Things you should know
New Medicare Secondary Payer appeals process may prove costly
According to an article in Business Insurance a new Medicare Secondary Payer appeals process for workers' compensation and liability claims will allow payers to challenge reimbursement demands they believe are incorrect, but appeal costs could be greater than any potential savings.
Study of shift workers reveals those with low levels of sleepiness are at more risk
Night-shift workers who experience insomnia but report low levels of sleepiness have higher levels of cognitive impairment than those with insomnia who say they experience "excessive" sleepiness, according to a recent study from the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital. Night-shift workers who had insomnia but did not report excessive sleepiness displayed the most impairment in productivity and cognitive function, potentially affecting their safety at work. The study was published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
CDC Foundation offers employer resources for worker heart health
Preventing heart disease and improving health and productivity in the workplace is the goal of Business Pulse: Heart Health, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation. Resources for employers include a health promotion kit and a worksite health scorecard, as well as information on smoking cessation and screening and managing blood pressure. Additionally, an infographic shares facts, links and other resources about heart health.
New York governor orders emergency measures to protect workers in nail salons
According to an article in the New York Times, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered emergency measures to combat the wage theft and health hazards faced by the thousands of people who work in the nail salon industry. He said in a statement, a new, multiagency task force will conduct salon-by-salon investigations, institute new rules that salons must follow to protect manicurists from the potentially dangerous chemicals found in nail products, and begin a six-language education campaign to inform them of their rights.
Free training for nurses aimed at combating ill effects of long hours
NIOSH is offering a free online training program to help educate nurses and supervisors about reducing the health and safety risks of shift work and long hours. Part 1, which takes about 1.5 hours to complete, covers the risks of shift work and long hours. Part 2, which lasts about 1.7 hours, addresses strategies to help reduce these risks.
Quits rate highest since 2008
Some 2.8 million people quit their jobs in March 2015, the most in seven years, according to a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary report showed that the quits rate is back to pre-recession levels, indicating rising confidence in finding new opportunities.
Report: Young immigrants in small construction firms most at risk of injury
Young, Hispanic immigrants who work for small construction firms are among the most at risk of being injured on the job, according to a report by NIOSH and the American Society of Safety Engineers. For example, small employers are more likely to hire young workers, who are at a greater risk of injury, and a young immigrant worker may fear deportation for reporting unsafe conditions. Further, small employers make up about 90 percent of all construction firms, and the construction industry has the most number of on-the-job deaths.
DOL updates FMLA forms - valid through May 2018
The DOL updates were relatively minor but highlighted information relating to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
The forms also can be accessed from the DOL web page.