Things you should know

Liberty Mutual 2025 Safety Index reveals two injury types drive work comp costs

Overexertion and same-level falls account for nearly 40 percent of the $58.78 billion annual workplace injury costs, according to Liberty Mutual's 2025 Workplace Safety Index. These two types of injuries have dominated the rankings for 25 years. Despite falling injury rates, the total cost of workers compensation benefits continues to increase.

Falls on the same level soared with an 84 percent cost increase, rising by $4.6 billion. In contrast, repetitive motion injuries from microtasks have plummeted by 44 percent, demonstrating that targeted prevention strategies can work.

In addition to the overall index, the report does a deep dive into eight industries: manufacturing, construction, healthcare & social services, professional & business services, retail, wholesale, leisure & hospitality, and transportation & warehousing. By pinpointing the most financially impactful injury types, employers can prioritize their risk control efforts and allocate resources where they will have the greatest effect.

New information from NCCI

• New Industry Trend Report looks at injury frequency, severity, and premium shares by industry.
• The Medical Inflation Insights Report provides a quarterly overview of the latest insights and analysis into what is driving changes in prices, and how these changes may or may not impact workers compensation.
• State of the Line Podcast examines the issues of medical utilization and associated costs, as well as changes in opioid prescribing trends in a new series called Experts on Experts.

Study: One in 10 workers in their 30s use drugs or alcohol before or during their shift

A recent study of workers in their 30s led by Ohio State University researchers found that one in 10 use alcohol, marijuana, or hard drugs such as cocaine either right before or during their shift. Food preparation and serving employees had the highest percentage of workers who reported such use in the past month (15.5 percent). Close behind were workers in transportation and material moving (11.8 percent), installation/maintenance/repairs (11.7 percent), and arts/entertainment/recreation (11 percent). Rates were high among workers with safety-sensitive occupations, especially skilled trades and transportation/material moving.

Researchers suggest that workers in settings with comprehensive approaches, including alcohol and drug policies, testing, and supportive services (e.g., access to employee assistance programs or counseling for substance-related problems), are significantly less likely to engage in substance use compared to those in workplaces that have singular or no programs.

Disability, workers compensation, and auto lines most common injury frauds online

The 2025 Online Fraud Insights report from Carpe Data report shows 8.9 percent of disability claimants were found to have misrepresented their claim, followed by 6.9 percent of workers comp claims, and 5.7 percent of auto claims. Nearly all the insurance fraud found online (82.7 percent) was found on social media. The report identifies the top cities and states for fraud activity, drills down on demographics, and analyzes tactics.

Updated information from CMS

• The updated Workers Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement (WCMSA) Guide can be downloaded here.
• On July 14, CMS released a proposal to update the physician fee schedule in 2026. Since CMS fee schedules influence state workers comp rates, stakeholders should stay informed. Public comments are open through September 12, with final policies effective January 1, 2026.

New report to protect crane workers from growing heat stress threat

The National Safety Council, in partnership with the NCCCO Foundation, released a new resource, Addressing Heat Stress in the Crane Industry. It offers targeted recommendations to protect crane workers from high-heat hazards.

WCRI study: Advanced-care practitioners speed up care

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) study found that injured workers first treated by nurse practitioners rather than primary care doctors had a 2.3 percent shorter time from injury to the first nonemergency evaluation and management service, driven by a 9.9 percent shorter time in rural areas. Workers first treated by physician assistants had a higher use of some specialty services, at 0.9 percentage points, and a 2.4 percent to 3.9 percent faster time to radiology, neurological/neuromuscular testing, and pain-management injections. While medical payments per claim were higher (4 percent), indemnity claims were lower (5.2 percent), indicating a faster return to work.

Safety guide for mechanics: Preventing vehicle falls from automotive lifts

Canadian scientific research organization IRSST recently published a guide on preventing injuries related to two-post, above-ground automotive lifts.

Brake system inspections coming

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CMV) inspectors will conduct announced and unannounced brake system inspections Aug. 24-30 during CVSA's annual Brake Safety Week. Brake-related violations led to 8.7 percent of inspected trucks and buses placed out of service during the Brake Safety Day in April.

State News

California

• The workers compensation pure premium advisory rate will increase 8.7 percent, effective Sept. 1, the first rate hike in more than a decade. Contributing factors include increases in medical loss development and medical costs in 2024, higher frequency, and a related increase in allocated loss adjustment expenses.
• The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) released the 2024 Workers' Compensation Losses and Expenses report. Total losses and expenses in the work comp system incurred in 2024 were $16.7 billion, or 108 percent of earned premium. The agency also released the 2025 State of the System report. It also posted a 2025 experience modification estimator to its website.
• Private self-insured employers reported 7.4 percent fewer workers compensation claims in 2024 than in 2023, but for the second straight year, the average paid and incurred losses on the claims increased, according to the Workers Compensation Institute.
• The Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) released the "California Janitor Workload Study" report by the University of California (UC) San Francisco and UC Berkeley. It presents an overview of the physical workload, psychosocial stress, and work climate factors contributing to a high prevalence of adverse health outcomes.

Georgia

• Effective July 1, 2025, the State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC) updated several rules. Some of the notable amendments relate to attorney fees on medical expenses, compensation memorandum for no-liability settlements, consistent timeline for objections in rehab cases, and email delivery of awards and orders. For a summary.

Indiana

• Effective August 1, the Workers Compensation Board announced that claim adjustment applications must be filed electronically. Paper submissions will be destroyed and will not be filed if received after Aug. 5. More information.

Minnesota

• A new law, Senate File 2370 (SF 2370), which became effective May 24, requires employers to provide 14 days' written notice before disciplining medical cannabis patients who test positive for marijuana. The notice must cite the specific federal law or regulation the employer believes compels such action.
• The July issue of Campus Connect features articles on additional updates to rehabilitation provider registration in Work Comp Campus and a summary of the 2025 Minnesota Workers Compensation System Report, which presents trend data from 2003 to the present regarding several aspects of the workers compensation system.

New York

• Construction site injuries in New York City dropped 30 percent last year while total incidents hit a 10-year low, according to the city's Department of Buildings annual Construction Safety Report.

Wisconsin

• Senate Bill 45 was signed July 3, which requires the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to implement a hospital fee schedule by July 1, 2027. The schedule will cover five regions, with maximum fees set at 120 percent of the 75th percentile of in-network commercial rates in each region. The introduction of a fee schedule marks a major policy shift.