June Resources from Sedgwick - OABA Member Service Partner

OABA is pleased to partner with Sedgwick to offer members quality service and stability through the complex workers’ compensation environment. Check out this update from Sedgwick regarding OSHA Emphasis Programs and The Power of Your TPA Claims Examiner Relationship.

OSHA Emphasis Programs

We all know that the goal of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is to ensure workplace safety across various industries in the United States.  Some of these industries include, construction, agriculture, maritime, logging and general industry.  OSHA uses a couple of programs to address specific hazards that they see in the workplace.  The first one we discussed in a previous article is OSHA’s Top Ten Violations.  These are the most frequently occurring non-compliances OSHA uncovered during the prior fiscal year (October to September).  What is beneficial about this Top Ten List, is it gives companies a guide to evaluate their safety programs and processes, and compare them to what OSHA Compliance Officers are finding in the workplace.

The second program is a directive known as OSHA’s Emphasis Programs which are temporary initiatives launched by OSHA to focus on particular safety and health hazards that have been identified throughout the country or a specific region.  These directives are created based on inspection data, injury and illnesses, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) reports, peer-reviewed literature as well as analysis of inspection findings.  The goal of these emphasis programs is to target specific industries based on their operations (such as Trenching and Excavation) or by their North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) (such as Food Manufacturers or Warehousing and Distribution).  Additionally, these programs allow OSHA to direct resources to particular hazards and high-hazard industries and promote proactive measures (such as outreach programs) that employers can take to enhance workplace safety.  In either case, it is important to determine if your organizations falls under a specific emphasis program. 

Within the directive are two programs: the National Emphasis Program (known as NEP), which targets industries throughout the United States (including Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and Washington DC) and Regional/Local Emphasis Programs (known as REPs or LEPs) that target industries within a given region.  Currently, there are 10 regions and Ohio is part of region 5, which also includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.   Both directives cover a wide range of concerns such as fall hazards, specific chemical usage, heat hazards in indoor and outdoor environments, machine guarding and forklift operations.

The National Emphasis Programs include:

• Combustible Dust                                                   
• Fall Prevention/Protection
• Hazardous Machinery
• Heat
• Hexavalent Chromium
• Lead
• Primary Metal Industries
• Process Safety Management (PSM)
• Shipbreaking
• Silica, Crystalline
• Trenching and Excavation
• Warehousing and Distribution

Click here for OSHA’s National Emphasis Programs.

The Regional and Local Emphasis Programs include:

• Building Renovation/Rehabilitation and Demolition
• High Rise Building Construction Inspection in Chicago, Illinois
• Wood Pallet Manufacturing
• Exposure to Noise Hazards in the Workplace
• Food Manufacturing Industry
• Grain Handling Facilities
• Powered Industrial Vehicles
• Transportation Tank Cleaning Operations

Click here for more information on each of these emphasis programs.

OSHA's Emphasis Programs serve as vital tools in the ongoing effort to improve workplace safety across industries and promote a safer future.  For workers, this means a safer working environment and peace of mind.  For employers, engaging with emphasis programs can enhance the wellbeing of their employees while also potentially reducing long-term costs related to workplace injuries or illnesses.  It is important you review the emphasis programs to determine if your organization has an operation or an NAICS number that may be on  OSHA’s target list for an inspection.

If you have further questions regarding OSHA’s Emphasis Programs or would like more information, please contact Andy Sawan, Risk Services Specialist at Sedgwick at andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com or 330-819-4728.

The Power of Your TPA Claims Examiner Relationship

As a Sedgwick TPA customer our goal is to always provide you with comprehensive and immediate service for all of your workers’ compensation claim needs.    Part of that service includes a dedicated claims examiner assigned to your account who can offer a detailed plan of action to assist you in navigating the Ohio workers’ compensation system.   

When your company experiences a workers’ compensation claim, your assigned claims examiner will typically receive notice of the claim within a few days of the filing.  Their immediate goal is to complete a claim review of all documentation available so that they can notify you of any concerns with the information on file.  Some of the caution signs they monitor include:

• Prior medical history to the same body part
• A delay in seeking treatment
• Vague or inconclusive injury descriptions
• Medical treatment discrepancies
• The injury is reported soon after a known employer discipline
• Hobbies or extracurricular activities that could cause the reported injury
• Medical conditions that co-exist alongside the primary diagnosis (comorbidities)

Once the validity of a claim is verified your claims examiner will develop a detailed plan of action to monitor and help move the claim to final resolution either through full and final settlement of the claim or a full duty return to work.

Early communication with your claims examiner can provide clarity in the investigation process, reduce administration delays and ensure forward motion of the claim, which is a benefit to both you and your injured worker.   

While it is an unfortunate fact that workers do get injured on the job and the majority of those claims are credible, a strong relationship with your assigned claims examiner who can review what options are available to you as the employer to mitigate time and expense in the claim is one of the best tools you have in your toolbox. Their expert knowledge of the Ohio Workers’ Compensation system can help you make informed decisions that will lead to successful claim outcomes. 

If you have any questions, contact our Sedgwick program manager, David Deyo, at david.deyo@sedgwick.com.

Learn more about Sedgwick!

Did you know that many alternative discounts are available to help reduce your annual Ohio workers’ compensation costs? Through the OABA workers’ compensation program, your organization can significantly reduce your workers’ compensation costs through a variety of alternative rating programs. Our program, administered by Sedgwick, offers you quality service and stability through the complex workers’ compensation environment.

For over 50 years, Sedgwick has been helping employers navigate Ohio’s workers’ compensation system, providing services to help them control claim-related costs and reduce premiums. Our team includes experienced colleagues from CompManagement and CareWorks Comp.

Learn more about how Sedgwick can help your company save significantly on your workers’ compensation premium by clicking here.