workers’ compensation News

Workers’ Compensation Is Doing Well. Is It Time to Worry?

Although workers’ compensation results remain strong—and the line continues to outperform all other commercial insurance lines—worries about continued soft pricing and loss reserve levels for workers’ compensation specialists prompted a rating agency warning recently. “As rate levels continue to decline, …

Wisconsin Manufacturer Fined $171K for Exposing Workers to Lead, Other Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Milwaukee Valve Company Inc. – based in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin – for exposing employees to lead and copper dust at rates higher than the permissible exposure …

Arizona Lawmakers Vow to Boost Firefighter Cancer Coverage

A group of Arizona lawmakers has vowed to boost protections for firefighters and other first responders who are diagnosed with a cancer linked to the workplace to address concerns that some cities are denying coverage. Republican Sen. Heather Carter said …

Ohio Grain Handling Company Fined $292K After Employee Deaths

A federal agency fined an Ohio-based grain handling company over alleged safety violations that led to the deaths of two employees last year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined The Andersons Inc. nearly $292,000 for grain handling, and walking …

Oklahoma Oil Rig Explosion Wrongful Death Trial Begins in Oklahoma

The wrongful death trial against a oilfield equipment contractor in connection with a January 2018 explosion and fire that killed five men in southeastern Oklahoma is underway. The McAlester News-Capital reports that attorneys for the families of Parker Waldridge of …

Little Change in Louisiana Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries, Illnesses in 2018

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports that the incidence rate of work-related injuries and illnesses among Louisiana’s private sector employers was essentially unchanged in 2018, according to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey. The state’s employer-reported injury and illness …

Fastcomp Creates ‘Workers’ Comp Insurance Exchange’ for Independent Agents

Fastcomp, a workers’ compensation technology platform based in Boston Heights, Ohio, has introduced a proprietary Multiple Quote Automation engine for monoline workers’ comp with independent agents in mind. The company said that depending on the risk, Fastcomp can deliver as …

W.R. Berkley Names Levesque President of Preferred Employers; Gallacher Now Chairman

W. R. Berkley Corp. has appointed Dennis J. Levesque as president of its Preferred Employers Insurance subsidiary, a California specialty workers’ compensation writer. He succeeds Steven A. Gallacher, who has been appointed chairman of Preferred Employers Insurance. The appointments are …

3 Hurt in Explosion at South Dakota Petroleum Distributor

Three people were hurt in an explosion at a South Dakota petroleum distributor on Dec. 30, the company’s co-owner said. The explosion happened around 2 p.m. in the truck maintenance shop of Harms Oil just west of Aberdeen. Co-owner Jason …

Investigators Cite Leadership Failures at Fire Scene in Illinois Firefighter’s Death

Failures in leadership at the scene of a March house fire in southern Illinois contributed to the death of a firefighter, state investigators concluded. Godfrey Fire Capt. Jake Ringering was killed and three other firefighters were injured on when a …