October Academy of Risk:

Thanks for reading the October Academy of Risk. Did you know October is National Cyber Security month? 

How confident are you that your business would survive, or your insurance policy would respond appropriately for a cyber breach?

74% of business leaders think having cyber insurance is critical... yet not all businesses have purchased the protection. Check out this article about cyber risks. From reviewing cyber policies, I regularly find exclusions and sublimits for the most important coverages like ransomware. If you have not had a recent coverage review, connect with me and I will do the work for you.

We have plenty of free resources from cyber coverage checklists to creating incident response plans for your organization.Feel free to connect for a phone call or email so see how we can help.

As always our goal is to provide information that will help you and your organizations stay safer, healthier and more profitable by improving compliance & overall insurance costs for #company#. Thanks for reading this months Academy of Risk email!

October Academy of Risk Articles:

How to prepare for an inspection under OSHA s new NEP on Warehousing and Distribution Centers Operations 

• Inspections under OSHA s National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations are set to begin October 13. According to Conn Maciel Carey LLP, OSHA finds violations in 70 percent of all inspections. Learn how employers should prepare

 Four flaws in injury prevention programs 

• Despite significant improvements in safety practices, employers are struggling with the ability to prevent the most serious and costly workplace injuries. Here are four common weaknesses in injury prevention programs

 Portable fire extinguishers: training and inspection requirements 

• October is fire prevention month and a good opportunity to revisit fire prevention measures throughout your company. This article provides a refresher on OSHA requirements for portable fire extinguishers in general industry

 HR Tip: EEOC: Strategic Enforcement Plan, DOL Memorandum of Understanding 

• EEOC s Strategic Enforcement Plan establishes the agency s enforcement priorities and provides a roadmap for employers on the types of litigation it will aggressively pursue and what they are looking for when they investigate charges. Learn about the plan for fiscal years 2024 2028

 OSHA Watch 

• New initiative focuses on stone cutters
• New heat resources
• Proposed rulemaking change for longshore, harbor workers
• New rule to better protect temporary farmworkers
• New resources: suicide prevention, materials for Spanish-speaking workforce
• Online meeting seeks comments on whistleblower laws
• Unprecedented outreach for help from employees in teen worker s death investigation
• Criminal prosecution follows willful violations
• MSHA rule on surface mobile equipment nearing completion
• State Plans Cal/OSHAWorkplace violence bill on Governor s deskMIOSHATraining Institute updatesStandards updateMNOSHAFatality, serious-injury investigation summaries onlineFree online training session on recordkeeping basics
• Recent fines and awards

Legal Corner 

ADA

• Remote work not reasonable accommodation

Workers Compensation

• Exceptions to exclusive remedy do not apply - California
• Termination not motivated by comp claim - Florida
• Day-to-day work description pivotal to award carpal tunnel treatment - Missouri
• Despite violation of law employer does not have to pay penalties to employee - Pennsylvania
• Remote worker receives benefits for at-home injury - Tennessee
• Cumulative mental injury not compensable - Tennessee
• Refusal of light duty job requiring COVID vaccine not grounds for benefit termination - Virginia

Things you should know 

• Suicide prevention resources for construction contractors
• Survey identifies top strategies for high-performing comp managers
• Study: Comp patients have worse outcomes from lumbar spine surgery
• Study: Sheet metal and HVAC safety intervention and adoption
• Study: SHARPS injuries
• Resources for managing workers with substance use disorder and recovery
• NSC offers resources on the use and effectiveness of naloxone
• International road check results
• New video offers tips for communications tower workers
• State news

For a more in depth look at our tools and services including a free work comp indication schedule a quick online demo with me. or just email me back. I can review how we utilize technology in our risk management process to save your staff time and ensure you remain compliant with all the various government agency changes. Complimentary software include:

• ThinkHR
• Osha logs
• Automate Safety
• Employee Navigator
• Wellness Programs

Note: The material in this eBulletin is provided as general information and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advic