September 8 – 11 is Respiratory Protection Week

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

September 8 – 11 is Respiratory Protection Week. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is dedicated to applying the best scientific approach to determine proper respiratory protection practices, innovative respirator designs, and maximizing the availability of respiratory protection (Find more information at Respiratory-Protection-Week-2020). Click here for a toolbox talk you can use to bring awareness to the importance of using respirators properly. Contact your Murray Risk Control Consultant at 717.397.9600 for additional assistance on resources and tools for prevention, including materials contained in the Succeed / KPA risk management platform.    

Preventing Opioid Misuse and Abuse Among an Aging Population

Denise GillinHuman Resources, News, Risk Management

By Josh Mountz, M.Ed, Prevention Specialist, Compass Mark August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. Compass Mark and Murray are partnering to relay information about the opioid crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose remains a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Overdoses involving prescription and illicit opioids take the lives of 128 people every day. The population of the United States is graying as more and more baby boomers enter their senior years, a demographic shift often referred to by the US Census Bureau as a “gray tsunami.” One issue facing the senior population is the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, especially opioids. This can occur for a variety of …

Malicious Cyber Actor Spoofing COVID-19 Loan Relief Webpage via Phishing Emails

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is currently tracking an unknown malicious cyber actor who is spoofing the Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 loan relief webpage via phishing emails. These emails include a malicious link to the spoofed SBA website that the cyber actor is using for malicious re-directs and credential stealing. To get the technical details and the mitigations, go to the CISA website: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-225a

Covid-19 written with pills isolated on white background

Opioid Addiction During a Pandemic: Help Stop the Trends

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management, Third Party Claim Administration

By Laurie Deitrich, CSP, ARM, HEM, Risk Control Specialist According to National Institute of Mental Health, there is a connection between opioid overdose deaths and mental health. “While we don’t know exactly how many opioid overdose deaths are actually suicides, some experts estimate that up to 30% of opioid overdoses may fit this description. The connection between opioid overdose and suicide has appeared to increase over time, with one 2017 analysis of National Vital Statistics data showing significant increases in suicides involving opioids among all age groups except teens and young adults between 1999 and 2014; in those aged 55-64, the rate quadrupled. A 2017 study using national survey data showed that people who misused prescription opioids were 40-60% more likely to have thoughts …

Workers’ Compensation and Mental Health Claims: What You Should Know

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management, Third Party Claim Administration

By Jill Root, Assistant Vice President and Third-Party Administration Claims Manager Headlines in business and insurance magazines across the Commonwealth raise similar red flags for human resource and workers’ compensation professionals – prepare for a surge in mental health claims related to COVID. Stress of the coronavirus pandemic may lead to an increase in mental health-related workers’ compensation claims, especially among first responders and healthcare workers. Are there other equally important stressors that deserve our attention? How is the workers’ compensation system prepared to respond, and what can we do to help? As a Third-Party Administrator working closely with retirement communities and municipalities in Central Pennsylvania, we see the pressure placed upon our clients every day to take care of …

OSHA Safe + Sound Week, August 10-16, 2020

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

The US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsors Safe + Sound, a year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have a safety and health program. This year August 10-16 has been designated as Safe + Sound Week to emphasize this nationwide event that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Click to get more information and to register. Contact a member of the Murray Risk Control team at 717.397.9600 for information on setting up a safety and health program for your organization.

Open packet of spinach seeds with some scattered in front of envelope. Extreme shallow depth of field with selective focus on seed in front.

Agriculture Department Warns Consumers to Report Unsolicited, Mislabeled Seeds Received by Mail

Denise GillinAgribusiness, News

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today warned consumers to properly discard and report unordered and mislabeled seeds shipped from overseas. Consumers nationwide have received seeds in packages labeled as jewelry. These seeds may contain plant diseases, weeds or invasive plants that could harm Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and ecosystem. “Seeds sold in Pennsylvania are rigorously tested to ensure that they are genetically pure and regulated to ensure that what’s on the label is what’s in the package,” Secretary Redding said. “Planting seeds without knowing what they are can wreak havoc with our environment, destroy agricultural crops and incur costly control efforts for years to come.” Seeds labelled as jewelry are likely a scam known as “brushing.” Companies boost online sales by purchasing …

York County Restart Fund

Denise GillinNews

The York County Commissioners voted to allocate a portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to support a small business and nonprofit organization grant program. The YoCo Strong Restart Fund will be administered by the York County Economic Alliance and Community First Fund. York County will dedicate $10 million for small business support and $4 million for nonprofit support. Grant amounts will range from $10,000 to $35,000 for eligible organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the grant program details provided by the York County Economic Alliance: Application will open the week of August 24 and remain open for 10 days. The program is not “first come, first served” basis.  On YoCoStrong.org you …

OSHA’s Six Standards that Apply to COVID-19

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

By Laurie Deitrich, CSP, ARM, HEM, Risk Control Specialist The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has outlined six federal health and safety standards that apply to the pandemic to help employers protect their workers: Personal Protective Equipment: General Requirements Personal Protective Equipment: Respiratory Protection General Environmental Controls: Sanitation Toxic and Hazardous Substances: Hazard Communication Toxic and Hazardous Substances: Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Below, Laurie provides a brief introduction to the six OSHA standards. Contact a member of the Murray Risk Control Team at 717.327.9600 or Laurie directly at 717.735.3050 for more information.  

Close-up text Emergency First Aid with illness sympton - accident.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

By Gene Schmitt, CSP, ARM, CHST, CFPS, Risk Control Specialist Excessive heat affects many workers, particularly people performing strenuous work including firefighters, foundry workers, bakery workers, and construction workers. It’s important to recognize conditions and situations where heat-related illness might occur and take appropriate prevention measures.  Employees should learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and know how to appropriately respond. The heat wave we are experiencing brings the risk for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat cramps occur when the body loses significant amounts of salts. It’s important to stop strenuous activity and get to a cool, shaded place. Drink clear juice or a sports beverage, or water with food. Heat exhaustion is when …