As adjusters and claims handlers, we frequently encounter claims relating to alleged defects or failures of products or services. In addition to common law duties and bespoke contracts entered into, there is legislation to consider, depending upon wh…
Employee injuries, and even fatalities, are unfortunately a common occurrence in the United States. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 5,190 workers — or an average of 15.03 per day — died on the job in…
Unplanned employee absences — whether due to on-the-job injuries, physical or mental health conditions, family care needs or personal circumstances — are on the rise. Hyper-targeted programs are emerging as an effective way to help employ…
Workers’ compensation systems in the U.S. date back to the early 1900s – the first comprehensive law protecting injured workers was passed in Wisconsin in 1911. By mid-century, all states had introduced legislation that began the framework for today’…
It’s no secret that healthcare systems can be difficult to navigate. When care is associated with an injury or illness incurred on the job, the complexities of the workers’ compensation system may further compound the challenges. Many employers opt t…
Contributing experts: Jeff Byxbe, senior risk services consultant and Michael Dougherty, director, risk services As is expected for the tenure of a Democratic president, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (…
In the world of risk management, serving the needs of public entities is often considered to be a distinct discipline. Yet, like their counterparts in the private sector, public entities employ people, own property, manage fleets of vehicles, maintai…
Link to an entryThere is an underrated threat to employers today that no one is talking about: the game of pickleball. While I am joking about pickleball being a major peril, human resources professionals and organizations should pay attention to the…
Suffering a workplace injury can be a very stressful experience. Going from fully functional to incapacitated in the blink of an eye, combined with angst and uncertainty about the future, makes for a very difficult time for an injured worker. Adding…
Injuries involving amputation comprise about 0.5% of on-the-job accidents and are among the most devastating and costly workers’ compensation claims. When such an incident occurs, the employer is responsible for making the employee whole again. This …
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22 million Americans are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work each year. Whether it’s sustained over time, like long-term proximity to sirens or loud machinery, or a one-time eve…
When it comes to personal injury investigations, hindsight biases can lead to inaccurate assessments of causation and fault. Hindsight bias is considered a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people evaluate past events and overestimate their a…
People are the greatest asset to any organization. When it comes to protecting employees, organizations — whether they’re in a fast-moving industry, such as food service/hospitality, health care, construction or energy or in a slower-paced fiel…
April is Stress Awareness Month, an observance dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes and cures for today’s stress epidemic. In this blog, I want to explore the meaning of stress, what contributes to it, how to recognize it and som…
Against the backdrop of a tight labor market and consumer expectations of instant gratification, many customers are eagerly looking for ways to bring greater efficiency to the claims process without sacrificing the end-user experience. Oftentimes, au…