Compliance Stuff

In 2024, Ohio employers paid over $180,000,000 in lost time expenses after workplace injuries, with an average cost of $37,000 per claim in lost time expenses alone .  One of the best ways to reduce lost time expenses is by offering light duty work to an injured worker after a workplace injury.  Light duty work not only reduces claim expenses for the employer, but it’s also beneficial to the injured worker by keeping them engaged in the workforce during their recovery.  However, if an employer wants to offer light duty work, they must do so with care to ensure compliance with the rules set forth in the Ohio Administrative Code and Ohio Revised Code.  Ohio Administrative Code 4121-3-32(A)(6) sets forth that a “job offer” means  “a proposal, made in good faith, of suitable employment within a reasonable proximity of the injured worker’s residence”.  OAC 4121-3-32(A)(6) further states that any written job offer shall: 1) identify the position offered, 2) inc...

  Fatigue continues to be a problem for workers. In fact, more than 43% of U.S. workers are sleep deprived and say they are too tired to function at their job, according to a survey released by the National Safety Council in 2019.     By 2020 that number went up to 77%. Although the pandemic was probably a large component of that, the numbers are not going in the right direction. This issue has a direct impact on safety in the workplace. It’s estimated, by the National Safety Council, that 13% of workplace injuries are caused by fatigue. Translated into costs, employers are paying more than $136 billion annually in health-related lost productivity. Viewing this number from a cost per employee, it’s around $1,200-$3,100 per year. In addition to injuries, fatigue can cause reduced mental cognition, decision-making, and reaction time, as well as decreased performance and productivity. As is the case with solving many issues, technology has a large role to play. In this...