Changes in the labor market can impact workers’ compensation
- Unemployment is historically low, but labor force participation is still lower than the pre-pandemic rate, according to NCCI.
- Labor shortages have led to wage growth, especially strong among low-wage workers and in sectors like Leisure and Hospitality.
- The “Great Reshuffle” led to a modest increase in the share of short-tenured workers, a few percentage points in most sectors.
- Short-tenured workers in most sectors are close to twice as likely to suffer work injuries than full-tenured workers, but their relative risk is lower in in-person service sectors.
Falling biggest hazards in the workplace
- OSHA released its preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for the fiscal year 2022.
- The top three are: Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,260 violations; Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 2,424 and Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,185.
- Coming in at 4-6 are: Ladders (1926.1053): 2,143; Scaffolding (1926.451): 2,058 and Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,977.
- Rounding out the top 10 are: Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,749; Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,556; Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,401; and Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,370.
Horse trainers see a decrease in workers comp costs
- Workers’ compensation charges for horsemen stabled in New York will drop by 15.6% on policies that go into effect either on or after Oct. 1.
- The decrease is to due to changes put in place by the New York Insurance Rating Board,
- The new rate will be 11.54, which marks a decline from the current figure of 13.68.
- That rate for insurance on a trainer’s workers is applied to each $100 of the operation’s payroll, meaning that a trainer with annual salaries of $200,000 will roughly save $4,000 in payments.
Doctor reaches agreement over COVID threats
- A doctor in Providence, R.I., reached a settlement with federal labor officials over allegations that he retaliated against a former receptionist, Victoria Sherman, who was pregnant and complained about COVID risks at work.
- Dr. Anthony Farina Jr. and his practices were already suspended amid claims that he exposed patients and staff to COVID
- Farina, his sister and Brenda DeSignore, his manager, agreed to permanently refrain from discriminating or retaliating against any employee who raises concerns under OSHA rules.
- They are also barred from threatening to fire employees who raise concerns.