There are a number of questions related to workers’ compensation and the current COVID-19 pandemic. Compounding the confusion is generally vague guidance stating that if workers are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of their work, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation … Read More
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Reimagining Food Safety Risk Management with Technology
From an insurance perspective, a fire is a fire. However, not all food contamination and recall events are the same. Recall-related situations can be as simple as first-party business losses where only the insured is affected, or as complicated as holding the supply chain responsible for third-party losses due to product refusal in the marketplace. … Read More
Preventive Benefits Are a Win-Win
The Affordable Care Act requires non-grandfathered health benefit plans to offer preventive benefits with no cost sharing. While this is an inflexible legal mandate, there are valuable long-term gains when employees use these benefits. These gains include having healthier and more productive employees and catching chronic health conditions in the early stages before they become … Read More
Employers Have a Responsibility to Their Employees
Employers in Arizona are not only bound by the Arizona Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA) but by their responsibility as leaders of people to ensure their employees are covered for work-related injuries, diseases, or deaths. The WCA establishes the responsibilities that relate to an employer’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to workers’ compensation in Arizona, … Read More
Workers’ Compensation Update: Stop Paying First Aid Medical Bills Directly to Clinics
Businesses in California who previously made arrangements with their medical clinic to directly pay for medical treatment bills for “first aid” claims will no longer receive the benefit of their workers’ compensation experience modification rating being unaffected. Starting January 1, 2019, the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) will be changing the calculation methodology … Read More
When Food Disaster Strikes, Being “Shielded” Matters
Food recalls, product defects, contamination events, oh my. These are just a few examples of the potential food contamination disasters that can detrimentally disrupt the supply chain and quickly become a major financial nightmare for all parties involved. Costs from a product recall or contamination can easily cripple even the most conscientious organizations, and understanding … Read More
WGIS Hosts Food Safety Workshop at Almond Alliance Convention
The importance of food safety took center stage today at the Almond Alliance Conference during the “Food Safety: Surveying the Legal Risk Landscape” session, sponsored by Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS). During the session, Faegre Baker Daniels Attorney Rachael D. Spiegel provided a detailed overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act and foodborne illness litigation. … Read More
2017: The Year California Burned From North to South
At the time of this writing, the massive inferno of the Thomas fire is finally under control, at 92 percent contained. This fire, the largest in California’s history, has ravaged more than 280,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses—many of which are of Western Growers members. And to top it off, the Thomas … Read More
Changes to Reporting First Aid Claims Now in Effect
By Ken Cooper, WGIS Director of Risk Strategy As of January 2017, insurers are now required to report all claims to the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB). These include claims for which any medical care is provided and medical costs are incurred, including those involving first aid treatment, even if the insurer did not make … Read More