Things you should know

Crane safety: free, online tool to address common hazards

The NCCCO Foundation and the National Safety Council (NDC) have developed a free online tool aimed at enhancing safety on job sites where cranes and other load-handling equipment are utilized. It classifies controls according to the Hierarchy of Controls and offers a variety of options to mitigate or eliminate common safety hazards like fatigue, falls, and equipment tipping.

New guidance to prevent MSD injuries

Recognizing that musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, are the most common workplace injury and cost employers $18 billion a year, the NSC has devoted considerable resources to help employers identify risks early and take action before injuries occur. A new resource, The Importance of Musculoskeletal Disorder and Related Injury Surveillance: An Organizational Approach, provides examples of injury cases and ways to categorize and record such injuries and contains example data dashboards and injury record keeping forms to help organizations develop or refine injury surveillance methods.

CDC updates bird flu guidance to cover more workers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated interim guidance on protecting workers from exposure to bird flu to include employees at zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, fur farms, aquariums and wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

NIOSH updates list of hazardous drugs in healthcare

NIOSH recently updated its tool which is intended to help healthcare workers and employers identify which routinely handled drugs are considered hazardous. It updates the 2016 version by adding 25 drugs and removing seven.

Retail and Wholesale Injury Report

Insurance provider Sentry reviewed more than 22,000 injuries in its 2024 Retail & Wholesale Injury Report, which identifies top injury causes, most common body parts injured, age of workers, and days away from work. A key finding reveals that 38 percent of the injuries involved workers, regardless of age, in their first year.

New report on workplace bullying

A new report by High Rise Financial identifies the industries most impacted, demographics, and consequences of workplace bullying. It also addresses remote work and bullying.

ACOEM updates cannabis guidelines

New guidelines from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM)'s recent chronic pain recommendations released Jan. 28 prohibit cannabis for use in chronic pain treatment as well as acute and postoperative pain relief.

Trench safety standdown

The National Utility Contractors Association is encouraging "anyone who wants to prevent trenching and excavation hazards in the workplace" to participate in the 10th annual Trench Safety Stand Down, set to take place June 16-20.

New pain medication can impact comp industry

Journavx, or suzetrigine, is the first drug to be approved by the FDA in a new class of nonopioid analgesics to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. The cost is expected to be high, but the approval limits its use for acute pain to two weeks. Whether the drug can be used for chronic pain is an issue to watch.

CPWR reports dramatic increase in Hispanic construction worker deaths

A recent report in The Center for Construction Research and Training's (CPWR) Data Bulletin states that fatal workplace injuries involving Hispanic construction workers increased 107.1 percent from 2011 - 2022, compared to 16.5 percent among non-Hispanic construction workers. Language barriers, lack of Spanish training material, cultural factors, and employment in smaller-sized companies were cited as contributing factors.

Chemical Safety Board's YouTube channel a valuable resource

The Chemical Safety Board's YouTube channel was recently recognized with a Silver Play Button award from the online video sharing platform for exceeding 100,000 subscribers. Its channel, @USCSB, has over 365,000 subscribers and features nearly 100 safety videos.

New video for tower workers: Is that training certificate legit?

Communications tower industry stakeholders concerned about possible fraudulent worker training certifications can use technology as a screening tool, according to a new video from NATE, The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association.

WCRI and IAIABC report on workers comp laws

The study, Workers' Compensation Laws as of January 1, 2025, compares workers' compensation regulations and benefits across U.S. states and Canadian provinces as of January 1, 2025. The report is free for members and available to nonmembers for $125.

State News

California

• The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) introduced new treatment guidelines that align with ACOEM's recent chronic pain recommendations and would prevent cannabis from being prescribed for pain management through the state's Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS). A public hearing will be held March 14. More information.

Massachusetts

• Spurred by fatal incidents involving four roadway workers, the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program has issued a statewide safety alert, which shares case studies and provides guidance on preventing such incidents.

Minnesota

• The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has published a Request for Comments regarding a possible amendment to the rules governing workers' compensation treatment parameters related to medical imaging and injections, excluding treatment parameter rules for long-term treatment with opioid analgesic medication and post-traumatic stress disorder. Request for Comments (page 1004).
• The Workers' Compensation Division at the DLI has announced a new monthly publication, the Campus Connect newsletter. To subscribe.
• The DLI has released a new resource, Guide to Common Minnesota EDI and eForm Errors, which is a resource to help users navigate common error messages and examples, EDI reporting reference links and a glossary of Work Comp Campus and EDI abbreviations.

New York

• The December 2024 mental stress law, which allowed all workers to file claims for mental injuries caused by extraordinary work-related stress, has been replaced by Senate Bill 755. It limits coverage to police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and other certified emergency medical personnel. The first responder would need to connect the mental injury to a "work-related emergency," according to the law, which will go into effect June 4.
• Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law amendments to The Retail Worker Safety Act on Feb. 14. Among other changes, the amendment extends the Act's effective date to June 2, 2025, removes the term "panic buttons" and replaces it with "silent response buttons", limits the silent response button requirement to employers with 500 or more retail employees statewide, and decreases training requirements for employers with less than 50 retail employees.
• On February 14, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law amendments to the New York Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act. The definition of "musculoskeletal injuries and disorders" was replaced by "work-related musculoskeletal disorders," making it clear that the musculoskeletal disorder must be work-related. Effective June 1, 2025, the act now expands who is qualified to conduct the worksite evaluation and requires employee involvement in worksite evaluations.
• The WCRI reported an increase in lump-sum settlements after lawmakers adopted reforms in 2007. The percentage of indemnity claims settled by lump sum increased from 23 percent in 2007 to 37 percent in 2014.

Pennsylvania

• The Bureau of Workers Compensation developed the Payment Authorization Form for use by all insurers and self-insured employers to initiate or stop payment of wage loss benefits via direct deposit.

Virginia

• Bill to watch: It's uncertain if the Governor will sign a groundbreaking AI anti-discrimination bill, HB 2094, which would require employers to prepare for significant oversight of AI-driven decision-making starting July 1, 2026.