Quote of the day
“It’s no surprise that we see a lot of these injuries. More awareness, preparation and caution in bad weather could help reduce these injuries significantly.”
Ellen Sarvay, safety consultant, Pinnacol Assurance
PBM accuses Ohio BWC of false dealing
Pharmacy benefit manager OptumRx, which Ohio officials have sued for allegedly billing more for prescription drugs than is allowed under its contract, has responded that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation “unilaterally” made new rules in the middle of a negotiation. The state is seeking a fine of up to $5,000 for each day that the improper prices were charged. Columbus Dispatch
New York City Housing Authority contractor admits to wage theft
A Brooklyn-based contractor for the New York City Housing Authority has admitted in a plea deal to committing fraud and failing to pay the prevailing wage, and now must pay $154,000 in back pay and unpaid workers’ comp premiums within the next three months. The defendants admitted being out of the country on vacation on the dates they represented they had performed plumbing, painting and carpentry work. New York Daily News
Pinnacol identifies most dangerous day for workers
Pinnacol Assurance, the state of Colorado’s largest carrier of workers’ compensation insurance, has advised employees that January 9 consistently has been the most dangerous for worker injuries in the past five years. Office workers and those in the healthcare industry were especially at risk. The most injury-prone day for construction workers, according to the insurer, is July 28. Colorado Springs Gazette
Insiders say tow truck operation is a dangerous profession
The towing industry reported a death rate more than 15 times the rate of US private industry for the years 2011-2016, according to a National Institute of Safety And Health report on the tow truck industry released in February 2019. On average, 60 tow truck drivers die while working each year in the United States, according to the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum. KELO (Sioux Falls, S.D.)