OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety Course

Join us for our OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety Course. But hurry space is limited. Sign up to join us on April 19th and 20th in 6800 Jericho Turnpike Syosset, NY 11791 US.

This is a course every business owner, safety manager, supervisor, human resource personnel should take….don’t miss out. A few included topics are the new OSHA’s recordkeeping requirement and various regulations employers are required to follow.

Create a safer work environment, lower your claim history, reduce insurance costs, prevent OSHA citations and fines, learn from a compliance expert. This is a course every business owner, safety manager, supervisor, human resource personnel should take….don’t miss out.

This is a one and a half day training course, attendees must complete  both days in order to receive a certification card.

Included in the training are topics such as, Fall Protection, Electrical, Ladders and Stairways, Personal Protective, Cranes, Scaffolding, Hazard Communications and much more.

Future Environment Designs

Instructor: Angelo Garcia III

Angelo Garcia, III is founder and President of Future Environment Designs (FED), one of the nation’s leading indoor air quality, industrial hygiene and safety service companies that is based in Syosset, New York.

When

04/19/2018 8:30AM to 5:00PM
04/20/2018 8:30AM to 12:30 PM

(must attend both dates)

Where

6800 Jericho Turnpike
Syosset, NY 11791

Contact

Genevieve Keller

914-412-0563
claims@keevily.com

Register Now!

NYSIF Safety Group Electronic OSHA Filing Q & A

  1. When determining number of employees what type of employees so I include?

All employees in at your establishment need to be included, for example all part time, seasonal, clerical, principles, etc. 

  1. I have 20-249 employees and I am in construction, do I need to electronically file with OSHA?

Yes, all construction NAICS codes are included in the high-risk industry list.  View high risk industry list  (NAICS code 23 Construction includes all codes that start with 23). 

  1. I have 20-249 employees but I am NOT in construction, do I need to electronically file with OSHA?

Manufacturing, utilities, department stores, general merchandise stores, general freight trucking, warehouse and storage and waste management services are considered high risk industries and are required to file electronicallly.  A complete list of OSHA’s high risk industries can be found on this link: high risk industry list

  1. How do I find my naics code

Use NAICS Keyword Search and enter keywords that describe your operation. 

  1. If I have less than 20 employees do any of the OSHA recordkeeping rules apply?

Yes, all employers are required to report serious injuries by contact OSHA within 8 hours of a work related fatality and within 24 hours of a work related in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of eye.  You may also be required to keep OSHA logs if you have over 10 employees and you are not on the partially exempt list.  Watch this OSHA 15 minute video to learn more about how to maintain your OSHA logs. 

  1. If I file electronically do I need to keep OSHA logs?

Yes.  Watch this OSHA 15 minute video to learn more. 

  1. What year data is being electronically filed by 12/1/2018?

You will be filing your 2017 data

  1. When will the 2017 data be due?

2017 data will be due no later than 7/1/18.  Be sure to file early!

  1. If an employee in my establishment is a contractor’s employee, must I record an injury or illness occurring to that employee?

If the contractor’s employee is under the day-to-day supervision of the contractor, the contractor is responsible for recording the injury or illness. If you supervise the contractor employee’s work on a day-to-day basis, you must record the injury or illness.

  1. Must the personnel supply service, temporary help service, employee leasing service, or contractor also record the injuries or illnesses occurring to temporary, leased or contract employees that I supervise on a day-to-day basis?

No, you and the temporary help service, employee leasing service, personnel supply service, or contractor should coordinate your efforts to make sure that each injury and illness is recorded only once: either on your OSHA 300 Log (if you provide day-to-day supervision) or on the other employer’s OSHA 300 Log (if that company provides day-to-day supervision).

  1. If I had no losses do I still need to electronically file?

Yes if you fall into the requirement you must still file “0” losses

Additional OSHA electronically filing questions

Still need assistance? 

Email: Claims@keevily.com or call 1-800-523-5516. 

NYSIF Standardizes Premium Payment Terms for All Policyholders

Effective December 1, 2017, the New York State Insurance Fund will standardize the due dates of policyholder premium payments, impose a late payment fee if premium is not paid when due, and shorten the time frame for placement in nonpayment cancellation.

Important Information

  • Late fees will only be charged on active policies.
  • Payments received after the due date are considered late.
  • Partial payments will not prevent a cancellation notice from being issued. The full past due amount and any new monthly charges must be paid to avoid cancellation.
  • WC policyholders will incur a $30 late payment fee; DB policyholders will incur a $10 late payment fee.

Premium Payment Due Dates

Will now be 20 days from the policy anniversary date. For example, if a policy anniversary date is on the fifth of the month, new charges will be due by the 25th of each month. If payment is not received by the due date, Workers’ Compensation (WC) policyholders will incur a $30 late payment fee; Disability Benefits (DB) policyholders will incur a $10 late payment fee.

Past Due Premium Payment Due Dates

Policyholders who fail to make payment in full by the due date will receive their next installment bill, which will include the past due amount, applicable late fees, and any new charges. Payment in full within 13 days is required. If the amount due remains unpaid, NYSIF will issue a nonpayment cancellation notice. The policy will be cancelled 16 days later if NYSIF does not receive payment in full.

REASON: the purpose of these billing changes is to align NYSIF with industry practices, standardize premium payment due dates and ensure timely payment of premium. Please note that the following changes apply to both Workers’ Compensation (WC) Insurance premium payments and Disability Benefits (DB) Insurance premium.

OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety Course

Join us for our OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety Course. But hurry space is limited. Sign up to join us on December 13th and 14th in our Harrison Office for this course.  

This is a course every business owner, safety manager, supervisor, human resource personnel should take….don’t miss out. A few included topics are the new OSHA’s recordkeeping requirement and various regulations employers are required to follow. 

Create a safer work environment, lower your claim history, reduce insurance costs, prevent OSHA citations and fines, learn from a compliance expert. This is a course every business owner, safety manager, supervisor, human resource personnel should take….don’t miss out.

This is a one and a half day training course, attendees must complete  both days in order to receive a certification card.

Included in the training are topics such as, Fall Protection, Electrical, Ladders and Stairways, Personal Protective, Cranes, Scaffolding, Hazard Communications and much more.

Future Environment Designs

Instructor: Angelo Garcia III

Angelo Garcia, III is founder and President of Future Environment Designs (FED), one of the nation’s leading indoor air quality, industrial hygiene and safety service companies that is based in Syosset, New York.

When

12/13/2017 8:30AM to 5:00PM
12/14/2017 8:30AM to 12:30 PM

(must attend both dates)

Where

Keevily Spero Whitelaw
500 Mamaroneck Ave Suite  404
Harrison NY 10528

Contact

Genevieve Keller 
 
914-412-0563 
claims@keevily.com 

Webinar: NEW Respirable Crystalline Silica Construction Standard

Webinar information:  1 hour

Name: NEW Respirable Crystalline Silica Construction Standard

Date and hour:  9:00 am Thursday Nov 30th

The new Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard represents a significant change to how silica containing dust needs to be managed in the workplace.  While previous requirements were limited to a maximum concentration in air that could not be exceeded, the new requirements establish a comprehensive silica standard that focuses on exposure prevention through engineering and administrative controls as well as a reduced allowable air concentration.  The standard includes the following requirements:

  • Companies must assess their operations to identify those tasks that generate silica containing dust (essentially, all concrete related operations)
  • Develop a written Exposure Control Plan (ECP) that establishes how each of these tasks will be conducted to protect workers
  • Identify at least one Competent Person
  • Control access to work areas where silica dust may be generated so workers not involved in the operation are not exposed
  • Provide medical surveillance to those employees who are required to wear respirators more than 30 days per year
  • Eliminate housekeeping activities that tend to generate dust (e.g. dry sweeping and use of compressed air)
  • Train all employee who are exposed to silica on the standard requirements and Company’s ECP
  • Maintain detailed records

The standard is much more comprehensive than previous dust control requirements and different compliance approaches can be taken, from using the Table that OSHA provides for common workplace activities, to conducting your own exposure assessments.  This webinar will provide an over view of all of these topics and discuss the different compliance approaches.

To download the presentation click here

OSHA Recordkeeping Update

1.  Contact OSHA within 8 hours of a work related fatality.
2. Contact OSHA within 24 hours of a work related in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of eye.
Situations that do not require you to contact OSHA under the serious injury rule:
 
Serious Injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident on a public street or highway (except in a construction work zone); Occurred on a commercial or public transportation system, such as airplane or bus; Involved hospitalization for diagnostic testing or observation only.
A. OSHA 300 log entry must be completed within 7 days of injury/illness
B. OSHA 301 can be replaced with a copy of the workers compensation first report of injury.
C. OSHA 300a must be posted for all employees to view from Feb 1 to April 30th of each year.
Only employers listed in the “Partially Exempt Industries” list would be exempt from this portion of the recordkeeping regulation (See Partially Exempt Industry list).
20 to 249 employees per Establishment in High Risk Industries.
The high risk industry list includes construction, manufacturing, utilities, department stores, general merchandise stores, general freight trucking, warehouse and storage, waste management services, and other high risk industries.Complete list of OSHA’s high risk industries can be found on OSHA.gov

2016 data in Form 300A must be submitted by December 31, 2017. 

Click here for OSHA’s Electronic Filing System.

Employers with 250 or more employees must electronically file form 300A, 300, and 301 with 2016 data which must be submitted by December 15, 2017. 
 

All electronic filing must be submitted to OSHA annually.

Click here for OSHA’s Electronic Filing System.

For more information call 1-800-523-5516

Workers’ Comp Accident Investigation

Accident investigations are a critical part of your safety procedures and Workers’Compensation program.

An in-house accident investigation will provide the following benefits:

  • Secure witness and injured worker statements.
  • Provides evidence against fraudulent or denied claims.
  • Preserves the accident scene at the time of the loss.
  • Obtains valuable information for any 3rd party recovery efforts.
  • Provide trend information for identifying problem areas.
  • Document corrective action taken to prevent future accidents.

Download Documents

In the following links you can find a complete Workers’ Comp Accident Investigation presentation and forms that can help you to provide a safe work environment, prevent accidents, decrease your workers’ comp premium, and comply with OSHA standards.

Prescription Benefits for NYSIF Workers’ Compensation Claims

NYSIF’s pharmacy benefits management program offers the option for a claimant to obtain medication for a work-related injury or illness through the CareComp Network of CVS Caremark. This does not change a injured worker’s right to use any pharmacy to obtain medication necessary to treat such an injury or illness.
Use the CVS Caremark Pharmacy Locator or call CVS Caremark at (866) 493-1640 to find a local network pharmacy. Call CVS Caremark for information about mail-order service.
 
Note:  CVS Caremark network pharmacies bill NYSIF directly, so claimants do not have to pay out-of-pocket for medication. Injured worker who have not received a CVS Caremark card, should call the NYSIF case manager handling their claim, and the employer can create a temporary card in the meanwhile.

How can I get the temporary card?

  1. Login in Keevily’s portal.
  2. Click on “Common Claim Forms”
  3. Download your Temporary Prescription Card.

Workers Comp Fraud

Leading the Fight on Fraud

The State Insurance Fund has been leading the fight on fraud with their arrest record nearing the 1,000 mark. State Insurance Fund’s special investigation unit, the Division of Confidential Investigations (DCI) is comprised of white collar crime investigators, most with over 20 years of law enforcement experience with top Law Enforcement Agencies. It is estimated that every dollar DCI uses to fight fraud returns $7 to $10 in savings through deterrence and restitution.

What is Workers' Compensation Fraud?

 Claim fraud can be broken down into two categories:
1. Claimant fraud
2. Provider fraud

Claimant Fraud


Claimant fraud occurs when a worker knowingly makes a false or misleading statement for the purpose of obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. The most common type of claimant fraud is when a worker exaggerates his condition in order to continue benefits relating to the work related accident they suffered.

Claim fraud can also occur when an employee files a claim for an accident that did not occur, injuries that do not exist or injuries that are not work related.

 

Types of Claimant Fraud to be aware of:

 

  • Malingering – when an injured worker recovers from their injuries, however, continues to receive benefits.
  • Receiving benefits while employed elsewhere – an employee who files a workers’ compensation claim and collects benefits while claiming they are unable to work and works another job without reporting income/work status.
  • Non-work related injury – when an employee claims he/she was injured at work, however the injury occurred while not engaged in work activities.
  • Non-injury claim – when an employee fakes an injury in order to collect workers’ compensation benefits. This often occurs after a layoff or plant closing announcement or rumor.
  • Multiple claims – an employee who files multiple workers’ compensation claims for the same injury.
  • Prescription drugs – when prescriptions are misused for illegally resale.

 

Provider Fraud

 

Provider fraud occurs when doctors, medical practices or medical laboratories charge excessive fees for medical services performed or charges for work never performed. Provider fraud can also occur if the provider convinces the employee to file a workers’ compensation claim in lieu of unemployment benefits claiming the individual can make more money. A less obvious form of provider fraud could be unnecessary tests or treatment, even if the injury is legitimate and some form of treatment is needed.

 

Types of Provider Fraud to be aware of:

 

  • False billing – when a doctor, clinic or lab bills for services not performed.
  • Kickbacks – a medical provider who pays or receives compensation for a patient referral.
  • Self-referrals – a medical provider who inappropriately refers patients to clinic or laboratory in which the provider has a financial interest
  • Upcoding – a provider who bills for a more expensive treatment or service than what was performed.
  • Unbundling – a provider that performs a single service and bills it as a series of separate procedures.
  • Over-utilization – a provider administers and bills for unnecessary medical services.
  • Product switching – a provider or pharmacy that bills for one type of product but dispenses a cheaper version.

Fraud: These are some “Red Flag” indicators to be aware of.

Everyone plays a role in combating fraud. Being aware of some “red flags” will help prompt additional questions and/or investigations into these issues.

  • Accident occurs on a Monday morning or late on a Friday and is not reported until the following Monday. What occurred over the weekend or during days off?
  • The accident occurs just prior to a strike, plant closing, layoff, job termination or end of seasonal work..
  • Accident was unwitnessed by any fellow employees.
  • Injured worker has a history of prior claims.
  • Substantial delay between date of incident and date reported to supervisor.
  • Different descriptions between employer’s accident investigation and medical provider’s report.
  • Difficulties reaching injured worker at home during disability period.
  • Injured worker’s attorney or medical provider is known for being involved in suspect claims.
  • Injured worker switches medical providers frequently.
  • After receiving a release to return to work, injured worker switches physicians.
  • Injuries are minor (strain/sprain), but requires excessive treatment and lost time.
  • Date of services do not correlate with the date of injury.
  • Injured workers from the same insured are all using the same medical provider or attorney.