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CDC relaxes COVID-19 isolation guidelines for the public
On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its COVID-19 isolation guidelines, removing the recommendation to isolate for 5 days, and instead recommending people treat COVID-19...
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OSHA expands employee representation rights during inspections
On April 1, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a final rule that “clarifies” (in reality, expands) the rights of employees to authorize a representative to...
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Four workers’ comp red flags we’d never, ever ignore
We’re workers’ comp experts and here are four things we’d never, ever ignore if we were an employer in Washington. Brandon Dion, CFO at Vigilant | Dan Beaty, VP Workers’ Comp at Vigilant Rising...
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Be aware of rules for hiring teens this summer
If you’re offering summer jobs to teen workers, be sure you understand and comply with all state and federal employment regulations specific to the employment of minors. Generally speaking, teen worker...
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Far-reaching H-2A worker protections coming soon
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has adopted a final rule, Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States (Farmworker Protection Rule) that will...
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Prevent heat illness this summer
With the quickly warming weather, it’s time to review your safety plans for protecting workers from heat illness hazards and to ensure compliance with state regulations. Cal/OSHA and Washington...
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Washington warehouse quota rules released
Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) adopted two sets of rules (WAC 296-35 and WAC 296-136) to enforce the new warehouse employee quota statute (RCW 49.84), all of which go into...
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Vigilant issues historic Washington Retro distribution
A few weeks ago, Vigilant sent retro distribution checks to members that participate in our Washington Workers’ Compensation Retro program. We are delighted to share that this year’s retro distribution...
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Ensuring a strong near-miss reporting program for safety benefits
Question: Help! I think we need a better reporting program for near-misses and good-catches. What do you recommend? Answer: Great question! A robust near-miss/good-catch reporting program can...
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OSHA assesses $174K penalty for lockout fatality at pallet plant
Federal OSHA recently proposed penalties totaling $174,453 after an employee at a pallet manufacturing company in Wisconsin was killed while clearing a jammed machine. The machine wasn’t locked out...
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Leadership qualities drive effective injury prevention
Focused and caring leadership is a significant factor in preventing injuries. It’s hard to measure on the front end, but we can see the favorable outcomes. Here are some ways to make...
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Ninth Circuit approves video evidence in FMLA certification case
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that it was acceptable for an employer to present non-medical, video evidence from a hired private investigator at trial to demonstrate that an...
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CDC releases heat and health tracker tool
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a Heat and Health Tracker tool to help people identify and prepare for high heat exposure outdoors. Tools within the program,...
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Why forecasting your L&I premium is a must
Financial forecasting is crucial for any employer, especially when it comes to managing major expenses. Since workers’ comp costs are among the top expenses for manufacturers, it’s no...
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States updating wildfire smoke rules to match EPA’s new AQI levels
Effective May 6, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adjusted the cutoff points in its color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI), which is used as a reference for wildfire smoke...
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Q&A: Sick time covers wildfire evacuation
Question: The area where our business is located is under a level 3 (go now, shut the business) evacuation order from the county’s fire department due to wildfire danger. Can employees use their paid...
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OSHA proposes heat illness regulation
On August 30, 2024, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed new regulations to protect workers from heat illness. Comments are due by December 30, 2024. OSHA is...
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Webinar Recording: Safety Leadership – Building Safety Culture
One of the most fundamental and impactful workers’ compensation cost mitigation strategies is to establish and maintain a safety culture that prioritizes all workers going home each...
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Review safety procedures before using new equipment or processes
Taking the time to review safety procedures and address any concerns before using new equipment or changing a process is an important tactic to prevent injuries. A common cause of...
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Washington L&I issues new rules for voluntary use of PPE
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has adopted three new permanent rules allowing employees who aren’t required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)...
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