State-by-state rankings
- States with the highest workers’ compensation premium rates were New Jersey, Hawaii, California, New York and Louisiana.
- The lowest rates were in North Dakota, West Virginia, Arkansas, Utah and Indiana.
- It found the national median index rate is $1.27 per $100 of payroll — the lowest value since the inception of the biennial study in 1986, after peaking in 1994.
- In comparison, North Dakota’s rate was 58 cents per $100 of payroll. North Dakota had the lowest premiums among all states.
TJX Cos. faces $239,290 in fines
- OSHA issued citations to TJX Companies Inc., the operator of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and other department stores, for exposing workers to fire, entrapment, and struck-by hazards.
- Inspectors found blocked exit routes and unstable merchandise storage at a T.J. Maxx Store in Pooler, in violation of federal workplace safety standards.
- OSHA also found the company failed to keep the storage and receiving room free from an excess number of cardboard boxes and other trash, which exposed workers to slip, trip and fall hazards.
- The inspection identified two repeat violations and one serious violation. OSHA proposed $239,290 in penalties.
Another state sees decreases
- Medical payments per claim decreased in Indiana for 2020 injuries with experience through March 2021 after growing in 2019, according to a recent study by WRCI.
- This fluctuation in medical payments, in part, reflects factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Medical payments per claim were higher than typical in Indiana, mainly due to prices paid for medical services.
- Utilization decreased for most nonhospital and hospital outpatient services in 2020 and prescription drug payments per claim were lower than in other states.
Business owner ordered to pay more $25K
- Josh Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud and was ordered to pay a total restitution of $25,460.87 to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
- BWC’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) opened an investigation into Bailey after finding an address and phone number linking him to a business named J and J Roofing.
- During the review, SIU found three active business registrations listed for Bailey.
- SIU confirmed Bailey operated and engaged in physical work activities for his business, Bailey’s Home Repair while receiving Temporary Total Disability benefits from BWC.