National pharmacy agrees to financial resolution
- CVS Health has agreed in principle to a financial resolution designed to substantially resolve all opioid lawsuits and claims by states, counties and cities, and tribes in the U.S.
- The national pharmacy agreed to pay about $5 billion ($4.9 billion to states and political subdivisions and approximately $130 million to tribes) over the next 10 years.
- The payments will begin in 2023, depending on the number of governmental entities that agree to join the settlement.
- The agreement would fully resolve claims dating back a decade or more and is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing and CVS will continue to defend against any litigation that this final agreement does not resolve.
Computer vision for workplace fatality prevention
- Workplace fatality rates have remained steady over the past several decades despite focused efforts to reduce serious injury and death on the job.
- Research by the National Safety Council, America found that computer vision is especially effective in identifying when personal protective equipment is being properly utilized.
- Computer vision is also ideal for industries involving heavy machinery and extensive movements such as manufacturing, logistics, construction, and warehousing.
- In addition, this technology can be used to help monitor fatigue and other impairing conditions when driving.
More checks and balances for workers; comp administrator?
- The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is mulling a proposal to raise workers’ comp. rates for agricultural jobs by an average of 6% next year.
- L&I is taking comments on another increase to worker’s compensation for 2023.
- The average proposed rate increase statewide is 4.8%; however, for agricultural jobs, the rate increase is an average of 6% with some rates jumping by as much as 14%.
- Washington should allow employers and employees to buy worker’s compensation insurance from a private provider rather than the state, a Washington policy center asserted.
Vinyl faces more than $1M in penalties
- A vinyl tile manufacturing company in Ohio, employing 200 workers, is facing over $1.2 million in penalties after a worker was caught in a machine, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Inspectors with OSHA were sent to Fostoria to inspect the NOX US LLC plant after a worker was severely injured.
- According to the DOL, the worker’s finger was first caught in a rotating spindle on a plastic winding machine and then their body was pulled around the machine’s spindle.
- The worker had been on the job for six weeks and sustained multiple injuries.