Things you should know

The importance of contractor selection and oversight

The Chemical Safety Board has published a new Safety Digest highlighting insufficient safety requirements in contractor selection and oversight. The digest summarizes separate CSB incident investigations and recommendations from 2007 and 2011 in which the agency concluded that inadequate contractor selection and oversight contributed to a combined 10 fatalities and four injuries.

New hazard alert and toolbox talk on opioid-related overdose deaths in construction

In an effort to raise awareness of opioid-related overdose deaths among construction workers, the Center for Construction Research and Training, CPWR, has published a hazard alert and toolbox talk on the topic. The hazard alert and toolbox talk are available in English and Spanish

ISEA/ANSI 121-2018 first in the industry to address tethering practices

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) developed the first industry standard to reduce the risk of dropped objects in industrial and occupational settings. The standard, ANSI/ISEA 121-2018, American National Standard for Dropped Object Prevention Solutions, sets the minimum design, performance, labeling, and testing requirements for tethering practices.

The standard contains four active controls, which are:

• Anchor attachments
• Tool attachments
• Tool tethers
• Containers (buckets, pouches)

ISEA/ANSI 121-2018 is available online from ISEA.

CSB issues investigation update, animated video on Wisconsin refinery explosion, fire

The Chemical Safety Board has released an update of its investigation into an April 26 explosion and fire at the Husky Energy refinery in Superior, WI, as well as an animated video that explores the cause of the incident.

State News

California

• The Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF) issued 26 orders shutting down unsafe machines or operations at workplaces it inspected during the fiscal year 2017-2018 and found that 93% of businesses inspected were out of compliance with labor laws.

Florida

• The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is recommending a 13.4% decrease in rates, the second straight year that the rating organization has recommended a reduction in the state.

Illinois

• Governor vetoed a bill that would have amended workers compensation law in relation to fees and electronic claims.

Minnesota

• Department of Commerce has approved a 1.2% increase in the overall average pure premium level, effective Jan. 1.

Nebraska

• Workers’ Compensation Court has redesigned its website, offering the Google platform for forms and distribution of court news. Previously bookmarked links to the court’s website will no longer work, so users are encouraged to delete their old links, then find the updated pages and bookmark them for future use.
• Hospitals and insurers may now file diagnosis-related group (DRG) reports through the Workers’ Compensation Court’s web application.

North Carolina

• Industrial Commission announced a $36 increase in the maximum weekly workers’ compensation benefit, starting Jan. 1. The maximum benefit will rise from $992 for this year, to $1,028.

Tennessee

• The NCCI has proposed a statewide reduction of 19% for average voluntary market loss cost levels. By industry, contracting saw the greatest decrease of 20.7%, office and clerical was next at 20.6%, goods and services at 19.7%, manufacturing at 18% and miscellaneous at 16.8%. The new rates, which are under review, would become effective March 1, 2019.

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