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October 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 Cold Weather Safety and Workers' Compensation Fraud.
Cold Weather Safety
As the warm temperatures begin to drop, we all know that cold weather is right around the corner. This should remind us that we must change our thinking from heat safety to cold safety. Cold weather hazards can be just as dangerous to our employees as the heat, so it is imperative we take the steps to protect them from these hazards. Hazards such as immersion, frostbite and hypothermia are just a few cold stress conditions that are dangerous to our employees. Training employees on these hazardous conditions and the steps to minimize them is key to keeping workers safe.
Whether your employees work outdoors, or indoors in cold environments, training them to protect themselves and others is vital. Consider a training program that includes understanding cold weather conditions, appropriate clothing and signs and symptoms of cold stress.
Understanding winter weather terminology is a good first step in preparing employees to work in the cold.
- Wind Chill is a term used to describe what the air temperature feels like to the human skin due to the combination of cold temperatures and winds blowing on exposed skin.
- Wind Chill Warning is when wind chill temperatures are expected to be hazardous within several minutes of exposure.
- Blizzard Warning is the most severe weather condition and includes blowing and falling snow with winds of 35 miles per hour or more and visibility of ¼ mile or less.
- Winter Storm Warning when blizzard conditions, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet are imminent or occurring.
- Winter Weather Advisory is issued for snow accumulation, freezing rain or drizzle and sleet accumulation. Advisory is a hazardous weather condition issued by the Nation Weather Service (NWS).
Many of these weather conditions (and others) are issued by the NWS, so staying up-to-date allows employees to prepare for the day's work. There are many phone weather apps available, so take the time to find the one that is most beneficial to your workforce. Once you have chosen the right app, be sure employees know how to use it.
The next step in preparing for the cold weather is knowing how to dress. Wearing the appropriate clothing is crucial to comfort, warmth and the ability to perform the job safely. Each job should be evaluated to ensure the correct clothing is being used. The rule of thumb is to start with three layers of clothing: an inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body, a middle layer made up of wool or a synthetic material to provide insulation when wet, then an outer layer such as a jacket or parka, to protect against wind and rain and allows for ventilation to prevent overheating. Make sure the clothing is loose to allow for circulation. Tight clothing will restrict blood flow, affecting its ability to warm the body, especially the extremities.
Finally, employees should be trained to recognize cold weather stress conditions. Some of these stress conditions include the following.
Immersion Hypothermia
This condition typically occurs when the body or parts of the body are wet. Cold water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air. Signs and symptoms include reddening skin, tingling or pain in the affected area, leg cramps and numbness or blisters.
If an employee suffers from immersion hypothermia, remove wet clothing and dry the area (do not rub). Get medical assistance if needed.
Frostbite
This condition leads to a loss of feeling and color in the affected areas. Commonly affecting extremities such as the nose, ear, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes, it may lead to permanent damage to the body, including amputation in severe cases. A person suffering from frostbite may not realize it is occurring because that body part is numb.
Signs and symptoms include reddened skin that develops into white/gray patches, tingling, aching and loss of feeling. Get the individual into a warm room or shelter, remove any wet clothing and warm them using dry layers of blankets and clothing. Mild frostbite gets better with rewarming. Seek medical attention for anything more serious than mild frostbite.
Hypothermia
It occurs during very cold weather and is one of the most severe conditions of exposure. Symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If someone is suffering from hypothermia, get medical attention immediately, move the individual to a warm, dry area and replace any wet clothing.
A comprehensive cold weather safety program is key to a safe workplace. Research the latest treatments for cold weather stress by visiting the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or The Occupational Safety and Health Administration website (www.osha.gov). Once you've developed a program, be sure to train employees on measures to protect themselves and others. Winter is approaching, be sure you and your employees are prepared.
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.
Workers' Compensation Fraud
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is tasked with protecting the integrity of Ohio's workers' compensation system. One way BWC does this is by identifying and preventing fraudulent activities from workers, employers and health-care providers. Fraud undermines the financial stability of the system and impacts honest workers and businesses.
Fraudulent activities can come from multiple sources, including workers, employers and providers. Understanding the signs of fraud helps us all protect the system.
Worker fraud
This is also known as claimant fraud. Do you suspect someone who is out of work and receiving BWC disability benefits is committing fraud?
Some red flags that may signal injured worker fraud include individuals who:
- Collect BWC total disability compensation benefits while working
- Work for cash under the table
- Are self-employed or work from home
- Are never available to answer calls at home or have limited availability for medical exams and/or appointments
- Perform seasonal work that is about to end when they file a claim
- Are on disability compensation but engage in physical activities inconsistent with the limitations they claim to have due to their injury
- Give their prescribed narcotics to others or deceive medical providers to get multiple prescriptions
- Claim to be injured at work but were injured elsewhere
- Grossly exaggerate the extent of their injury
Employer fraud
Employers who commit fraud get an unfair advantage ultimately harming the honest employers’ ability to compete. This can result in innocent, hard-working employees losing their jobs and business owners losing their business.
Some red flags that may signal employer fraud include:
- Someone who operates a business without workers’ compensation coverage
- A competitor who frequently underbids contracts (due to not paying for workers’ compensation coverage)
- If a certificate of BWC coverage is not visible or contains an outdated coverage period and/or incorrect name of the BWC administrator
- An employer who misreports the amount of payroll or shifts payroll to lower cost jobs to avoid paying its fair share
- An employer who represents/reports employees as independent contractors/subcontractors
- An employer who pays employees cash under the table
Provider fraud
Nefarious health-care providers pose a risk to the well-being of their patients. They do this by misrepresenting treatments and conditions to get money to which they’re not entitled.
Some red flags that can signal health-care provider fraud include if the:
- Provider bills for a more costly service than what was performed
- Provider misrepresents who provided the care
- Provider dispenses controlled substances with no legitimate medical purpose
- Provider consistently bills the same procedure codes across their entire patient base
- Provider bills a high number of units related to time-based codes
- Injured worker’s treatment notes do not change from visit to visit
- Information contained in injured worker’s treatment notes is incorrect
If you suspect workers’ compensation fraud, you can report suspected fraud to BWC online here or by calling the BWC fraud hotline at 1.800.644.6292.
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.
