workers’ compensation News

One Critically Injured in Fire at Texas Oilfield Site

One person was seriously injured in a Midland, Texas, explosion and fire on Thursday involving several storage tanks and a truck used in oilfield operations, city and hospital officials said. The fire was contained at the property owned by petroleum …

Statewide Overall Decrease of 7.5% Approved for Florida Workers’ Comp Rates

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier has issued a final order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall decrease of 7.5% for Florida workers’ compensation insurance rates. This applies to both new and renewal …

Report on California Workers’ Comp Shows Steady Independent Medical Review Activity

More than 15,400 independent medical reviews a month are issued in California’s worker’s compensation system, according to a new report from the Department of Industrial Relations. The DIR this week issued a progress report on the its independent medical review …

Alabama Court Gives Go Ahead to Workers Comp Suit Against AIG, Coventry

An Alabama appellate court has cleared the way for a lawsuit that alleges outrageous and fraudulent conduct by American International Group and Coventry against a worker who was injured in an explosion and sought psychological care. The Court of Civil …

Company Fined Nearly $1.6M After 4 Workers Killed in Illinois Plant Explosion

Federal workplace safety officials have levied $1,591,176 in penalties against a silicon chemical products manufacturer after four employees suffered fatal injuries in an explosion and fire at the company’s Waukegan, Illinois, plant on May 3, 2019 The U.S. Department of …

Texas Oilfield Worker Killed by Poisonous Gas; Wife Dies Checking on Him

A 44-year-old Texas oil company worker died after being overcome by poisonous gas at a pump house, and his 37-year-old wife also was killed by the fumes when she went to check on him. The Ector County Sheriff’s Office says …

Michigan Governor Wants to Make More Workers Eligible for Overtime

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is moving to make more Michigan workers eligible for overtime pay. The Democrat announced that her administration will establish rules to change the salary threshold under which employers must pay overtime to their workers. Whitmer did not …

WCRI Study Examines Impact of Reforms on New York Workers’ Comp System

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has released a new report for policymakers and system stakeholders to track the performance of the New York workers’ compensation benefit delivery system. “Originally established to monitor the system following reforms in 2007, the …

Pennsylvania Company Fined After Worker’s Fatal Fall into Meat Grinder

Federal officials have fined a Pennsylvania company for violations found after a worker was killed when she fell into a meat grinder earlier this year. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration issued $49,062 in civil penalties against the Economy Storage …

Profit Lessons in Commercial Auto, Workers Comp and Other Business

Progressive has a competitive edge over long-term players in the commercial auto insurance market and national carriers outpace regionals on workers compensation profit measures, according to a new report from Guy Carpenter. “Competition and change are the only certainties” for …