Senior Living: Reducing Fall Risks for New Admissions

Denise GillinRisk Management

By Peggy Morrison, MSN, RN, BC, CEAL, WCC, QCP for AssuredPartners.com According to the CDC, 3,000,000 older people are treated in emergency departments each year for fall-related injuries. The consequences of falling can range from minor bumps and bruises to major trauma, including fractures (especially of the hip), and brain injuries. Severe injuries from a fall can be life-threatening; an estimated 27,000 older individuals die every year as a direct consequence of or from complications following a fall. Residents are often admitted to senior living care settings as the result of a fall that has occurred in their home or their community. However, admission to a senior living environment also presents its own unique risk for falls for a variety …

Young attractive asian manager woman looking, picking, replemishment, receiving inventory at store warehouse in warehouse management system concept. Smart ERP with iot for inventory management. (Young attractive asian manager woman looking, picking, r

Six Manufacturing Tech Trends to Look for in 2021

Denise GillinBusiness Insurance, News

By Sharon Goldman for Forbes.com In the early days of the pandemic, manufacturers were hit hard with forced shutdowns, production slowdowns and serious questions about whether companies could navigate the disruptions. Manufacturing indicators had shown early 2020 momentum, but US industrial production in March registered a month-over-month decline of 4.5%, followed by a deeper decline of 11.2% in April. What did increase in 2020, however, was the speed of transformation. Companies made swift moves towards Industry 4.0, or the ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices. There is no time to waste: manufacturers looking to stay competitive need to serve their customers in new ways; become more agile and flexible; and attract the right skills and talent. Read the …

April 26 – 30, 2021 is National Work Zone Awareness Week

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

Each year in the spring, National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is held to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. Work zone related changes in traffic patterns and rights of way, combined with the presence of workers, and the frequent movement of work vehicles, may lead lead to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Through NWZAW, the Federal Highway Administration and its partners hope to bring attention to the the critical issue of road user and worker safety in and around work zones. This year, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting the 2021 National Work Zone Awareness Week kick-off event on April 27 with the theme, “Drive Safe. Work Safe Save Lives.” …

Meet Them Where They Are

Denise GillinDiversity & Inclusion, News

By Maureen Brody for LeadersEdge.com There’s an old maxim about pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps, but career achievement is more often a collaborative enterprise in which successful people spot, sponsor and promote their future replacements. In that vein, The Council and several of its members and valued partners are undertaking efforts to assist minority talent with entering the insurance industry – and thriving in it. Some questions executives can ask: How many of our executives come from racial minorities? Is this representative of the general population? If not, why? Are we recruiting from places that have substantial minority participation? If not, where can we turn for more access to minority candidates? Can we sponsor a scholarship, internship or apprenticeship? …

Guidance for Pennsylvania Businesses in Restaurant Industry Updated

Denise GillinNews

April 1, 2021 Update / Governor.pa.gov Businesses Subject to This Guidance – Click here for details All businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, private clubs, and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by this guidance, including: Alcohol can only be served for on-premises consumption. Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law. This guidance applies to all restaurants, private event spaces and wedding venues with food service, licensed clubs, and bars, …

Economic Stress Tests Workers’ Comp Plans

Denise GillinHealth Benefits, Insurance, Risk Management, Third Party Claim Administration

By John Lacy for LeadersEdge.com With prevailing economic pressures widely expected to persist, more and more businesses will consider different ways to adapt, including the possibility of smaller, less skilled, and/or over-burdened workforces. These additional stresses could increase the risks of on-the-job injuries and, in some cases, jeopardize the ongoing well-being of the business. The good news for business owners is that those companies willing to proactively refine and manage their workers compensation program can take steps to mitigate losses, thus keeping their workers safe and protecting their business interests. Read how a robust workers’ compensation program is a basic tenet of successful risk management>>>

Three Important Risk Control Techniques For Managing Contractors

Denise GillinRisk Management

From Millers Mutual Insurance Every time a property owner/manager hires an outside contractor for services such as landscaping, snow and ice removal, or pool maintenance, there is the potential for third-party litigation resulting from the contractor’s work. Property owners/managers can be held liable for wrongful acts committed by a contractor even though the owner/manager may have no direct fault for the act. There are, however, various risk control techniques that will help an owner/manager recognize and control potential liability exposures. Read the 3 risk control techniques>>>

How to Respond to OSHA’s COVID Enforcement

Denise GillinNews, Risk Management

By David Sparkman for EHSToday.com Employers now find themselves in the crosshairs of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) amped-up enforcement of its COVID-19 guidelines and need to take immediate action to avoid the potential flood of citations and penalties expected to result. OSHA said it is choosing to target those industry sectors that have been generating the highest number of complaints, such as healthcare, which includes hospitals, healthcare providers, assisted living facilities and home healthcare services. Other industries targeted are general warehousing and storage, temporary help and staffing agencies, discount department stores, both full- and limited service restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores (excluding convenience stores), and poultry and meat slaughtering and processing plants. Read the details>>>

Understanding and Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

Denise GillinHuman Resources, Insurance, News

White Paper By CVS Health Troy Brennan, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health Sree Chaguturu, MD, Senior Vice President, CVS Health and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark Garth Graham, MD, Vice President, Chief Community Health Officer, Aetna The white paper states, “For the Country to achieve significant control of COVID-19, widespread adoption of safe and efficacious vaccines across all communities and populations will be critical.” Demographic insights are listed below. Other key survey results and the need for a multi-pronged approach to addressing specific concerns are covered. Read the white paper here. Demographic Insights: Men are more likely to be vaccinated than women. College-educated participants are more likely to be vaccinated. Higher-income participants are most likely …

Identifying the (Benefits) Gaps – 3 steps employers can take to move toward an inclusive culture

Denise GillinDiversity & Inclusion, Health Benefits, News

By Katie Oberkircher for LeadersEdge.com Using an employee-driven social networking platform, data is generated around how workers approach their jobs, share their beliefs, and interact with coworkers. In part one of a three-part series, Andrew Phillips, founder of All of Us, dives into what’s most important for employers to consider when deciding how to drive cultural change. Where to start>>>