Requests for independent medical examinations for workers compensation claims with a psychological condition are rising, in part due to greater awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and an increase in workers seeking treatment for depression and anxiety in conjunction with a physical injury, experts say. While exact numbers are hard to pin down and the increases vary by state, psych IMEs…
A widow is barred from taking action over the death of her husband because the claim falls under the “exclusive remedy” provisions of Illinois’ workers’ compensation statutes, the deceased man’s former employer argues. Cathleen Shelton, on behalf of the estate of her husband, Michael, filed suit against Olin Corporation, claiming the company failed in its duty of care by exposing…
Stepping back to look at the whole picture when evaluating a claim and treating each case as unique is important for determining the best course of action, said legal experts in a presentation Monday at the Chicagoland Risk Forum at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Claims are as unique as snowflakes, and depending on the circumstances, when the defendant…
Workers compensation insurers’ year-over-year premiums have declined so far in 2019, according to a market intelligence analysis from S&P Global Inc. released Monday. Fourteen of the top 20 workers compensation underwriters reported premium declines in the first half of 2019, and total comp premiums for the industry declined to $27.03 billion — down 2.8% compared with the previous year —…
Employers continue to struggle with fall prevention and protection more than two years after federal regulators updated workplace safety rules in an effort to reduce fall-related fatalities, experts say. With falls killing more workers than ever in recent years, employers should place a renewed focus on reevaluating and managing the risk, they say. “I think (employers) are still getting the…
Overall workers compensation medical payments have continued to decline, according to the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California’s statewide Workers Compensation Aggregate Medical Payment Trends report, the bureau announced Tuesday. The report compares medical payment information from 2016 to 2018 and also analyzes utilization and cost of opioid prescriptions over time and by region. Medical payments for pharmaceuticals and…
A lack of effective worker participation in process safety efforts heightens the risk of employee injuries and serious safety incidents, according to a new report by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Worker participation is an “essential element” to improve process safety and prevent chemical incidents and is required by several existing federal safety regulations, including the U.S….
Telemedicine has been touted as a trend to watch in workers compensation yet the use of technology to link medical providers and injured patients has been slow to take hold in the comp sector because of regulatory and other obstacles, experts say. But telemedicine as a way to treat minor on-the-job injuries holds promise, said Rick Sumner, director risk of…
A state agency says a northern Indiana company was partly responsible for the death of a 43-year-old employee who was killed when welding equipment fell from a forklift. The Elkhart Truth reports that the investigation by Indiana’s workplace safety agency revealed that Bravo Trailers in Bristol didn’t ensure that each forklift operator was properly trained and ensure that forklifts only…
An East St. Louis man alleges he was fired by a local trucking company after being injured on the job in 2018 and receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Roderick Jones filed suit July 31 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Zade Trucking, alleging violations of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act. “There is a causal connection between [Jones]’ exercise of his…
