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DOL Announces New Cybersecurity Guidance For Plan Sponsors, Plan Fiduciaries, Record Keepers, Plan Participants

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, News, Wealth Management

News Release by US Department of Labor The U.S. Department of Labor announced new guidance for plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, record keepers and plan participants on best practices for maintaining cybersecurity, including tips on how to protect the retirement benefits of America’s workers. This is the first time the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued cybersecurity guidance. This guidance is directed at plan sponsors and fiduciaries regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and plan participants and beneficiaries. As of 2018, EBSA estimates that there are 34 million defined benefit plan participants in private pension plans and 106 million defined contribution plan participants covering estimated assets of $9.3 trillion. Without sufficient protections, these participants and assets may be …

Six Components of an Effective Return-to-Work Program

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management, Workers' Compensation

By Tara Crisp-Schwartz for AssuredPartners.com One of the first steps in evaluating your current Workers’ Compensation and Return-to-Work (RTW) program is reviewing and revising current job descriptions to ensure they are EEOC and ADA-compliant. Once this task is complete, you can pre-plan for your return-to-work program. Why pre-plan? If you have not had a clear, concise discussion with your management team on RTW, you may get delayed when it comes time to implement the program for your injured worker. Read the six steps>>>

Prevent Falls in Construction: National Safety Stand-Down

Denise GillinConstruction, News, Risk Management

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has designated May 3 – 7, 2021 as the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 401 of the 1,061 construction fatalities recorded in 2019 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. What is a safety stand-down? A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on “Fall Hazards” and reinforcing the importance of “Fall …

How the Long-term Staying Power of COVID-19 is Impacting Workers’ Compensation

Denise GillinInsurance, Risk Management

By Autumn Demberger for Risk&Insurance.com The coronavirus pandemic may have a vaccine, but that does not mean it’s been eradicated. Now is the time for workers’ comp professionals to recognize what the impacts of the virus could be moving forward. For the workers’ compensation industry, the time to adjust had to happen quickly and effectively. The first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the United States early in 2020, and professionals in workers’ comp did not hesitate to act. In June 2020, myMatrixx first addressed this topic, diving into how best to address clients’ needs in very challenging times. As the virus continues to be a long-term concern, Hollie Lamboy, senior vice president, product development at myMatrixx, reflects on what that …

Adequately Documenting Refusal of Care

Denise GillinRisk Management, Senior Living

By Cathy Knopf, BSN, RN for AssuredPartners.com The law requires senior living communities to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity and self-determination. These rights include the right to refuse treatment or services. Healthcare staff are placed in a precarious position when the resident exercises this right. They are tasked with honoring the resident’s wishes while still providing other care that allows him / her to attain or maintain his or her highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. For example, healthcare staff would still be expected to provide appropriate measures for pressure injury prevention, even if a resident has refused food and fluids and is nearing death. It is important …

Stand by for Turbulence

Denise GillinInsurance, News, Risk Management

By Jared Shelly for Risk&Insurance.com A deadly virus and unruly passengers have shaken aviation safety. Crew members are bearing the brunt of a new wave of passenger harassment while the dangers of contracting COVID-19 are ever present. “Flight attendants have become the mask police,” said Nicole, whose real name is being withheld because she’s not permitted to speak publicly. “My number one job is not to serve drinks. It’s to keep people safe. But it became exhausting.” And, it’s not just impacting aviation. Insurance implications Unlike other industries, “there are no COVID-19 exclusions in aviation liability insurance,” said Brad Meinhardt, area executive vice president and managing director of aviation at Arthur J. Gallagher, “but such exclusions have started to appear …

Operating UAVs in Agriculture

Denise GillinAgribusiness, News, Risk Management

By Gina Ekstam for AssuredPartners.com The use of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) in agriculture continues to grow as a way to improve efficiencies and control costs. From monitoring or spraying crops to managing livestock to irrigation mapping, UAVs (or drones) are allowing farmers to make informed decisions and take action based on real-time data. The FAA requires anyone flying a drone weighing less than 55 pounds for commercial or educational use to be certified. Further, the drone must be registered through the FAA Drone Zone website. The first step is getting familiar with the rules outlined in the Part 107 regulations. Click to read more>>>  

Alternate Funding Arrangements: Different Avenues to Access Care

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, News

By Kelly Hagan, Regional VP of Operations, Employee Benefits for AssuredPartners.com Employers continue to feel the crush of increasing health care expenses. To mitigate those costs, more and more employers are looking at alternate funding arrangements and different ways to access care.  Below are a few alternate funding options to explore. Self-Funding Level Funding Reference Based Pricing Direct Primary Care High Performing Networks Accountable Care Organizations Bundled Payments Read more here>>>

Surging Import Volume Creates Havoc in the Port Straining Intermodal Truck Drivers and Operations

Denise GillinInsurance, News

By Mike Edwards, CIC, for AssuredPartners.com Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020, intermodal trucking has gone on a roller coaster ride that has taken them to the highest of highs and lowest of lows. When the global lockdown first went into effect, imports fell due to most of Asia closing their ports and ceasing exports in an all-out effort to contain the virus. While U.S. port operations remained largely open, container volumes fell as there was simply less freight to import into the country. However, this trend quickly dissipated as the economy shifted from serviced-based to retail-based due to the growth of e-commerce and consumers purchasing more and more goods from online vendors. “U.S. containerized imports from …

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

The National Safety Council (NSC) is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, focused on eliminating the leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths. One of their initiatives is designating April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s easy to participate: Commit to driving distraction-free by taking the NSC Just Drive Pledge: More than 700 people are injured in distracted driving crashes each day. Encourage all employees and their family members to take the NSC pledge to drive distraction-free. Take the Pledge. Use the 5-minute Safety Talk and presentation: Kick off a meeting with a safety talk and / or PowerPoint presentation to help educate co-workers about the risks of inattention blindness. Grab a blindfold to really drive this point home. Display awareness …