Industry News
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Workers’ Compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue their employer for the tort of negligence.
Author, Yvonne Gallagher, Landscape Division Account Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
California State Capital Building.
State Bill 189 (SB 189) (Bradford) was recently enacted by the California State Legislature. It is intended to correct issues resulting from the passage of Assembly Bill 2883 (AB 2883) (Daly et. al) in 2017, which changed the requirements for business owners to exclude themselves from workers' compensation coverage.
Author, Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Experience Modifier (i.e., experience MOD, MOD, XMOD, experience modification rating, EMR) weighs heavy on the calculation of your workers' compensation premium. With a MOD rating of 1.00 signifying unity (i.e., the average for your industry), any MOD above 1.00 is considered adverse. Thus, any MOD below 1.00 is considered better than average. Higher MODs will debit the premium, resulting in higher workers' compensation premiums, while lower MODs will credit the premium, resulting in lower workers' compensation premiums.
Author, Jim Malone, Claims Advocate, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When a work-related accident occurs, as a business owner or manager, it is our nature to want to analyze the situation in order to learn how to avoid it in the future. However, the reporting of the incident is equally as important. With the recent requirement to report first aid claims, timely reporting for all claims is recognized as being critical for a number of reasons.
Author Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As we enter 2018, government agencies, project owners and general contractors often require subcontractors to enter their pre-qualification process. Many of these entities will look closely at your Experience Modification Rate (EMR).
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its preliminary top 10 citation list for fiscal year 2017 at the annual National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo, held in late September 2017.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Whether you work in the human services sector like healthcare, community outreach, or schools, or you are in the construction industry working in areas like downtown San Diego, your employees may come in contact with the Hepatitis A virus.
Author David J. Garcia, C.R.I.S., A.A.I., President Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In an effort to keep you informed, so that you can begin to plan your 2018 budget, we wanted to let you know of a potential change in the dual wage classes, for many but not all, the dual wage construction class codes.
Author, Chase Hixson, Account Executive, Human Services, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Recently, a non-profit client of mine asked the question: What are the steps I should take with vendors, contracted professionals and partner agencies to make sure my organization is protected should a claim arise as a result of their work? This is a common exposure to many of our clients, and there are several steps that can be taken to protect your business.
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, CRIS, Janitorial Group Leader, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Workers’ Compensation claims can cost a company time, money, employee productivity, and morale. Litigation is one of the most costly results of a workers’ compensation claim. Once an employee hires an attorney, the time and money it takes for the claim to close drastically increases.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On August 1, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched its online electronic data filing application. It was designed to collect and publish injury data on companies throughout the United States in order to comply with a new requirement.
Author, Kevin Howard, CRIS, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Construction Group
If the title of this article gave you a good chuckle, you most likely have bid a job somewhere near a body of water; then, found out you need U.S. Longshore and Harbor (USL&H) Workers’ Compensation coverage. You were surely not the first one to overlook this requirement and you definitely will not be the last.
Author, Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Successfully maintaining low and predictable workers' compensation costs is a product of establishing a routine that constantly “checks and balances” your all-encompassing insurance program. Our "MOD Doctor" technique lays out a road map so we can guide you throughout the year to gain more control, become more efficient, and ultimately drive down your insurance cost; at no extra expense. What can you expect from this process?
Author, David J. Garcia, A.A.I., CRIS, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Earlier in the year, we published the article "Commercial Auto Premiums Are Rising - What’s Driving the Increases?," which addresses how insurance companies are all experiencing adverse loss experience within their commercial automobile books of business. The result of these mounting losses is causing a dramatic rise in commercial Auto premiums for most policyholders.
Author, David J. Garcia, A.A.I., CRIS, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Studies have shown, by reporting your workers compensation claims in a timely basis, not only will your injured employee receive better medical treatment, it will boost company morale. Both the injured worker, as well as other employees, will see your sincere concern for their wellbeing. In addition, timely reporting practices will also improve your risk profile through reducing the overall cost of the claim, which leads to lower loss ratios and lower experience modifiers, thus, resulting in lower premiums and improvement in your bottom line.
It may be of interest, if not importance, for all Californians to know about current proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens and Senator Toni Atkins of San Diego. The proposed bill would significantly expand the role of the state government within the healthcare system, by essentially establishing a single-payer system.
Author Jeremy Hoolihan, CRIS, Janitorial Group Leader Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
A recent study by the Commission on Health, Safety and Workers’ Compensation made an argument that the janitorial industry should be split into two workers’ compensation class codes. This change would be similar to how many construction operations field class codes are separated between an over and under dollar amount per hourly wage. As an example, an electrical contractor’s field wages are split at over and under $30/hour.
Authors, Dave Garcia, AAI, CRIS, President and CEO, and Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director from Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When a workers’ compensation claims occurs, in order to both control the costs of the claim and look for preventive measures to reduce or eliminate similar claims from reoccurring, it is vital that a thorough accident investigation report is completed.
Author, Drew Garcia, with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, is the program director for NALP’s Worker’s Compensation Program.
According to the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB), in the last 5 years, over a quarter of a billion dollars in back injury claims, on behalf of the landscape industry, have been paid out by carriers in California. The back claim is by far the most costly injury at $22,000 over the last five years and the second highest in terms of frequency (behind hand, wrist and finger injuries), and the leading claim resulting in an employee's time away from work.
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