December 2012: Workers' Comp Advisory ? Toole Insurance

Ten Costly Return-to-Work Mistakes revisited

Return-to-Work programs have helped reduced Workers? Compensation, disability and medical insurance costs as well as protect employers from lawsuits regarding regulatory non-compliance, particularly related to the ADAAA. The economic and legislation landscape pose challenging issues for employers? Read more.

Important lessons for employers from recent reports

Recent reports on comorbidities, employee satisfaction and engagement, days away from work, and the aging workforce have important implications for employers? Read more.

Safety tips: Avoiding cold stress

Helpful hints and resources to prevent cold stress injuries including frostbite, hypothermia and trench feet? Read more.

OSHA Watch

• Updated training and educational resources available on fall prevention
• OSHA revises exemption for digger derricks in its Cranes and Derricks standard
• Updated publications ? General Industry Digest, Safety and Health Information Bulletin
• Recent fines and awards
• Read more.

Legal Corner
ADA

• Medical Center to Pay $146K to settle EEOC disability discrimination suit relating to prescription medication use by employees and applicants

FMLA

• Trip to Vegas is FMLA leave

Workers? Compensation

• Employer not required to reimburse injured worker for self-procured medical care: Court ? California
• Walmart settles closely watched Workers? Comp class action suit ? Colorado
• Employers may seek injured workers? health information from doctors ? Georgia
• Worker?s inability to speak English can affect disability settlement ? Iowa
• Federal appeals court reverses dismissal of a RICO complaint brought by Coca-Cola employees ? Michigan
• Extraordinary duties at grocery store means death is compensable ? New York
• Widow of claimant who dies from prescription drug and alcohol overdose entitled to survivor benefits -Washington
• Police officer injured doing pushups entitled to benefits ? Wisconsin
• Read more.

Things you should know

• EEOC sets record in FY2012 for monetary recovery
• NIOSH provides tips for avoiding slips, trips and falls
• California Department of Industrial Relations posts website to help explain reforms
• Michigan rules regarding independent contractors to change January 1, 2013
• Fear of discipline may discourage injury reporting: Duke study
• Obese truck drivers have higher crash risk: study
• Read more.

Source: http://tooleinsurance.com/blog/december-2012-workers-comp-advisory/

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