Delaware Business Insurance Update From CNC Insurance Associates "Heat Related Hospitalizations Catch OSHA's Eye" 7-18-16

With the new OSHA rules mandating that employers report any employee hospitalizations, heat related issues have garnered some attention. Prior to the new reporting rules, only multiple employee hospitalizations from one incident had to be reported. In heat stress related claims, very few multiple events occurred so there was very little reporting to the Feds. Now many employers find themselves having to report when an employee gets heat stress on the job and has to go to the hospital for hydration and monitoring. Heat related cases are common in the summer months for workers who spend their work day outdoors. Now a usually non reportable , has to be reported to OSHA. The Feds are taking notice since the amount of reported cases has increased this year. Fines have followed with some "willful" penalties assessed to employers. So this summer take some risk management steps to avoid having your employees get heat stress. here are some steps as noted by the Business Insurance Journal July 2016 edition,
 1) Acclimate workers to hot environments,
 2)Develop a work/rest regimen,
 3) Provide cool water and encourage workers to drink five to seven ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes,
 4) Provide a cool rest area,
 5)Train employees on heat stress symptoms, 
 6) Establish a screening program to identify health risk factors that could be aggravated by heat. 


Stay cool folks,  and until next time be careful out there and know your risks.


G. Kevin Nemith President CNC Insurance Assoc. & The Small Business Insurance Center
Serving DE, MD. VA. NJ, & PA
www.cncinsurance.com
www.bizinsurancetv.org



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