What does 1918 have to do with Ebola and work comp in 2014? Unfortunately a great deal. In 1918, the final year of World War I, the world saw a pandemic of influenza with the most deaths of any single event in world history – estimated to be 50,000,000 world wide, with 800,000+ in the...
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The Importance of Having a Cyber Liability Policy
As the number of companies suffering a data breach continues to grow – with U.S. retailer Staples now reported to be investigating a breach – so do the legal developments arising out of these incidents. While companies that have suffered a data breach look to their insurance policies for coverage to help mitigate some of...
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Hospitals Struggle To Beat Back Serious Infections
An official at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor says its mix of patients helps explain the infection rates. While Ebola stokes public anxiety, more than 1 in 6 hospitals — including some top medical centers — are having trouble stamping out less exotic but sometimes deadly infections, federal records show. Nationally,...
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OSHA Dialogue on Hazardous Work Chemical Exposures
Workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals is something no employer can take for granted. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced it is launching a national dialogue with stakeholders on ways to prevent work-related illness caused by exposure to hazardous substances. The first stage of this dialogue is a request for information on...
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Consequences of Failing to Report & Respond to Work Injuries
Over the years, state and federal governments have enacted a number of safety regulations in workers’ compensation programs to provide for a safe working environment. Even for the best employers following workplace safety guidelines, accidents do happen. When they do, it is important to follow recognized procedures when responding to work injuries. Failure to properly...
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Med mal’s not a factor in health care costs – more evidence
More research indicates tight restrictions protecting physicians and facilities from malpractice suits doesn’t reduce health care costs. Three states, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, essentially prohibit suits unless the physician intentionally orders care that s/he knows will hurt the patient. A pretty very high standard, and one that would – one would think – allow docs...
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Are the newly insured clogging the system?
We are starting to get some insight into how 10 million (plus or minus a couple million) newly-insured people will affect the health care delivery system. For years, we’ve been speculating about the impact of coverage expansion on care – Will the new influx of folks onto the rolls of the insured increase waiting times? Will...
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NOAA: Extreme Cold and Snow Unlikely This Winter
Winter storms caused $1.9 billion in insured losses in 2013, five times higher than the $38 million in damages seen in 2012, so it’s good to read via NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook that a repeat of last year’s winter of record cold and snow is unlikely. In a release, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says: Last...
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Physician dispensing in work comp; two victories!
I know, you are as tired of reading about physician dispensing in work comp as I am writing about it. At last, there’s some very good news. Quick refresher – docs dispensing drugs adds about a billion dollars in excess drug costs – plus increases disability duration by 10 percent, medical costs, and total claims...
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OSHA Top 10 List Can Help Employers Avoid Costly Penalties
#10: 1926.451(b)(1) – Scaffolds not fully planked at each work level. #9:1926.451 (e)(1) – Scaffold access/egress. Many citations involve climbing on the cross bracing. #8: 1926.453(b)(2)(v) – Fall protection in aerial lifts. Users must receive training in the manufacturer’s instruction. #7: 1926.501(b)(10) – No fall protection for flat roofing. Consider using parapet guardrails and portable-type...
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