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April Resources from Sedgwick - OABA Member Service Partner
OABA is pleased to partner with Sedgwick to offer members quality service and stability through the complex workers’ compensation environment. Check out this update from Sedgwick regarding Warehouse Safety and Industrial Commission Hearings.
Warehouse Safety
You may have seen, over the years, an increase in warehouse operations in your area. This is due to the industry’s significant growth since 2011. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), warehousing and distribution facilities have experienced a surge in employment from 668,900 to 1,713,900. The study included industries in warehousing and distribution centers, mail/postal processing and distribution centers and parcel delivery/courier services. Unfortunately, the increase in employment has also shown an increase in employee injuries.
From 2017 to 2021, the average incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses and the average days away restricted or transferred rate (also known as DART) were significantly higher than the private general industry rate. The Private Industry Rate showed a recordable case rate of 2.76 and a total DART rate of 1.6. The warehouse industry average showed a total recordable case rate of 4.17 and a total DART rate of 3.64. Check to see how your Injury and DART Rate compare.
With the increase in injuries, it is essential to ensure you have implemented the appropriate safety programs and trained employees on hazard identification and resolution. To get an idea of what those warehouse hazards are, OSHA performed several inspections over the years and came up with the following areas of concern: powered industrial vehicles; slip, trip, and fall hazards; blocked aisles/means of egress; heat hazards; and ergonomic hazards. Although this is only part of the list, it can help provide a starting point for identification of hazards in your organization.
Below are some potential solutions to those hazards.
- Powered Industrial Vehicles (PIV’s) Hazards
- All employees operating PIVs must be adequately trained.
- Never exceed the rated load of the PIV and ensure it is stable.
- Watch for pedestrians and observe the speed limit.
- Use horns at cross aisles and obstructed areas.
- Never, ever give rides to passengers.
- Slips, Trips and Fall Hazards
- Train workers on fall protection systems and ensure they are appropriately used.
- Keep floors and aisles clear of trip hazards such as cords, pallets, boxes and hoses.
- Ensure spills or wet areas are cleaned up as soon as possible.
- Ladders should be inspected before use and always used properly. Do not allow ladders to be used as platforms or placed on boxes, barrels or pallets to obtain additional height.
- Blocked Aisles/Means of Egress Hazards
- Fire extinguishers, eye wash/safety shower stations and electrical boxes should always remain clear and accessible. Best management practices suggest three feet of clearance.
- Ensure exit doors are kept clear in the event of an evacuation.
- Check emergency lighting for proper functionality.
- Heat Hazards
- New and returning workers should gradually be acclimated into the workplace to build a tolerance to the heat.
- Provide breaks that include water or electrolytes and cool/shaded areas.
- Train workers on the symptoms and dangers of heat hazards, such as heat stress or heat exhaustion and the steps to take for proper medical assistance.
- Ergonomic Hazards
- Ensure employees understand proper lifting techniques and weight limitations.
- Review and train employees on the need for material handling equipment to assist in lifting objects.
- Train employees on the signs and symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). MSDs include injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and epicondylitis.
Employers can create a secure environment that promotes employee well-being and enhances overall operation efficiency by prioritizing warehouse safety through training, communication, and proactive measures. Regular reviews and updates to safety protocols are essential to adapt to changing circumstances and technologies.
As final note, OSHA has placed warehouse safety as one of their National Emphasis Programs or NEP’s. NEP’s are designed to focus OSHA’s resources on particular hazards and high-hazard industries. For further information on the OSHA NEP for Warehouse Safety, go to: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/CPL_03-00-026.pdf.
If you need help identifying potential hazards in your workplace, please contact Andy Sawan, Risk Services Specialist at Sedgwick at andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com or 330-819-4728.
Industrial Commission Hearings: Continuance Requests
If you are an employer who has an injured worker with an active workers’ compensation claim, then there is a good chance that you will be scheduled for an Industrial Commission (IC) hearing at some point in time.
The Industrial Commission adjudicates all contested matters and will schedule a hearing at one of the 12 IC offices located throughout the state. Typically, the hearing is scheduled at the IC office closest to the Injured Worker’s home address.
Occasionally, when the hearing is set there is a need to request a continuance (postponement) of the hearing. In order to have a hearing successfully continued there are a few best practices that can help move the request in a positive direction.
The first step is identifying and communicating to the Industrial Commission that there is “good cause” or an “extraordinary circumstance” that warrants the request.
Let’s first review a “good cause” continuance request. For a continuance request to be considered “good cause,” it must be filed with the Commission at least five calendar days prior to the date of the hearing. This scenario most often accompanies a known schedule conflict that cannot be adjusted so that you are able to attend the hearing. Providing as much proof as you can to support your schedule conflict is the best option for securing a successful continuance. This can be in the form of a statement on your company letterhead detailing the specifics of the conflict or perhaps copies of travel documents that show you will be out of town on the date of the hearing.
The next category is “extraordinary circumstance”. This scenario most often involves unexpected illness, hospitalization, or family emergency. These are circumstances that could not have been foreseen or pre-planned and can be requested up to the day of the hearing.
When either type of continuance request is needed a continuance request form can be completed on the Industrial Commission’s website or you can print off the continuance request form and fax it directly to the IC office where the hearing is scheduled.
All hearing continuance requests are processed and addressed by the local Hearing Administrator. It is their sole discretion as to whether the request meets one of the above two standards.
As with all hearing related items, your claims team at Sedgwick can help you file your request for continuance and make sure that the IC’s best practices are followed.
If you have any questions, contact our Sedgwick program manager, David Deyo, at 614-318-5516 or david.deyo@sedgwick.com.
Learn more about Sedgwick!
Did you know that many alternative discounts are available to help reduce your annual Ohio workers’ compensation costs? Through the OABA workers’ compensation program, your organization can significantly reduce your workers’ compensation costs through a variety of alternative rating programs. Our program, administered by Sedgwick, offers you quality service and stability through the complex workers’ compensation environment.
For over 50 years, Sedgwick has been helping employers navigate Ohio’s workers’ compensation system, providing services to help them control claim-related costs and reduce premiums. Our team includes the experienced colleagues from CompManagement and CareWorks Comp.
Learn more about how Sedgwick can help your company save significantly on your workers’ compensation premium by visiting www.oaba.net/services_workers_comp.
