Michigan mulls overhaul of workers’ comp

• Attorneys and unions are calling for a complete overhaul of the workers’ compensation system in Michigan.
• Some of these changes could lead to high costs for employers with higher premiums and direct costs for self-insured companies.
• A potential legislative package could include a new definition of disability that would allow more individuals to remain on workers’ compensation benefits indefinitely.
• The measure could shift the responsibility for work search from workers to employers and weaken work search requirements.
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Wearable technology new trend in workers’ comp

• Wearable technology is beginning to have a major impact on workplace injuries and cutting down on workers’ comp costs.
• By integrating wearable technology into the workplace, employers can help prevent injuries before they occur, such as by monitoring employee biometrics such as heart rate and body temperature.
• Wearables can also be used to track employee movement and location, which can be used to create virtual barriers around hazardous areas or equipment.
• Some wearables are equipped with sensors that detect when a worker has suffered a fall or other impact-related injury.
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Nevada considering workers comp bill

• A bill in Nevada is being drafted to allow injured workers to sue insurers if they acted in bad faith, according to Sen. Skip Daly.
• The bill seeks to sunset the statute that limits the liability of the insurer or third-party administrator to allow “bad faith civil remedies.”
• The legislation will also raise the thresholds for the penalties from about $5,000 to $15,000.
• The only recourse for an injured worker is filing a benefit penalty through the Division of Industrial Relations.
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• A federal panel affirmed Walmart’s violation of federal workplace safety standards.
• Walmart was originally cited in 2017 when stored merchandise fell and seriously injured an employee at a facility in Johnstown, New York.
• The decision by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission found OSHA cited the discount retailer correctly for failing to meet the agency’s safety standard for the storage of material.
• The commission also ordered Walmart to correct the cited hazards within six months, given the physical changes the company must make to come into compliance with the standard.
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