As if OSHA’s impending expansion of electronic recordkeeping requirements wasn’t enough, there’s another change employers need to understand. This one concerns the way OSHA handles inspections. And the penalties you’ll pay if you break the rules. Employers across the country have known this was coming since last fall. So are you prepared for the new Enforcement Weighting System (EWS)?

Read More

Despite some promising reports in the battle against opioid abuse and misuse among injured workers, the problem is far from over.  Recent research from the California Workers Compensation Institute, the Workers Compensation Research Institute, and drug trend reports from several pharmacy benefit managers indicate the number of opioid prescriptions written for injured workers is declining — at least, in some areas. However, opioids continue to ruin lives and cause hardships to businesses.

Read More

Manual materials handling injuries are the single-greatest source of workers’ compensation claims. They account for 30% to 40% of claims overall. The financial and personal costs of lifting injuries are huge. Nobody wants to get hurt at work. And no company wants preventable workers’ comp expenses. Ergonomic exercises can help reduce workplace lifting injuries.

Read More

What if your injured workers could receive outpatient therapy at work instead of at a clinic? A growing number of employers in many industries are choosing this option for their injured workers. Physical therapy at work is proven to be faster. It’s also more effective. And that is saving employers millions of dollars. But what do injured workers themselves think of this option?

Read More

In the 90s, the U.S. Department of Labor called carpal tunnel syndrome the “chief occupational hazard” of the decade. We expect tools and equipment to help save time. To make our work easier. But we have learned these “improvements” can also harm us. They force our bodies into unnatural positions. That puts too much stress on our muscles, tendons and skeleton. Over time, repetitive and awkward movements cause damage. 

Read More

Post offer employment testing (POET) improves hiring quality for companies in many industries. But you cannot use just any test. And you cannot pick and choose who takes your test. Equal Opportunity laws dictate these things. You don’t want to run afoul of the law. In this article we look at the potential pitfalls of POET. We’ll also explain how you can avoid these potential problems.

Read More

Each state sets its own workers’ compensation laws. Whether or not you can choose your injured workers’ physical therapy provider depends on where you are. Some states allow employers to make this decision. Others allow employees themselves to decide. Does your company take part in a managed health care network? That may also affect your ability to choose a physical therapy provider.

Read More

Rehabilitation is the process of returning something to its original condition. The word literally means “make fit again.” When it comes to workers’ comp injuries, the terms rehab and physical therapy are sometimes used interchangeably. But they do have different meanings.

Read More