Things you should know

New resources from NCCI

• 2022 Regulatory and Legislative Trends provides an overview of key legislative, regulatory, and other developments affecting the workers compensation system.
• 2022 Enacted Legislation-Interactive Dashboard provides users with interactive navigation for a countrywide or state view of workers compensation-related legislation enacted in 2022.
• 2021-2022 Loss Cost/Rate Filing-Interactive Dashboard provides information on filed and approved Loss Cost/Rate information based on the 2021-2022 filing season.

Long-COVID hampering workforce

Several reports have shown that Long-COVID is affecting the workforce, productivity, and claims:

• CDC highlights symptoms of Long COVID.
• The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis abstract report written by Dasom Ham shows 24.1 percent of those that have had COVID reported long-term symptoms, with around 25.9 percent requiring adjusted work hours due to symptoms, resulting in fewer work hours and less pay.
• Brookings Institution estimates that around 8 percent, totaling 16 million working aged people have long COVID with around 2 to 4 million out of work because of their symptoms.
• The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) reports approximately 11 percent of workers with mild COVID received WC treatment for Long-COVID. For more severe cases, claim costs were 16 percent more than non-COVID cases that required hospitalization.

NSC report on impairment detection technology and workplace safety

A new report from the National Safety Council (NSC) is aimed at better informing employers and policymakers on the availability and reliability of impairment detection technology, along with considerations for implementation. The white paper examines 15 impairment technologies.

Heat.gov launched

Heat.gov, the web portal for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, is intended to provide real-time data and response resources to "equip local officials and the public with robust and accessible information." The website also features resources on extreme heat conditions and preparedness.

Workplace accident report identifies characteristics of fatal and serious workplace injuries

For the U.S. Workplace Accident Report, health experts from NiceRx.com used 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the risks and various characteristics of workplace injuries. These include state, industry, body part, sex, age, day of the week, and month.

Uptick in foot injuries as women return to work

Shifting to high heels in the office after two-plus years of working from home in flat-soled sneakers has led to an uptick in shin splints and plantar fasciitis, among other injuries.

State News

California

• In-person walk-throughs resumed Sept. 6 at most Division of Workers' Compensation Offices. The Eureka district office remains remote.
• WCIRB released its 2022 State of the System report highlighting key metrics of the state's workers' compensation system.

Florida

• NCCI recommends an 8.4 percent comp rate decrease for businesses, effective January 1, 2023. The Office of Insurance Regulation needs to approve the decrease.

New York

• U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor denied a request for a stay of the New York City rule requiring municipal workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 while a case is appealed.

Pennsylvania

• New rules related to tipped employees and salaried nonexempt employees went into effect August 5.

Virginia

• The Workers' Compensation Commission announced changes to the "30-day Order Claim Filed" form, which clarify who is expected to respond and allow parties to provide a specific response identifying issues upon which they agree.