Things you should know

NSC survey: 75% of employers affected by opioids

Seventy-five percent of U.S. employers say they have been directly affected by opioids, but only 17% of them feel "extremely well prepared" to manage the issue, according to a survey by the National Safety Council. 38% have experienced absenteeism or impaired worker performance as a result of drug use and 31% have had an overdose, arrest, a near-miss or an injury because of employee opioid use.

In spite of the results, employers say they are more concerned about hiring qualified workers, employee benefits costs and worker compensation costs than they are about employee use of legal prescription opioids or illicit use/sale of opioids.

April is distracted driving awareness month

It's another opportunity to remind employees of the dangers of distracted driving.

Draft brewery resources

The expansion of the craft brewery industry is continuing at a rapid pace and WorkSafeBC has produced resources to assist brewery and distillery employers with their health and safety programs. They include a downloadable guide, posters, and a video featuring Red Truck Beer Company's approach to safety.

EPA training designed to help prevent paraquat poisonings

The Environmental Protection Agency is offering training intended to help prevent poisonings among workers who apply the toxic herbicide paraquat, as required by agency regulations.

Guidance on lifting during and after pregnancy

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has guidance on appropriate limitations throughout pregnancy and immediately after giving birth.

State News

California

• The number of prescriptions for drugs that do not require a utilization review under the year-old workers' compensation formulary increased to 38.5% in 2018, up from 35.2% in 2017, and payments for drugs not listed on the formulary increased by more than 10 percentage points, according to the Workers' Compensation Research Institute.
• State Fund announced it has launched SafeAtWorkCA.com, a new online safety resource designed to help employers protect their workers and build cultures of safety.
• The Division of Workers' Compensation updated four chapters of the state's medical treatment guidelines, and added a new section covering post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.

Illinois

• The Department of Insurance no longer requires a narrative when errors are discovered in carriers' aggregated data reports.
• The legislature approved a bill that allows some workers to sue their employers for occupational injuries, specifically those that have passed the statute of limitations. Currently, an employee's exclusive remedy lies under either the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Disease Acts. The new bill allows workers who suffer a disability due to exposure to asbestos more than 25 years after the last exposure not only to file a civil action, but also no longer be confined to the limitations on compensation under the Occupational Diseases Act. The bill was sent to the governor's office.

Virginia

• Maximum and minimum compensation rates will increase, by about 1.85% on July 1, the Workers' Compensation Commission announced. The maximum compensation rate will increase to $1,102 from $1,082, while the minimum rate will increase to $275.50 from $270.50. The reimbursement rate of 55.5 cents per mile has not changed since October 2011.