Quote of the day
"There were some concerns about that, clearly. You wonder how much more might be discovered. (But) I felt that this was going to be a very, almost unique and challenging opportunity of creating something good."
C. Bruce Dunn, the new Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's chief investment officer, about the agency's investment scandals
Disability Payments to Rise Next Year
Injured California workers will see a boost in their disability payments beginning next year: workers who are temporarily injured beginning in 2007 and those who are permanently disabled on or after January 1, 2003, will receive higher payments to reflect a 4.96 percent increase in the state’s average weekly wage, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute announces. Sacramento Business Journal
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No Comp Reform This Session for South Carolina
South Carolina’s state legislature will wrap up the 2006 session today without passing workers’ compensation reform. WCIV-TV (Charleston, S.C.)
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New Ohio BWC Investment Boss Welcomes Challenge of Embattled Agency
C. Bruce Dunn says he had only heard about some general investment problems in Ohio when he was contacted about managing investments at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and he says his new job poses the challenge of creating something good from the mess. By Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Noe Asks Judge to Dismiss Racketeering Charge
Indicted Ohio coin dealer and former GOP fundraiser Tom Noe, who faces theft and money laundering charges in connection with his management of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s rare coin investment, asks a judge to dismiss a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. His lawyers contend prosecutors haven’t distinguished between Noe and the criminal enterprise they allege he used to commit theft, records tampering and forgery. WTVG-TV (Toledo) [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Trash Haulers Often in the Danger Zone
A 2000 study of workers’ compensation claims shows that only commercial fishermen and timber cutters suffer more injuries on the job than garbage collectors. Drivers who pass stopped garbage trucks without exercising proper caution pose a major risk. Lansing State Journal
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Shareholders Approve Sale of Albertson’s Inc. to Supervalu
Shareholders approve the sale of much of grocery chain Albertson’s Inc. to Supervalu Inc. on Tuesday. Albertson’s selling, general and administrative expenses fell during the year-ago period due to pension curtailments, gains on the sale of fixed assets and lower workers’ compensation expenses. By AP via Bay News 9 (Tampa)
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Keystone State Employers Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Violations
Pennsylvania employers—one the operator of an assisted living facility, the other an electric firm—are sentenced for failing to maintain workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. By Sandy Smith, Occupational Hazards
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Arkansas County Board Approves Workers’ Comp Policy Change
The Personnel Committee of the Washington County, Ark. Quorum Court approves an amendment to the employee handbook on workers compensation: employees may request a change of physician after having been treated or evaluated by the county’s choice of physician for a workers comp injury. By Susannah Patton, Northwest Arkansas Times
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Ballclub Settles with Cameraman Who Was Attacked by Pitcher
Almost a year after their former pitcher Kenny Rogers attacked a local television cameraman, the Texas Rangers baseball team settles out of court with the injured worker. A final settlement was not signed until an agreement could be inked with the television station’s workers compensation carrier. Fort Worth Star-Telegram [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
The Cookie Business: Not as Sweet as You Think
At one Salt Lake City cookie bakery, nearly 100 employees operate giant dough beaters in mixing bowls large enough to blend a human being, slide cookie sheets into scorching hot ovens and package 2 million cookies per week. Before implementing a safety program 14 years ago, the plant had an accident rate so high its workers’ compensation premium was 10 times the average for a company its size. By Rosemary Winters, Salt Lake Tribune
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