Q&A: Light duty may not stop time loss exposure
Question: We had to terminate an employee who was working in a light duty position following his on-the-job injury. The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) awarded him time loss...
View ArticleFall Must-Haves: Preventing Injuries & Pumpkin Spice
Enjoying the fall season in the Northwest can be a delightful experience—stunning foliage, crisp air, and various seasonal activities. It’s the perfect time of year to not only check-in on our cozy...
View ArticleWASHINGTON: Permanent TWH rules released
Starting November 1, 2023, operators of temporary worker housing (TWH) must comply with new rules issued by Washington’s Departments of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Health (DOH) that primarily...
View ArticleGeneralized lockout/tagout procedures are not enough
If your workplace has machines that are powered by or store hazardous energy, federal and state safety regulations require you to have machine-specific written procedures to address those hazards. Your...
View ArticleAsk the Safety Expert: Prevent injuries like a top performer
As Vigilant’s safety manager, I have an opportunity to work with hundreds of manufacturers in industries ranging from steel fabrication to wood products to food processing and agriculture. All of them...
View ArticleWASHINGTON Q&A: Conducting pre-employment cannabis tests
Question: We plan to continue pre-employment drug testing for marijuana after Washington’s new restrictions go into effect on January 1, 2024. We heard one of the exceptions that would allow us to...
View ArticleWASHINGTON Q&A: Employers can still prohibit some moonlighting
Question: We know there have been many changes in Washington law lately about non-compete restrictions, but are we still allowed to prohibit current employees from moonlighting? Answer: Under certain...
View ArticleHoliday parties: Follow these tips to minimize company liability
Holiday season is rapidly approaching, and a company holiday party is a great way to reward employees for their work throughout the year. With the return of these parties, here are some tips and...
View ArticlePrioritizing Employee Safety Amidst Seasonal Challenges ❄️
The holiday season is a time of celebration, joy, and relaxation, and for many it can also bring challenges and stress due to increased workloads, overtime commitments, and financial pressures. In the...
View ArticleEmployee’s service dog posed direct threat to safety at hospital
The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a hospital did not have to allow a nursing student to bring a service dog to work under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because the...
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WASHINGTON: L&I files permanent wildfire smoke rules
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has filed permanent rules to protect employees from exposure to wildfire smoke, which replace temporary rules that had previously been issued...
View ArticleSafety Q&A: Don’t be surprised by winter storms
Question: What do I need to do to prepare our operations for the winter season? Answer: Start by training employees regarding winter weather safety awareness to ensure everyone is prepared and ready to...
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Legal Corner: Injured worker(s) and production slow down
When an injured worker is laid off or has their hours reduced because of a production slowdown, you may experience unexpected workers’ compensation issues that could have been avoided with advanced...
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Post your OSHA 300A by February 1, 2024
It’s nearly time to finish completing the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and post the OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) for the 2023 calendar...
View ArticleGeneralized lockout/tagout procedures are not enough
If your workplace has machines that are powered by or store hazardous energy, federal and state safety regulations require you to have machine-specific written procedures to address those hazards. Your...
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Two teen fatalities in manufacturing raise safety and HR concerns
Federal OSHA recently announced major penalties against two separate manufacturing companies after investigating workplace incidents in which a 16-year-old at each facility was fatally injured by...
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Submit OSHA injury & illness data by 3-2-24
March 2, 2024, is the deadline for covered employers to submit injury and illness data to OSHA—for some employers, this just means their 300A Summaries, while for others, this means also...
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Ask the Claims Manager: Supervisor’s Report of Accident, necessary?
QUESTION: Our Vigilant Washington workers’ comp claims manager asked us to provide a Supervisor’s Report of Accident after one of our employees was injured at work. I know our claims...
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Workers’ Comp Costs: What you CAN control
As you know, L&I increased premiums for Washington employers in January by 4.9% on average. If you’ve attended one of our recent webinars, you know rate changes fall into the category of things...
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Washington Governor signs two bills impacting workers’ comp
Governor Jay Inslee recently signed two bills impacting Washington workers’ compensation time-loss payments and stay-at-work reimbursements: HB 1927: Allows injured workers who are unable to work for 7...
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