“But THEY Said…” Who Says What Your OSHA Requirements Are?
Ensuring compliance with occupational safety and health regulations is an essential element of business success, given the legal hassles and steep fines that can come with failing to meet those expectations. One of the more confusing aspects of compliance is that health and safety regulations are imposed by both the federal government and state governments. Many […]
See a Massive Reduction in Costs With Physical Abilities Testing
High workers’ compensation costs are a significant issue for employers today – and a growing one, as those costs continue to rise. According to The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), premiums rose by 7.3 percent for the average business in 2013. Additional statistics: Average indemnity costs for lost-time claims rose yet again, going up by […]
I’ll Drink to That: Avoiding Beverage Industry Workplace Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries are a major issue in the beverage industry. According to a study done by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this industry has significantly higher rates of occupational accidents and injuries than the manufacturing industry as a whole, and more than double the private industry rate. Additionally, NIOSH states that nearly three-fifths […]
Workplace Ergonomics: Identifying and Addressing Employee Pains
Workplace ergonomics is a topic that employers are continuing to hear a lot about, not least because maintaining an ergonomic workplace drastically reduces the risk of employees developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This particular type of injury has become the most common in the occupational setting and, according to OSHA, accounts for 600,000 injuries every year. […]
5 Ways for You to Produce Consistently Consistent PAT Results
To be effective and accurate in matching the abilities of current or potential employees to jobs, Physical Abilities Testing (PAT) must produce consistent results. Consistency is essential for making objective and reliable employment decisions, maximizing the benefits of testing, and ensuring a legally defensible PAT program. So what does it take to produce consistent PAT results? […]
Consider the Consequences: Preventing Life-Altering, Though Non-Deadly, Injuries
In discussions about preventing workplace injuries, many of tend to categorize injuries into two types: fatal and non-fatal. On paper, the “non-deadly” injuries are the ones that occur, the claims are resolved, and the box is checked off. However, in many cases, things are not that simple in real life for the injured employee. Many […]
Keep Your Balance: Slips, Trips, and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls rank among the leading causes of injury, accounting for more than 8.7 million injuries per year according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. According to BLS figures, slips, trips, and falls are a major concern in the workplace, accounting for nearly a quarter of all on-the-job injuries. The direct costs […]
OSHA’s Work Restriction Protection: Real People, Real Problems, Real Results
OSHA’s Work Restriction Protection (WRP) program is a component of its ergonomics standard, which was devised and implemented to aid in preventing injuries of a specific type: work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to the agency, MSDs rank as the most widespread occupational health hazard, with nearly two million workers suffering these types of injuries every year. […]
Fitting the Pieces Together: Return to Work, ADA, and Reasonable Accommodations
As any employer knows, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) creates an obligation for covered employers to provide eligible employees with disabilities reasonable accommodations to enable them to perform the essential functions of their jobs. The difficulty with this obligation for many employers lies in understanding exactly what their responsibilities are in terms of accommodation. […]
Going the Distance for ADA Accommodations: How Far is Too Far?
Does the term “reasonable accommodation” give you pause? If so, you aren’t alone. Many employers, uncertain of their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), hesitate to use pre-hire testing, forgoing its benefits in reducing bad hires and workplace injuries in an effort to reduce risk of becoming entangled in the accommodation process. After all, “reasonable” […]
