Things you should know

Cell phone users twice as likely to be involved in a crash - study

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety compared drivers' odds of crash involvement when using a cell phone relative to driving without performing any observable secondary tasks. The study found that "visual-manual interaction with cell phones while driving, particularly but not exclusively relative to text messaging, was associated with approximately double the incidence of crash involvement relative to driving without performing any observable secondary tasks."

Flu tips

EHS Today offers helpful tips for employers to avoid a flu outbreak.

Health care environment named top concern in comp - survey

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) surveys senior carrier executives in its annual Carrier Executive Pulse. The top challenges that executives identified for 2018 are:

1. Rising costs, advances, and uncertainty in healthcare
2. Political, regulatory, legislative, and legal environment
3. Maintaining profitability both today and tomorrow
4. The changing workplace and workforce
5. The future of the workers' compensation industry
6. Opioid abuse and medical marijuana

Impact of worker obesity can be managed with prevention, treatment programs: ACOEM

Wellness programs and insurance coverage that includes bariatric surgery can help manage worker obesity and alleviate its economic costs to employers, according to a released guidance statement from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

First Edition of NCCI's court case update

The first edition of NCCI's Court Case Update provides a look at some of the cases and decisions being monitored by NCCI's Legal Division, that may impact and shape the future of workers' compensation.

New guidelines intended to reduce fatigue among EMS workers

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the National Association of State EMS Officials have partnered on a set of guidelines aimed at reducing work-related fatigue among emergency medical services workers.

State News

California

• Cal/OSHA adopted a new rule to help reduce injuries for hotel housekeepers. The rule will require employers to establish, implement, and maintain an effective written musculoskeletal injury prevention program that addresses hazards specific to housekeeping.
• The Division of Occupational Safety and Health is moving to create a new safety standard to prevent and handle workplace violence for general industries.
• The state is drafting workplace safety rules for the burgeoning marijuana industry.

New York

• State Workers' Compensation Board is inviting public comment on a proposed Pharmacy Formulary. The comment period expires on February 26, 2018.

North Carolina

• Industrial Commission recently announced an update in the rules for the workers' compensation system addressing the opioid crisis. Published January 16, 2018, in Volume 32 Issue 14 of the North Carolina Register, the rules are for the utilization of opioids, related prescriptions, and pain management treatment. A public hearing is scheduled for March 2, 2018 at 2:30 p.m., and the Commission will accept written comments until March 19, 2018.

Pennsylvania

• The Governor signed a statewide disaster declaration related to the opioid crisis to enhance state response, increase access to treatment, and save lives. It will utilize a command center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to track progress and enhance coordination of health and public safety agencies.