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Medical costs across the country now account for nearly 60% of workers compensation losses, up from 40% during the early 1980s, NCCI Holdings Inc. found in an analysis released Wednesday. Slightly more than half of the increased medical share of losses resulted from medical and wage inflation, Boca Raton, Fla.-based NCCI said. The balance is related to differences in medical and indemnity utilization. While there are state-to-state differences in medical costs, similar patterns exist across all states, NCCI found. NCCI’s analysis is available at www.ncci.com/nccimain/pages/default.aspx

Lead was detected in 20 percent of the toys, and the group says levels in some far exceed the 600 parts-per-million standard set by the federal government for a recall.

When deciding how to decorate your office for the holiday season, be mindful of potential safety hazards. The same safety considerations that apply to seasonal decorations at home also apply in the workplace. Fire Safety Considerations For Holiday Decor Be mindful of potential fire hazards when selecting holiday decorations and determining where to place them. Make wise choices about the types of holiday lights you use. Do not use any type of decoration in your office that has an open flame, If you use a metallic tree, do not place any type of lights on it. Make sure that you… Read More »Holiday Office Decoration

Preventing a Leading Cause of Workplace Injuries Did you know that falls on the same level are the second leading cause of all workplace injuries? On average those injured employees who slip and fall miss eight days of work with thirty percent missing more than twenty-one. Flooring and footwear are the two main causes of these accidents. Therefore preventing these common types of injuries can be as easy as enforcing proper footwear and assessing walking surfaces both inside and outside of the workplace. Winter is quickly approaching, leading to another cause of slips and falls. Applying salt and I or… Read More »Slips, Trips, and Falls

California State Fund Files an 8.9 Percent Premium Increase for 2009. State Fund announced it filed a Jan. 1, 2009 revision to its rating plan, which it anticipates will result in an average 8.9 percent increase in collectible premium. Premiums for individual employers will also vary based on the experience of their particular rating class and experience modification, so individual employers will inevitably see more or less than the average change. The principal driver of the rate increase is medical inflation, SCIF said. Over the past two years, workers’ compensation medical costs have been rising at a rate of about… Read More »Worker Comp Premium Increase

The number of Indiana motorists colliding with deer is on the rise despite state-sanctioned hunts intended to bring down their numbers. Deer-vehicle accidents in Indiana are up 25 percent since 2003 compared with 15 percent for the rest of the nation, according to State Farm Insurance, which used insurance claims to compile its statistics. Read More…

The Consumer Federation of America has rated the California Department of Insurance Web site as “excellent” for providing consumers information about auto and homeowners insurance, according to a survey released this week. Paperless would like to express its congratulations!  California was one of only six states out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia that received an excellent rating. “Consumers need information so they can make an informed choice on insurance and I’m proud that California is at the forefront of using the Web to provide that information,” said Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. “As we implement our paperless… Read More »California Insurance Department Web Site

Washington drivers may be having second thoughts about the state’s new law governing hand-held cell phone use while driving, a recent poll by Pemco Insurance shows. In February 2008, prior to the law’s enforcement, the majority of Washington drivers thought the law did not go far enough, allowing police to ticket hand-held cell-phone users only if they are stopped for another, more-serious offense, known as a primary offense. Now, however, law enforcement classify the violation as a secondary offense. In the most recent poll, results show the number of primary-offense supporters has slipped and now only half of respondents think… Read More »Cell Phone Law

More than four in 10 Americans are worried that the current economic environment can expose their families to crime, according to a nationwide survey of 1,000 people. Many survey respondents also indicated that economic conditions are causing them to reduce their spending on security systems and devices. The survey, sponsored by the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos, found that 41 percent of respondents said they are very concerned about crime against themselves and their families based on the economy. Forty percent are very concerned about the trustworthiness of household contractors, and 34 percent are very concerned about checking the backgrounds… Read More »Economy Poses Increased Risk to Crime

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced the arrests of Robert and Lisa Franklin of Artesia, on five counts of felony grand theft, five counts of diversion of premiums. In addition, Mrs. Franklin was charged with one felony count of insurance fraud. Mrs. Franklin faces a maximum sentence of nine years in state prison if convicted. Mr. Franklin faces a maximum of seven years in state prison if convicted. Bail is set at $230,000 for each suspect. Through the course of its investigation, CDI investigators discovered that between March 2004 and January 2006, Franklin allegedly collected and/or overcharged five victims of… Read More »Insurance Fraud Scheme