Blog

As the holiday season gets into full swing, many families decorate to spread some cheer and make their homes more festive.

Profitable underwriting results have generated favorable conditions across the workers’ compensation insurance segment for nearly a decade. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the segment produced a combined ratio of 87 in 2022, demonstrating continued profitability. These conditions pressed on in 2023, but industry experts reported that reserve redundancies stemming from reduced presumptive liability issues since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased market competition could drive down profits in 2024. Fortunately, these experts also confirmed that it would take a drastic shift in segment losses to actually push the ratio over 100, thus limiting potential impacts for policyholders. As a result, most insureds can expect another year of flat premiums or modest rate reductions, while those with elevated risks may encounter increased pricing.

Lighting a fire on a cold night or turning on the furnace is a great way to stay warm.

The bottom line in winter driving is to think ahead about safety, be prepared and know your own limitations. You have heard it a thousand times, but in bad conditions, always increase your following distance, make smooth downshifts and take extra caution when traveling on ramps, bridges and overpasses. You have control over your own vehicle, but the driver next to you may not. Your best bet is to stay as far away from other vehicles as possible. If something does go wrong, increase your chances of surviving the incident by not panicking and remembering everything you have learned about safe driving. Use common sense – if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe driving in the given conditions, do not drive. It’s better to be safe than sorry; that is, better your load is delivered late than not delivered at all, so use your best judgment!

Winter can wreak havoc on your home. Properly maintaining your home may aid in keeping common home problems at bay this winter.

OSHA requires certain employers to electronically submit workplace injury and illness information to the agency through its Injury Tracking Application (ITA) every year. On July 17, 2023, OSHA announced a final rule that requires certain employers in designated high-hazard industries to electronically submit additional injury and illness information. This additional information can be gathered from records that employers are already required to keep.

This article provides more information about tailgating and piggybacking, their potential impacts and tips on how businesses can prevent these security breaches.

Public works agencies often store bulk resources such as road salt, brine and dirt. Doing so can allow these organizations to save money, ensure timely completion of essential tasks (e.g., clearing roads and walking surfaces in the winter and performing critical construction and landscaping projects) for their communities, and limit the likelihood of having to order last-minute shipments and face possible delays.

Hand, wrist and finger injuries are among the most common ailments suffered by workers, and they can be both extremely painful and debilitating. An occupational injury not only causes initial pain – it can also require weeks or months of rehabilitation.

In 2023, the United States experienced 25 weather and climate disasters with damages exceeding $1 billion—the largest number on record in more than 40 years—according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).