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  • General Aluminum Manufacturing Company, located in Wapakoneta, Ohio, was recently cited for exposing workers to workplace hazards. As a result, they face $480,000 in proposed penalties. This follows a previous inspection conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety Administration (OSHA) earlier this year.

    In February 2022, OSHA found a band saw and quench tank that lacked adequate machine guarding. In addition, the company failed to train workers in performing service and maintenance tasks on industrial machinery for energy control procedures. Due to the lack of proper training, some workers experienced amputation, caught-in, and struck-by hazards. These citations were also issued for these violations at the Conneaut and Ravenna facilities.

    In June 2022, OSHA also cited the Conneaut plant for eight additional violations and assessed $315,952 in proposed penalties.

    General Aluminum 

    General Aluminum Manufacturing Company offers engineered casting solutions. They produce machined aluminum castings for the automotive and non-automotive industries. In addition, they offer their customers low-pressure permanent molding, permanent molding, semi-permanent molding, lost foam, and high-pressure die castings. The company employs around 1,200 workers across the U.S., with 137 employees at the Wapakoneta location.

    OSHA Penalties They Face Today

    The most recent OSHA inspection conducted in the Wapakoneta facility cited the company with: 

    • One repeat
    • Two willful
    • 10 serious violations for exposing workers to fall hazards while working on top of casting machines, burn hazards due to water accumulation around casting machines, and using improper personal protective equipment

    OSHA inspectors determined worker exposure to electrical and arc flashes, confined space, and powered industrial vehicle hazards. General Aluminum has 15 business days from the day they received the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent OSHA Review Commission.

    Do You Want To Make Your Workplace Safer?

    GMS can help business owners take a proactive approach to workplace safety through various services through the following strategies: 

    • Onsite consulting
    • Jobsite inspections
    • Accident and injury investigations
    • Training
    • Job hazard analysis (JHA) and standard operating procedures (SOP)
    • OSHA inspection and citation assistance

    Take this concrete example from a manufacturing company as a reminder to act now before it’s too late. Don’t wait for OSHA to knock on your door; let GMS safety experts inspect your facility first. Learn more today.

  • It’s no secret that the construction industry can be more dangerous than many other types of work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 174,000 nonfatal construction injuries and illnesses in 2020 alone. OSHA also reports that construction workers made up 20% of private industry fatalities.

    These dangers are exactly why it’s essential for construction companies to have safety plans in place for each job site. A good safety program can help companies avoid accidents and keep workers safe and healthy. However, it’s not always obvious how to make a safety plan for construction sites. Below, we’ll break down how to create effective plans to protect your construction workers and your business.

    What Is A Construction Safety Plan?

    A construction safety plan is a written document used to protect workers on job sites. This plan should outline the various rules, procedures, and policies designed to:

    • Put measures in place to prevent accidents
    • Outline response plan following accidents or other safety issues
    • List medical services and emergency contacts
    • Detail the review process for any on-site incidents
    • Highlight safety goals for the construction site

    What Does A Construction Safety Plan Template Look Like?

    While every construction site safety plan will differ from location to location, the majority of plans will include the same types of information. The following construction safety plan example outlines common details that you may want to include in your documentation.

    • Company information
      • Name, address, and phone number
      • Person who approved the site safety plan and approval date
    • Site information
      • List of responsible individuals, such as project manager, site safety officer, etc.
      • Description of the project, work location, and site condition
    • Employees, subcontractors, and other individuals covered by this specific construction safety plan
      • Names of individuals involved in the project
      • Job descriptions/roles
      • Contact information
    • Site rules
      • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
      • Fall protection
      • Safety hazard identification
      • Lockout/tagout
      • Hand and power tools
      • Fire safety
      • First aid
      • Restricted areas
    • Emergency contact information
      • Name, location, and phone number of nearby medical emergency facilities
      • Name, location, and phone number for police department
      • Name and phone number for any leadership that need to be informed about incidents

    A worker using fall protection according to their construction safety plan.

    Best Practices For Construction Safety Plans

    While the elements listed above can help you create a solid safety plan, there are ways in which you can maximize the impact of your risk management efforts. Keep the following best practices in mind when you create and maintain your construction company’s safety plans.

    Embrace OSHA’s fall protection standards

    Slips, trips, and falls are one of the biggest pain points for construction sites. Fall protection is the most frequently cited OSHA violation, making fall protection standards and employee requirements especially important for safety plans. Want to learn more specifics on what businesses should know about fall protection? Check out our post on OSHA’s fall protection standards.

    Make personal protective equipment (PPE) a requirement

    Good protective equipment is another cornerstone for proper risk management in the construction industry. Anything from hard hats to hand protection can be necessary depending on the work being done on a site. Make sure to document what PPE is required on your job site, when and how it must be worn, and proper procedures for storing and maintaining PPE over time.

    Stay flexible

    While a construction company’s safety plan should be made before any work is done, that doesn’t mean it can’t change over time. Important plan details can and should be adjusted as necessary.

    Being flexible with your construction site’s safety plan will help your company address new hazards and make job sites safe and compliant . It’s best to review your plans at least once a year to stay on top of any new potential hazards or other risks.

    Consider various weather conditions

    The weather can create new safety issues for a construction project. If your site is outdoors or can be impacted by weather conditions, you’ll want to evaluate the work space for potential risks caused by rain, extreme heat, and more. Any identified risks should be added to your plan to make sure everyone is prepared regardless of the weather.

    Maintain ongoing safety education

    A safety plan doesn’t have to be a one-time teaching tool. In addition to updating your plans on a regular basis, don’t be afraid to discuss important aspects of your plans during construction safety meetings. Tackling topics ranging from fall protection to first aid can help reinforce the rules set in your safety plans and keep employees informed about how to protect themselves.

    Protect Your Business With A Construction Safety Plan

    Between accidents and rising workers’ compensation costs, it’s important for construction companies to invest in workplace safety. GMS partners with businesses to create thorough plans, complete jobsite inspections, and protect your company through other workplace safety strategies. In turn, business owners can limit accidents and control workers’ compensation costs.

    Ready to take a proactive approach to workplace safety? Contact GMS today to see how we can protect your business while you focus your valuable time on growing your business.

  • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to implement a hearing conversation program when noise exposure is at or above 85 decibels averaged over eight working hours, or an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The purpose is to prevent initial occupational hearing loss, preserve and protect remaining hearing, and equip workers with the knowledge and hearing protection devices necessary to safeguard themselves.

    Workers exposed to loud noises face the possibility of killing the nerve endings in their inner ears. This results in permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected through surgery or medicine. Loud noise in a workplace environment causes:

    • Physical and psychological stress
    • Reduces productivity 
    • Interferes with communication and concentration
    • Contributes to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals

    Hearing Conservation Program

    Employers are required to measure noise levels, provide free annual hearing exams, and conduct evaluations of the adequacy of the hearing protectors in use. Research shows that employers who take specific measures by implementing hearing conversation programs have higher levels of productivity from their workers and a lower incidence of absenteeism. All employers must repeat monitoring whenever changes in production, process, or controls increase noise exposure.

    Understand Your Noise Levels

    You can use different methods to measure the noise levels within your workplace. These include:

    • Sound level meters
    • Noise dosimeters
    • Octave band analyzers

    A good rule of thumb is if you need to raise your voice to speak to someone standing three feet away, the noise decibels might be too high. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) created an app, Sound Level Meter, an additional tool individuals can use on their devices to measure sound levels. In addition, you can use quitter machines, isolate the noise source, limit worker exposure, or use effective protective equipment.

    Improve Workplace Safety

    At GMS, our safety experts work with you to ensure employee safety. Luckily, it’s possible to protect your employees from excessively loud noise that could cause complete hearing loss. Be proactive and ensure the safety of your employees now before it’s too late.

  • Companies have been forced to review their emergency plans and create anti-violence training as a result of several factors. With the recent spike in shootings and other acts of violence affecting workers, protocols must change. If you add that to an increase of employees returning to work following the COVID-19 pandemic, you might need to reconsider your emergency action plans to reduce workplace violence.

    Workplace violence is “violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace, ranging from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, one of the leading causes of job-related deaths.”

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workplaces to have an emergency action plan to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. Did you know, on average, nearly two million U.S. workers report being a victim of violence at work? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the annual number of workplace homicides is nearly 400.

    How Employers Can Protect Their Employees

    Employers must establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence against or by their employees. If you do not already have a workplace violence prevention program set in place, consider doing so immediately to ensure the safety of your employees. Another option is to add a new section to your employee handbook regarding workplace violence. It’s imperative that the policy is clear and understood by all employees so that if an accident occurs, all workplace claims are investigated and dealt with promptly.

    In the event of workplace violence, take the following actions:

    • Encourage employees to report and log all incidents and threats of workplace violence. 
    • Provide prompt medical evaluation and treatment after the incident. 
    • Report violent incidents to the local police. 
    • Discuss the circumstances of the incident with human resources.
    • Offer stress debriefing sessions and post-traumatic counseling services to help employees recover from a violent incident.
    • Investigate all violent incidents and threats, monitor trends in violent incidents by type or circumstance, and institute corrective actions. 
    • Discuss changes in the program during regular employee meetings. 

    Create A Plan Before It’s Too Late

    At GMS, the safety of our clients is at the top of our priority list. Our experts create and update our clients’ emergency action plans with the latest laws and regulations. Furthermore, HR experts at GMS enhance your employee handbooks to ensure that your employees are protected and adhere to a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence. Don’t let your employees be at risk. Contact us today.

  • What is a Fleet Tracking System?

    A GPS fleet tracking system is an effective tool for managing your business’s fleet of vehicles. Fleet management involves overseeing and optimizing a fleet to enhance safety, efficiency, compliance, and productivity. These systems use GPS technology to monitor the activity of fleet vehicles and assets. They are commonly used by businesses that manage and operate multiple vehicles, such as delivery services, transportation companies, and service providers.

    Benefits of a Fleet Tracking System

    There are numerous reasons why business owners and fleet managers choose to implement a GPS fleet tracking system. Studies show that 62% of GPS tracking users reported a positive return on investment (ROI) in less than six months.

    Lower operational costs

    One of the greatest benefits of implementing a GPS fleet tracking system is the optimization of operational efficiency. By tracking and monitoring gas mileage, fuel consumption, average driving speed, and route distances, managers will have the data needed to optimize driving routes and fuel expenses. These systems can also track idling time, which can significantly impact your efficiency and bottom line, potentially costing thousands of dollars annually.

    Save time

    If there is an accident or congested traffic, GPS trackers provide real-time suggestions for quicker routes, helping drivers avoid unnecessary delays and hazardous conditions. Managers can analyze fuel usage and travel times for frequently traveled routes, enabling them to identify opportunities to reduce both time and fuel consumption.

    Improve driver safety

    With GPS tracking, managers can monitor instances of excessive speeding, hard braking, and aggressive acceleration. By identifying these unsafe behaviors, managers can address them with drivers to prevent accidents or incidents. Long hours on the road can lead to driver fatigue; a GPS tracking system can help drivers schedule necessary breaks along their routes, ensuring they remain well-rested, alert, and focused. Implementing dash cams is also beneficial for monitoring dangerous behaviors, such as tailgating, distracted driving, and running red lights.

    Reduce the Risk of Theft

    If one of your vehicles is stolen or used outside of operating hours, a GPS fleet tracking system allows you to locate the vehicle quickly, facilitating its recovery. Prompt recovery can save you significant costs associated with replacing or repairing the vehicle.

    A Smooth Ride With GMS 

    Regardless of the size of your fleet, it’s better to be safe than sorry when managing it. With Group Management Services’ (GMS) fleet management GPS tracking system, you can easily manage your fleet, ensuring its efficiency and productivity. Our system updates tracking information every 2-60 seconds while the vehicle is in motion, and all data is stored securely on servers for authorized users. If you’re interested in learning more about fleet management or how GMS can improve your efficiency, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

     

  • Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law Ohio Senate Bill (S.B.) No. 215. This will permit any “qualifying adult” to legally carry, possess, or conceal a handgun without a license, background check, or training requirements.

    Individuals who are considered a qualifying adult include:

    • Those who are 21 years of age or older
    • Legal residents
    • Not a fugitive 
    • Not a subject to a protection order
    • Have not been hospitalized or adjudicated mentally ill
    • Have not been dishonorably discharged from the military 
    • Do not have a conviction or delinquency for a felony, a drug offense, domestic violence, one misdemeanor offense of violence within three years or two within five years
    • Are not otherwise forbidden under state or federal law

    Before this bill, in order to obtain a concealed handgun license in Ohio, an Ohio resident must:

    • Submit an application to the county sheriff
    • Pay an initial $67 fee
    • Pass a background check
    • Complete eight hours of training
    • Pass a written exam

    What This Means For Employers

    The law still authorizes employers to establish, maintain, and enforce policies prohibiting individuals from carrying handguns or firearms in company buildings or within company vehicles. Private employers are “immune from liability in a civil action for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly was caused by or related to a [person] bringing a handgun onto the premises or property of the private employer, including motor vehicles owned by the private employer, unless the private employer acted with malicious purpose.”

    The main change for employers to be aware of under the new law involves the storage of its employees’ guns in parked cars on company property. A law passed in 2017 allowed employees with a valid concealed carry license to bring firearms and ammunition in their privately owned vehicle onto their employer’s parking lots, as long as they follow specific guidelines. Senate Bill 215 now gives all qualifying adults the same rights effective June 13th, 2022. Employers should consider revising their current employment policies to reflect the new law.

    Protect Your Employees And Your Business

    Since rules and regulations are constantly changing, keeping your business operations up to date is important. Partnering with GMS will provide your business with experts that will handle these ever-changing rules and regulations. Are you worried about Ohio’s new firearm law’s effects on your business? GMS will provide onsite training to ensure your employees are compliant with the law. Do you need to update your employee handbook? Employees at GMS will work diligently to create a handbook corresponding to Senate Bill 215 and identify specific steps employees must take. Get a quote today.

  • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its top 10 most-cited workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2021. OSHA publishes this list annually to raise employer awareness regarding the commonly cited standards. It’s imperative to recognize and correct hazards to avoid a visit – and heavy fines – from OSHA.

    The top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards including the number of violations for 2021 are:

    1. Fall protection – general requirements: 5,295 violations
    2. Respiratory protection: 2,527
    3. Ladders: 2,026
    4. Scaffolding: 1,948
    5. Hazard communication: 1,947
    6. Lockout/tagout: 1,698
    7. Fall protection – training requirements: 1,666
    8. Personal protective and lifesaving equipment – eye and face protection: 1,452
    9. Powered industrial trucks: 1,420
    10. Machine guarding: 1,113

    As fall protection is ranked number one for the 11th year in a row, it is vital you and your employees are trained properly. Every company should conduct an annual review of its safety policies and procedures, coinciding with this list’s publication. The list that OSHA provides is simply a starting point for identifying areas to evaluate as you fine-tune your 2022 safety program – however, your employees’ safety requires much more.

    The Importance Of Workplace Safety 

    Every worker should feel safe in their work environment. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide the right conditions for their employees. No matter the size or industry of your business, workplace safety is the number one priority.

    Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, workplace safety has become more important than ever. COVID-19 resulted in an increase in illnesses alongside the development of remote work. Safety-related initiatives result in fewer accidents, fewer occupational health costs, better employee retention and satisfaction, less employee downtime, and less retraining time.

    Invest In Workplace Safety

    Every year, U.S. businesses suffer the consequences of workplace injuries resulting in lost time, leading to costly fines for your business. What proactive steps are you taking to ensure the safety of your employees? GMS assists business owners in taking a proactive approach to workplace safety through various services:

    • Onsite consulting
    • Jobsite inspections
    • Accident and injury investigation

    Allow our team of safety experts to conduct onsite inspections prior to OSHA showing up. Be proactive and partner with GMS today.

  • According to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), during the first 27 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of workers’ compensation claims increased by 20%. The DWC oversees the administration and operation of the Texas workers’ compensation system.

    The goals of DWC are to ensure:

    • Each employee is treated with dignity and respect when injured on the job
    • Each injured employee has access to fair and accessible dispute resolution processes
    • Each employee that is injured has access to high-quality medical assistance
    • Each injured employee receives services to facilitate their return to work as soon as it’s considered safe and appropriate by their health care provider

    Since May 1st, 2022, insurance companies have reported over 83,000 COVID-19 claims and 448 fatalities to DWC. More than half of these claims were shown to be injured employees who tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, insurance companies:

    • Accepted 58% of positive test claims
    • Denied 42% of positive test claims

    With that being said, out of the 21,000 claims that were denied, there were only 184 disputes filed with DWC. A report stated that this was the highest number of claims and has interrupted a 20-year trend in Texas of fewer workers’ compensation claims reported each year. 51% of COVID-19 claims were in the public administration sector – first responders, correctional officers, and prison workers. 18% of the claims accounted for health care workers and social assistance.

    Carriers have paid a total of $40.6 million in medical costs on COVID-19-related claims that were reported to an insurance carrier as of March 31st, 2022. However, 76% of these costs have been paid by political subdivisions, 20% from insurance carriers, and 4% from the state of Texas.

    How You Can Lower Workers’ Compensation Rates

    The formula for determining your company’s workers’ compensation rates is complex; however, the concept is simple. The more claims an employee files, the higher your rate will be. GMS’ experts work hard to help you save time and money and prevent your workers from being injured on the job. Our team will work with you to reduce the risk of workplace accidents so that your business has fewer, less severe claims over time by using the following:

    • Risk assessments
    • Safety training programs
    • Development of safety manuals
    • Development of safety guidelines for employees
    • Workplace inspections and guidance on OSHA compliance
    • Help implement a drug-free and drug-testing program

    GMS’ workers’ compensation claims management team provides businesses with more than just cost savings. Most importantly, you gain a partner that oversees the process of claims management. We work closely with carriers to ensure that your best interests are always at the forefront. Contact us today to get your workers’ compensation risk under control.

  • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that they will begin the enforcement phase of its emphasis program to prevent workplace hearing loss. Although this program focuses mainly on manufacturing industries, occupational hearing loss is a widespread concern.

    OSHA reported that more than 30 million workers in the United States are exposed to hazardous noise each year causing thousands of workers to suffer from hearing loss that could have been prevented. Hazardous noise levels within the workplace are not only a concern for hearing loss but also contribute to other causes of physical and mental stress, ultimately, lowering employee productivity.

    With OSHA’s new regulations on occupational noise exposure, employers are now required to implement a hearing conservation program when employee noise exposure is equal to or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels (dBA). The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise is 90 dBA as an 8-hour TWA.

    Now, you may wonder, how can I prevent my employees from being exposed to hazardous noise? There are sound-measuring instruments available to measure noise levels which include sound level meters, noise dosimeters, and octave band analyzers. If you have access to mobile iOS devices, you can download the Sound Level Meter app as well. Partnering with a PEO like GMS can also ensure the safety of your employees.

    How GMS Can Help With Workplace Safety

    We understand that business owners can’t keep operations running and thriving without a healthy and efficient workforce. Your employees need the resources and tools to succeed while you are ensuring you’ve created a safe work environment. GMS helps small business owners take a proactive approach to workplace safety through a variety of services. We provide onsite consulting, job site inspections, accident and injury investigations, training, job hazard analysis and standard operating procedures, and OSHA inspection and citation assistance. If you want to make your workplace a safer place, contact us today.

  • In yet another year of COVID-19 regulations, the workers’ compensation industry will face more challenges. Workers’ compensation covers the cost of medical care and rehabilitation for workers injured on the job. Businesses are still experiencing staffing shortages, evolving regulatory changes, and more. This means new guidelines for compliance, new coverage options, and the need to be adaptable.

    Workers’ compensation remains to be a stable and profitable segment of the commercial insurance industry. However, since the beginning of COVID-19, claims are rising at exponential levels. Experts have stated that there is a variety of factors that are driving up the costs of claims when a workplace injury occurs. Below is a list of factors that are driving up the costs of claims:

    • Aging workforce
    • Medical inflation
    • Rising wages
    • High indemnity costs
    • Catastrophic injury severity 

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2021, 23% of the U.S. workforce was older than 55. Workers’ compensation claims for these employees accounted for 31% of the total cost. The changing workforce and rising medical costs were top concerns within the workers’ compensation sector. If you have elderly workers who take longer to recover from an injury and less-experienced workers who get injured more often, you end up with a handful of claims. The International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that 2.3 million men and women experience work-related injuries every year. With many businesses experiencing labor shortages, they are forced to hire someone who may be less experienced and may need additional training, which could put them at a greater risk for injury.

    • Increase in treatment per injured worker
    • Services rendered in a hospital setting
    • More expensive care
    • Mergers between medical facilities 
    • Consolidation of physician practices
    • Outpatient “ambulatory” hospital services 

    Partner With A PEO Today!

    As a business owner, do you feel that your workers’ compensation claims are through the roof? A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) like GMS partners with businesses to control their workers’ compensation insurance rates and protect them from costly claims. Our team of experts work hard to help you save money and prevent your workers from injuries on the job. Embrace workers’ compensation management so you can keep the focus on growing your business. Contact us today!