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  • According to a report released by the Texas Department of Insurance, 24% of workers in Texas who had approved COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims received medical or hospital/facility services one-month post-injury. In addition, the division reported that 74 insurers in Texas saw more than 90,000 COVID-19 claims and 459 fatalities.

    Sixty-eight percent reported had involved employees who tested positive or had been diagnosed with COVID-19. It was determined that insurers had denied 39% of COVID-19 claims for tests that came back positive. However, with more than 22,000 denials of COVID-19 claims with positive tests or diagnoses, there were only 207 disputes filed with the Division of Workers’ Compensation as of August 7th.

    Of the 35% of the medical and indemnity claims:

    • 89% of the hospital/facility payments were made for inpatient services
    • 8% for outpatient services
    • 3% for other

    How GMS Can Help You

    While COVID-19 is unpredictable and we can’t stop the spread completely, our team of experts can certainly help you take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace. While you probably already have a safety protocol in place for COVID-19, our risk management team can do a walkthrough of your building to ensure you are taking all necessary steps. Partnering with GMS makes your business simpler, safer, and stronger. Let us take on the administrative burdens so you don’t have to. Contact us today.

  • With recent news regarding gun control, there has been additional confusion over when, where, and how weapons can be carried. Laws and regulations related to carrying firearms, specifically concealed guns and where weapons can be carried, continue to change.

    The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” As a business owner, you may wonder how this affects your business. To remain compliant with evolving legislation, employers should communicate expectations consistently throughout their organization.

    Safe Work Environment 

    Employers must provide a workplace for employees that does not pose a severe risk of harm. A weapons-free workplace policy sets the stage for a safe work environment. There should be training for any possible incidents of workplace violence, including those that involve weapons. For this to happen, employers must assess risks through a workplace audit. This will allow the workplace to be prepared should an incident occur.

    In addition, you must monitor any additional changes to relevant laws and regulations. Understand that laws vary at local and state levels. If you’re a business owner with office locations in multiple states, you must understand each law that could impact the organization.

    Ensure you are consistent when issuing and maintaining policies and procedures throughout the workplace. If you’re an employer who enforces a strict no-weapons policy, it must be implemented fairly throughout the organization. For example, if no employee is allowed to have a weapon in the workplace, this policy should include all employees, even executives such as the CEO.

    How Will You Protect Your Employees?

    Partnering with a PEO such as GMS can provide you with the resources you need to make informed decisions. Our safety experts conduct walkthroughs of your facility to ensure you remain compliant with OSHA rules and regulations. In addition, our HR experts work with you to create employee handbooks. If you already have an employee handbook written, we can help you update it with a no-weapon policy. Contact us today to learn more.

  • A bill amending workers’ compensation benefit requirements for employees who sustain an injury while working from home goes into effect on September 23rd. House Bill 447 states that an employee who works from home and is injured is compensable under Ohio’s workers’ compensation system only if:

    • The injury arises out of the employee’s employment
    • Was caused by a special hazard of the employee’s employment activity
    • It is sustained during an activity undertaken by the employee for the exclusive benefit of the employer

    The bill restricts the definition of injury for employees who work from home. Previously, if a remote worker was injured, it was compensable if sustained during and arising out of their employment. The bill is meant to codify the limitations of work-from-home injury claims, says Philip Fulton, a Columbus-based injured workers attorney.

    Lower Your Risk Of Workers’ Compensation Claims 

    GMS helps you lower your risk of workers’ compensation claims. By helping you reduce the risk of accidents and potential claims, you receive a much lower rate than what the Bureau will offer. Should an injury happen to an employee while working from home, GMS will make the overall claim determination and will cover all medical and compensation costs. Learn more by contacting us today.

  • For many business owners, a visit from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can be a nerve-wracking experience. OSHA conducts tens of thousands of inspections each year to ensure that businesses maintain their legal responsibility to protect employees from injuries and illnesses.

    No employer wants to see an OSHA inspector at their door, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared. Let’s break down what can trigger OSHA inspections and what employers can do to make the experience as quick and painless as possible.

    What Causes OSHA Inspections To Happen?

    There are several reasons why OSHA may conduct an unplanned visit to your business, but some are more likely to trigger an inspection than others. The following reasons can all cause OSHA to come knocking on your door and are ranked in order of priority.

    1. High-hazard environments with issues that pose imminent danger.
    2. Someone died or multiple people were hospitalized on a job site.
    3. Employees on-site filed complaints or requested an inspection.
    4. Other agencies, businesses, or individuals referred a worksite for OSHA investigation.
    5. OSHA is following up on a previous inspection to determine if the violations have been corrected.
    6. A visit was pre-planned because a workplace previously experienced high incident rates or is in a hazardous industry.

    Generally, the majority of OSHA inspections are surprise events. According to OSHA, there are only four instances when the organizations will give advance notice for inspections:

    • OSHA needs to involve management to immediately address cases of apparent imminent danger.
    • An inspection requires special preparation or must be conducted after regular working hours.
    • If management and worker representatives are not likely to be on-site unless they have advance notice.
    • If the OSHA area director thinks a more complete inspection is necessary, such as an investigation following a fatality.

    How To Prepare Ahead Of Time

    Workplace safety begins long before an OSHA official stops by for a walkaround inspection. Preventative safety measures can help drastically limit the odds of accidents and ensuing visits from OSHA.

    Conduct jobsite inspections and risk assessments

    The best way to prevent accidents and inspections is to eliminate issues that lead to them. Take some time to identify and eliminate potential hazards on your worksites. Everything from minor trip hazards to missing safety equipment can lead to problems, so a proactive approach can save you and your employees from physical harm and future headaches.

    Train employees on workplace safety

    The better educated your employees are about workplace safety, the more likely it is that they will safely perform their jobs. Ongoing training sessions can teach your workforce everything they need to know about workplace safety, including:

    • What personal protective equipment (PPE) is required on the job, when it’s needed, and how to properly wear it.
    • Special safety procedures, such as fall protection guidelines.
    • How to identify hazards and report them.
    • Proper procedures for how to use and store workplace tools, equipment, and machinery.
    • Best practices for fire safety, first aid, and other needs.
    • Next steps to take in the event of an accident or other incident.

    Maintain safety documentation

    A well-defined set of workplace safety policies is an effective way to encourage employees to adopt safe work habits and a valuable compliance tool. Update your employee handbook to include safety and health policies included in your workplace safety program.

    Even if you have existing policies in place, review them to ensure there are no gaps and that they are up to date. You should also keep records of any relevant safety data, including:

    • OSHA 300 logs
    • Safety data sheets
    • Safety training and toolbox training sign-in sheets

    What To Do During An OSHA Inspection

    Preventative measures can help your business drastically reduce workplace accidents and OSHA inspections. However, it’s important to act accordingly if OSHA arrives with an inspection warrant. The following tips can help you protect your business and make the inspection go as smoothly as possible for both parties.

    Know your rights

    During an OSHA inspection, you have the right to take measures to protect your business. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recommends that employers know about the following rights they can use to their benefit:

    • OSHA may not inspect a workplace without administrative probable cause and a warrant, giving employers some room to negotiate a reasonable scope for the inspection.
    • Employers have the right to exclude nonemployee third parties from the inspection process.
    • Employers have the right to an opening conference that they can use to:
      • Negotiate the inspection scope.
      • Ask questions about the purpose and cause of the inspection.
      • Establish ground rules for how the inspection will proceed, including document collection, conducting interviews, and gaining physical access to the facility.
    • If an investigation was triggered by an employee complaint, employers have a right to obtain that complaint before consenting to an investigation.
    • Employers can accompany the OSHA compliance officer at all times during the inspection walkaround and document evidence alongside them.
    • After the inspection is complete, employers have the right to contest any OSHA citations.

    Be civil and accommodating when the inspector arrives

    The arrival of an OSHA inspector isn’t something you want to see, but it’s still important to be civil and accommodating when they’re in your workplace. While employers can use their rights to protect themselves and their company, it’s essential that you don’t do anything that can be viewed as an obstruction of the investigation. Don’t do anything that would prevent the inspector from doing their job; otherwise, your business could face criminal penalties.

    Another great reason for civility is that acting in good faith goes a long way in the eyes of OSHA. If you don’t act like you’re trying to hide something, the inspector is more likely to be lenient if they do find any issues and deal out penalties. This doesn’t mean that you need to provide info you aren’t asked about, but working with the investigator goes a long way toward making the investigation quicker and easier.

    Stay with the inspector

    If someone from OSHA is on site, make sure they’re not alone. Accompany the compliance officer wherever they go. Ensure you can see what they see and collect the same information as them, in case you need to defend your business against a citation.

    If you can’t stay with them, ensure that an authorized representative stays with the inspector in your place.

    Work With Safety Experts Who Can Help Protect Your Business

    It’s not always easy to maintain a culture of safety, but taking the time and effort to do so can make a major difference for both you and your employees. Fortunately, you don’t have to address workplace safety and OSHA inspections alone.

    GMS partners with business owners to make their business a safer place. We use cost containment and loss prevention strategies to improve workplace safety, manage the OSHA inspection process, and lower workers’ compensation costs. Contact GMS today to learn more about how our risk management services can protect your business and save you time.

  • 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.