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OSHA Not Prepared to Accept Electronic Submissions

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Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

For over a year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have championed the upcoming electronic submission of injury and illness records (i.e., OSHA 300 logs) through its website.  The new requirement was designed to make OSHA records publicly available on the internet in hopes that it would encourage employers to maintain safer working environments.  The electronic submissions of the 2016 reports were supposed to be due by July 1, 2017.

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Cyberattacks Threaten Small Businesses: Help Protect Your Company's Data by Following These Steps

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Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

With the recent cyberattacks spreading across the globe, Rancho Mesa would like to remind its clients to take the necessary precautions to protect their business’s data.

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Taking Your Safety Program to the Next Level: Form a Safety Committee

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Author, Daniel Frazee, ARM, CRIS, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Establishing a safety committee within your company will enhance the effectiveness of your safety program by identifying hazards and appropriate controls, implementing specific measures, developing clear safe work practices and communicating clearly through all levels within your organization.  

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NALP Launches New Discounted Workers' Compensation Insurance Program

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The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) is partnering with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services and Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies to offer NALP members a competitive workers’ compensation option backed by specialized landscape industry expertise and a dedicated service team.

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Is Your Business Protected from Data Breach Costs and HIPAA Violations?

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Author Chase Hixson, AAI, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As technology and the common usage of the internet in business grow, Cyber Crime is an ever increasing exposure for businesses.  Most businesses carry large quantities of sensitive data that if breached, can create a financial and administrative headache.  Many business owners are unaware of the real exposures they have should their information be compromised, whether directly or indirectly.

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What is SB 562 all about?

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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.

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Commercial Auto Premiums Are Rising - What’s Driving the Increases?

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Author David J. Garcia, C.R.I.S., A.A.I., President Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The insurance industry is experiencing record losses on their commercial auto books of business, which is dramatically driving up insurance premiums for business owners. There are many factors that are contributing to this increase in losses; let’s take a look at six of the most prevalent.

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Should Union Janitorial Employers have a lower Workers’ Compensation rate than Non-Union Employers?

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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.

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Help Control Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Costs through Accident Investigation

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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.

Closing the "Gaps in Coverage" When Using Temporary or Leased Labor

Author, Dave Garcia, AAI, CRIS,  is the President and CEO of Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. 

It has become more common for construction companies to use temporary or leased labor in order to meet the demands of their work.  While this is a useful tool it can create some unintended gaps in coverage for the contractor hiring the temporary or leased labor. These gaps potentially exist for on-the-job injury claims suffered by the temporary or leased workers. 

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How to Prevent Back Injuries in the Landscape Industry

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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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Why are hand injuries the most frequent claim reported in the Landscape Industry?

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Author, Drew Garcia, with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, is the program director for NALP’s Worker’s Compensation Program. 

The landscape industry experiences frequent hand, wrist and finger injuries - they're three most frequent types of Workers Compensation claims.  Employees complain their personal protection equipment (i.e., gloves) limit dexterity, prohibiting finger movement, causing difficulty in performing their jobs.  As a result, employees remove their safety gloves to perform their job-related activities, and experience hand, wrist and finger injuries.

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4 Factors That Shape Your Insurance Risk Profile

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Author, Drew Garcia, with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, is the program director for NALP’s Worker’s Compensation Program. 

Ever wonder why your insurance rates high when your competitors are low? There are reasons for that including, frequency of claims, severity of claims, experience rating, average claim cost incurred, operations, trends, loss ratio etc. If you evaluate your risk profile you can take action to lower your premiums.

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Rancho Mesa “Rocks” the Landscape Industry

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Author, Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On March 1st 2017 Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., The National Association of Landscape Professionals, and Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies will introduce a unique National Workers Compensation solution designed to cater the needs of Landscape Contractors and Lawn Care Professionals. 

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W-2 Phishing Scam – New Potential Risk to Nonprofits – Be Aware!!

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There has been a recent increase in attempts of a phishing scams involving W2s in nonprofit, schools and other human services organizations.  We caution any business, but particularity organizations in these sectors to be very cautious if they receive any emails requesting information regarding W2’s, earning summaries or any other employee sensitive information.  In many cases these emails look like they originate from a high level employee and are sent to other high level, human resources or payroll department employees.

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Court Case Endangers State Workers' Comp System

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The California Chamber of Commerce recently filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a California Supreme Court case that will determine whether doctors who review workers' comp cases can be sued for certain medical decisions. 

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Cal/OSHA 300A Posting Begins February 1st

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Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. would like to remind its clients that February 1, 2017 marks the start of the Cal/OSHA Form 300A posting period.  The Cal/OSHA 300A Form  is a summary of the company's annual work-related injury and illnesses.  It must be posted from February 1, 2017 through April 30, 2017.

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California Workers Compensation 2017 Annual Officer Payrolls Minimums and Maximums, Assessment Rates, and Dual Wage Thresholds Announced by WCIRB

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ICW Group Insurance Company, the largest group of privately held insurance companies domiciled in California, recently released an announcement that outlines the details and is attached for your review.

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