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BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Connor-Helring Associates, Inc.

February 2021

We're pleased to send you this month's WorkComp Advisory. Our goal is to provide information that will help you understand how to control your Workers' Compensation costs.

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Articles
 
 

OSHA, Labor Department, OSHRC, and NLRB: What’s changing and what’s anticipated

OSHA has already issued tougher workplace guidance and a temporary standard is expected by March 15. Learn more about what’s anticipated…



The impact of COVID-19 on Workers’ Compensation creates uncertainty

A flurry of presumption activity, a surge of COVID-19 claims in the 4th quarter, persistent economic changes, and employees attitudes about returning to the workplace combine to create uncertainty about the impact on premiums and future outlook…



The confusion over workplace safety

WorkComp gurus David Leng and Aaron Black explain the many serious mistakes municipalities and other employers make when failing to implement a robust safety program…



HR Tip: Social Media policies

In recent days there have been many high-profile stories of employees being terminated after a social media post came to their employer’s attention. It’s a critical time to develop or revisit your policy…



OSHA Watch
  • Federal COVID-19
    Stronger guidance issued for protecting the workplace
    New public service announcement
    Tips on transporting and storing COVID-19 vaccines
  • Federal Non-COVID-19
    Cost-of-living hikes for violations went into effect January 15
    Injury reporting data for certain establishments is due March 2
    New debt collection initiative
  • Michigan OSHA
    Emphasis program on silica launched
  • Virginia OSHA
    Virginia becomes first state to have a permanent COVID-19 Safety and Health Standard
  • Recent fines and awards
    • COVID-19-related citations
      Federal
      Cal/OSHA
      MIOSHA
    • Non-COVID-19- related citations



Legal Corner

Workers’ Compensation
  • Dynamex independent contractor decision applies retroactively – California
  • Exclusivity bars detention officer’s tort claim related to unsafe working conditions and COVID-19 – California
  • CBA means that federal law, not state, governs dispute – Michigan
  • Hospital worker assaulted when leaving work entitled to benefits – New York
  • Court reverses Board and awards SLU for hamstring tear – New York
  • Terminating employee for COVID-19 violation reports does not violate public policy – Pennsylvania
  • 120-Day notice of injury deadline cannot end on a Sunday – Pennsylvania
  • Benefits can only be terminated for incarceration after conviction – Pennsylvania



Things you should know
  • EEOC resumes data collection after COVID-19 delay
  • Wellness incentive rule proposed by EEOC, withdrawn for review by Biden administration
  • New tool to help calculate costs of COVID-19 testing
  • Updated tool to calculate the cost of workplace substance abuse
  • ICU staff mental health adversely affected by COVID-19: study
  • Survey: Nearly one-third of workers will quit if can’t continue remote working
  • State news



 
 
Note: The material in this eBulletin is provided as general information and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice.
Connor-Helring Associates, Inc.

EMAIL
Maureen McLaughlin, CPCU, CWCA
Tom Kelly, MWCA


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PHONE (570) 344-7060
ADDRESS
1906 Sanderson Avenue
Scranton, PA 18509


Fast fact:
COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims soared in the fourth quarter of 2020 in many states. In California, the total number of COVID-19 claims for accident year 2020 surpassed 100,000 (103,712), or more than one out of every six workers' comp claims with a 2020 injury date. - California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI)


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