about harassment or discrimination prevention and,
c) Did not have a written anti-harassment policy
For more information, call me at: 949-533-3742
Don Dresser
© 2011
Blog
National leader in labor law, risk management and human resources solutions, Don Dressler, has been designing customized HR packages that significantly reduce workers compensation costs, protect employers from non-compliance, while providing effective worker training solutions to southern California companies for more than twenty years.
