Quote of the day
"This is clearly a worker's compensation issue, not an MRSA issue and whether or not we presume without any evidence that it becomes automatically the responsibility of the city...That's what Mayor Autry is disappointed about, that's why he vetoed the action."
Fresno City Manager Andy Souza
Go to the full story in KSEE-TV (Fresno)
Note to our subscribers: We have updated and corrected a recent story that currently appears on the Workers’ Comp Executive website, “Should DWC Promulgate New Regulations For AMEs?” The Workers’ Comp Executive thanks Mr. Steve Cattolica of Advocal for his assistance.
Fresno Approves Extra Help to City Workers for Staph Infections
The Fresno city council approves a measure to provide added assistance to active employees in the fire and police retirement system who come in contact with the potentially deadly staph infection MRSA, by labeling it a presumptive workers’ comp illness. By Preston Phillips, KSEE-TV (Fresno) [With Video] Go to the Full Story…
NCCI Says Prescription Drug Costs Leveling
The share of workers compensation medical costs attributed to prescription drugs is leveling off, at least temporarily, according to a new study by NCCI Holdings Inc. Newly-approved generic versions of popular drugs as well as a slowdown in the introduction of new drugs are potential factors. By Roberto Ceniceros, Business Insurance
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Andropause Called Workplace Productivity Killer
Employers can help men cope with andropause at work by educating everyone in the office about it, says Dr. Michael Greenspan, urologist and assistant clinical professor at Ontario’s McMaster University. Knowing about it also can help managers and co-workers understand that a middle-aged male employee who has suddenly become irritable and unproductive may need medical help. By Marlo Johne, Toronto Globe & Mail
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Critic: When Will Yukon WCB Appear Before Legislature?
Yukon labor critic Don Inverarity says he has no idea when the Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board will make an appearance in the legislature this year, with only about 10 days left in the fall session. The WCB recently announced that it will raise rates an average of 11 percent for 2008, with 13 industries seeing rate cuts and 39 seeing an increase. By Stephanie Waddell, Whitehorse Star
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Third Judge Assigned to BP Case; Attorneys Want Larger Fine
In Houston, a third judge is assigned to preside over the criminal case and resulting guilty plea from BP PLC’s deadly 2005 Texas City refinery explosion after the previous two recuse themselves due to personal connections. Victims’ attorneys continue to object to the $50 million fine BP has agreed to pay as part of the plea agreement resulting from a federal investigation of the blast; one attorney suggests the fine should be $1 billion. By AP via WOAI-TV (San Antonio)
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