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Managed Health Care Insurance & Workers Comp Insurance Savings

Posted by David Ross on Tue, Nov 11, 2014

The Birth of Managed Care for Controlling Health Insurance Costs

Health Insurance and Worker's Compensation Insurance for Philadelphia, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Pittsburgh, Erie, the Lehigh Valley and beyond.Managed health care started to become commonplace in the US after the enactment of the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, which was created in an attempt to control health care medical insurance costs by stimulating greater competition within health care markets.  It marked a significant shift in the US health care industry by introducing the concept of for-profit health care to an industry that was traditionally not-for-profit. 

Many believe that managed care helped control medical cost inflation in the late 1980s.  On the other hand, many believe that these cost-control efforts also caused the health care industry to become more interested in saving money than in providing quality health care.  Whatever you believe, the fact is that managed health care has become ubiquitous in the US, with 90 percent of insured Americans enrolled in plans with some form of managed care, according to America's Health Insurance Plans.

So What is Managed Health Care?

Managed health care plans are a type of health insurance. Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) establish contracts with doctors, hospitals, clinics, and other health care providers such as pharmacies, labs, x-ray centers, and medical equipment vendors at a reduced cost.  These health care providers and medical facilities are known as the plan’s “network.”  Managed care health insurance plans typically cover a wide range of health services – from preventative care to diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. 

There are Two Basic Types of Managed Care Health Insurance Plans:

  • Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) – HMOs require you to use their "network" of hospitals and doctors only. Coverage is usually broader, with less out-of-pocket expense, but is more restrictive than a PPO. "Out of network" medical expenses are not covered under an HMO medical insurance plan.
  • Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) – PPOs give you an incentive to use their "in network" hospitals and doctors. You can choose to go "out of network," which gives you freedom of choice, but usually with a higher deductible and co-insurance out-of-pocket expense than other forms of medical insurance.

 

Health Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance Objectives

General health insurance and worker’s compensation have two slightly different objectives.

Health insurance (including managed health care) is "coverage that provides for the payments of benefits as a result of sickness or injury,” according to the Health Insurance Association of America.  It provides coverage for medications, visits to the doctor or emergency room, hospital stays and other medical expenses. 

Worker’s Compensation Insurance covers employees for work-related injuries, including not only medical expenses, but also lost wages incurred due to a work-related accident or injury.  Keep in mind that while Worker’s Compensation only accounts for about three percent of a company’s total health care costs (about $111 billion), more than half of that $111 billion is paid in lost wages.  Therefore, in addition to providing health care for employees, another objective of Worker’s Compensation Insurance is to get employee’s back to work.

How Can Managed Care Help Reduce Workers Compensation Insuance Costs?

By using some of the techniques used in managed care, companies can provide quality medical services to injured workers and get employee’s back to work. 

Some of these techniques include:

  • Medical Case Management
  • Provider Network
  • Precertification
  • Record Analysis
  • Utilization Review
  • Fee Schedule Compliance
  • Independent Medical Evaluations

Managed Care Worker's Comp Insurance Savings Example

John is an employee for XYZ Manufacturing.  His normal job is lifting 50-lb bags onto a truck.  One day, while he’s lifting one of those bags, he twists his back, which causes a lower back injury.  The physician advises John not to lift anything over 20 pounds.  Using managed care techniques, John could go back to work on light duty rather than missing work completely, saving XYZ Manufacturing the cost of lost wages for John.

How to Save on Quality Health & Worker's Compensation Insurance

Save on Workers Comp Insurance and Health Insurance with American Insuring Group. We provide high quality, affordable Workers Compensation Insurance and Health Insurance for businesses in Allentown, Reading, Philadelphia, Hanover, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, the Lehigh Valley, Erie, PA and points in between.For more information about MCOs and Worker’s Compensation Insurance and to find the right insurance for your business, please contact American Insuring Group at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. 

We have been supplying affordable, high-quality worker's compensation insurance and health insurance for over 25 years. And, as a Trusted Choice independent insurance agent we specialize in offering multiple insurance offerings from competing insurance brands. We'll help you get the right coverage at the the right price. Call today.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Accident Insurance, Managed Care Insurance, Commercial Insurance

Workers Comp Insurance Rates, Safety, and OSHA

Posted by David Ross on Wed, Sep 24, 2014

Worker's Compensation Insurance Costs

According to a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor report, Workers’ Compensation accounts for 2.8 percent of the total cost of a production, transportation, or material moving employee’s compensation and 3 percent for construction and maintenance employee’s compensation.  Businesses interested in reducing those percentages do what they can to improve workplace safety; thereby, reducing the number of workers’ compensation claims and providing a safer and healthier environment for employees.  It’s a win-win situation.

Like Games? Try OSHA’s New Tool to Help Identify Hazards within the Workplace

Check out OSHA's game to lower worker's comp accidents, which can lead to lower workers compensation insurance ratesOne of the first steps to creating a safer workplace is to identify potential hazards; if you don’t know a hazard exists, how can it be properly mitigated?  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created an interactive, online, game-based training tool to help small businesses effectively identify hazards within the workplace.  This tool, with both an owner and worker mode, is designed to help both company leaders and workers to not only identify hazards, but also learn how to abate and control those hazards. 

Currently, the user can choose between three different scenarios:

  • OSHA Visual Inspection Training
  • Manufacturing Facility
  • Construction

 

OSHA Visual Inspection Training

The "OSHA Visual Inspection Training" scenario, which contains a saw, industrial chemical mixer, scaffolding and fall protection for inspection, shows users how to identify hazards on items found in the workplace; become familiar with typical hazard categories; and understand common relationships of hazards to equipment components and operations.  It offers the user an opportunity to practice a visual inspection and find hazards. In this scenario, the user can view equipment from 360° to look for hazards. The user can also talk to the employee and observe the employee at work to identify additional hazards.

Manufacturing Facility & Construction

The Manufacturing and Construction scenarios, which focus on the principal skills needed to effectively identify hazards in the workplace and reinforce the key components in the hazard identification process, allow participants to experience the entire workplace. The manufacturing scenario allows the user to be a part of the safety committee in a hovercraft parts manufacturing facility.  In the construction scenario, the user must identify and mitigate hazards to maintain a safe workplace throughout three phases of a construction project.

5 Key Components in the Hazard Identification Process

This tool helps owners and workers understand the five process components in identifying hazards:

  1. Collect information: Review all information (manuals, safety data sheets, OSHA data, etc.) you may already have available to find hazards that have already been identified by others.

  2. Inspect workplace: The most basic (yet important) component of inspection is the simple visual inspection. Inspecting the equipment and the surrounding work areas allows the user to look over the equipment without any obstructions that might exist while the equipment is being operated. Certain hazards might only be recognizable when the machine is not in operation.

  3. Observe the operation: Another good way to identify hazards during an inspection is to observe the equipment in operation. Watch the operator and note any hazardous situations. Observing an operation gives the viewer an opportunity to see how the task is actually completed. This can provide insight on additional hazards that would not be recognizable otherwise (positioning of controls relative to the worker, noise and dust levels, by-passing or improper use of safety functions). This can only be done when workers are present and production is underway.

  4. Involve employees: A great way to gain insight into workplace hazards is to talk to the equipment operators. Often, they are aware of issues that may not be apparent during an inspection. Talk to the workers and listen to their feedback.

  5. Investigate incidents: Whenever an incident occurs, use that as an opportunity to learn about hazards that may have been overlooked.

To find out more about this new tool, check out https://www.osha.gov/hazfinder/

Lower Your Workers' Compensation Insurance Costs

Let American Insuring Group help you control your workers’ compensation premiums. We're an independent agency representing multiple competing brands of workers' comp insurance, so we can help you find quality insurance at a great price! 

Contact us to save on workers compensation insurance. We serve Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Lebanon, Allentown, Lehigh Valley, Pittsuburgh, Erie, PA and beyond.Contact us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848. Serving Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, Allentown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie and beyond.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Commercial Insurance Allentown PA, Commercial Insurance Lancaster PA, Commercial Insurance Harrisburg PA, Accident Insurance, Commercial Liability Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Commercial Insurance Reading PA, Business Insurance, Commercial Insurance Philadelphia PA, Commercial Insurance York PA, Commercial Insurance Berks County

Substance Abuse and Workers Compensation Insurance

Posted by David Ross on Wed, Sep 10, 2014

The Cost of Substance Abuse in the Workplace

The cost of substance abuse in the workplace is staggering. Consider the impace on workers compensation insurance costs.The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) estimates that drug abuse in the workplace costs business owners $81 billion annually.  

Studies show that substance abusers miss work more often, use more sick leave, and arrive late more frequently than their coworkers.  Substance abusers are more likely to injure themselves or others and file more workers compensation insurance claims. 

 

Double the Worker's Compensation Insurance Cost

It’s estimated that substance abusers cost employers twice as much in medical and workers compensation claims as their drug-free counterparts.  And finally, substance abusers are considerably less productive than their drug-free co-workers. 

Although Pennsylvania does not have a state law that regulates, requires, or prohibits drug testing or any drug-free workplace programs, companies that implement a drug-free workplace initiative can improve their bottom line, increase productivity, and develop healthier employees.  A program may include supervisor training, employee education, drug testing, and/or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

The Cost of a Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

The cost of a drug-free workplace will vary depending on the size of your initiative, your response level, and available community, state, and federal resources.   Costs may include policy development, employee education, management training, employee assistance, and drug testing. 

However, a study of the economic impact of a drug-free workplace initiative in Ohio found significant improvements in job-related performance:

  • A 91 percent decrease in absenteeism
  • An 88 percent decrease in problems with supervisors
  • A 93 percent decrease in mistakes in work
  • A 97 percent decrease in on-the-job injuries

Risks of NOT Implementing a Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

The cost of implementing a drug-free workplace program should be weighed against the cost of not implementing a program.  For many small businesses, one serious accident or one troubled employee can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and jeopardize the future of that company. 

How to Create a Drug-Free Workplace Initiative

  • Drug-free workplace policy - Establish written policies and procedures that prohibit the abuse of alcohol or illegal use of drugs. Ensure that all employees and potential applicants read and understand the policy and that compliance with the policy is a condition of employment.  The US Department of Labor has a “Drug-Free Workplace Policy Builder” at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfree/drugs/screen1.asp.

  • Supervisor Training – Supervisors closest to the workforce should be trained on your drug free workplace initiative and their role in its implementation.   They should also be taught the signs, symptoms, behavior changes, and performance problems associated with drug or alcohol abuse and what to do when they see those signs.

  • Employee Education - An employee education session should describe the impact that alcohol abuse and drug use has on the workplace, provide information about addiction and the major drugs of abuse, and include your company’s drug and alcohol policies.

  • EAP – An Employee Assistance Program is a worksite-focused program designed to identify and resolve productivity problems associated with personal problems, such as alcohol and/or drug abuse, which often includes counseling and referral programs.

  • Drug Testing – A drug and/or alcohol testing program may detect or deter drug and/or alcohol use or abuse.  Drug testing works best when used in conjunction with the other initiatives listed above.

Additional Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- http://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/implementation/topics/substance-abuse.html

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse – www.drugabuse.gov

Contact Us to Improve Your Bottom Line

Contact us to lower your workers compensation insurance costs. We serve Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Erie, PA and beyond.A drug-free workplace initiative can create a healthier workforce and improve your company’s bottom line, including lowering your workers compensation insurance claims and costs. 

For more information about controlling your workers’ compensation insurance costs, contact us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Business Insurance Reading PA, Business Insurance Berks, Business Insurance Philadelphia Pa, Business Insurance Lancaster Pa, Business Insurance Harrisburg Pa, Business Insurance York Pa, Commercial Insurance, Business Insurance Allentown PA, Business Insurance

How to Avoid Penalties in Workers’ Compensation Claim Denials

Posted by David Ross on Thu, Aug 28, 2014

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Workers' Compensation Insurance is a type of small business insurance that is mandatory in most states, and covers employees for work-related injuries. A typical "workers comp" insurance policy pays lost wages and medical expenses incurred due to a work-related accident or injury, while also protecting the employer against accident-related lawsuits. 

How to protect your business from dishonest workers compensation insurance claims. We serve Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie, Reading, Lancaster, Allentown, the Lehigh Valley and beyond with quality workman's compensation insurance. Contact us today.What About Dishonest Worker's Comp Claims?

Unfortunately, there are dishonest people in this world, and there are times when a Workers’ Compensation claim should be denied, such as when the employee isn’t hurt on the job or it’s an old injury. 

As many states begin taking a closer look at denials of workers’ compensation claims, now is a good time to evaluate how your company is handling workers’ compensation claims.

 

Workers' Compensation Claims Processing Tips

While state laws vary, there are some important best practices to follow:

  • Keep detailed written documentation about the incident.
  • Understand the claim forms, timelines, and the correct state agency to send the paperwork to.
  • Ensure that all information on those forms is accurate.
  • List a specific legal reason explaining why the claim is being denied and the basis for that denial.
  • Provide instructions to the employee about steps he or she can take if they disagree with the denial.

Here are some practices to avoid:

  • Don’t simply state, “The injury did not take place. Denied.”
  • Don’t disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) without written permission to do so or if required by law.

 

No One is Perfect. If a mistake is made, here are some best practices to follow:

  • Don’t ignore the mistake. Correct it.
  • Cooperate with state agencies. 
  • Provide complete and detailed responses.
  • Continue to keep detailed written documentation.
  • Pay close attention to timelines.
  • If you aren’t sure about something, consult an attorney.

No business wants to pay penalties for Workers’ Compensation claim denials, so following these best practices can help your business avoid or minimize those penalties.   

How to Get a Great Deal on Worker's Comp Insurance 

American Insuring Group, Ltd. offers cost-effective worker's compensation insurance from a great variety of competing insurance companies, enabling you to get a great deal on high-quality WC insurance. 

For more information about Workers’ Compensation insurance, claims, or denials, contact American Insuring Group at (800)947-1270 or (610) 775-3848

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Commercial Insurance Allentown PA, Commercial Insurance Lancaster PA, Commercial Insurance Harrisburg PA, Accident Insurance, Commercial Insurance, Commercial Insurance Reading PA, Commercial Insurance Philadelphia PA, Commercial Insurance York PA, Commercial Insurance Berks County

A Simple Way to Cut Workers’ Compensation Insurance Costs

Posted by David Ross on Wed, Jul 30, 2014

Employers who provided voluntary accident insurance saw a decrease in claims according to one study. Learn more.Workers’ Compensation claims cost American employers $77.1 billion in 2011. Traditionally, one of the only ways for employers to decrease workers’ compensation costs was to offer proactive safety measures to reduce the number of claims.  This is still an important practice, but for years, many insurance agents have suspected that an employer offering voluntary accident or disability insurance will see a decrease in the frequency and expense of workers’ compensation claims.   

Accident Insurance - Survey Says…

A survey conducted in November 2013 by Lieberman Research Worldwide has confirmed those suspicions.  The survey of 600 U.S. Employers found that more than 42% of all businesses offering their employees access to voluntary accident insurance noted a decline in their workers’ compensation claims.  The survey found that 55 percent of large companies and 34 percent of small and medium sized companies reported declines.  The results were nearly identical for those employers offering voluntary disability insurance.

 

What are Accident and Disability Insurance?

Accident insurance helps pay out-of-pocket expenses that aren’t covered by major medical insurance.  These expenses can add up quickly after an accidental injury.  The money can be used for medical expenses, such as medical examinations, or it can be used for other expenses, such as transportation. 

Disability insurance helps protect an employee’s paycheck in the event of an accident.  Those benefits can be used for any purpose, including rent, food, or car payments – living expenses that continue to come even when the paycheck doesn’t. 

 

Interested in Reducing Workers Compensation Claims?

This same survey found that 58 percent of employers do not currently offer voluntary accident insurance and 50 percent do not offer voluntary disability insurance. 

Contact us to learn more about obtaining the right accident insurance policy for your employees. Serving Reading, PA, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, Erie, Pittsburgh, Lehigh Valley and beyond.If you’re interested in offering your employees a more comprehensive benefits package and possibly reducing the frequency and expense of workers’ compensation claims, contact American Insuring Group at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to learn more.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Disability Insurance, Accident Insurance

Workers Comp Insurance & Job Classifications - Avoid Costly Mistakes

Posted by David Ross on Wed, Jul 09, 2014

ob classifications and how they affect workers comp insurance premiums. Contact us to avoid costly mistakes. We offer workers comp insurance protection for businesses in Reading, PA, Philadelphia, Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Adams County, Lehigh Valley, Erie, Pittsburgh, PA and beyond.Worker's compensation insurance, job classifications, job risks and insurance premiums are all related. Job classifications, which are based on specific ratings and descriptions for all types of jobs, are determined by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the insurance industry’s ratings bureau.  There are more than 600 different job classifications, and more are being added all the time, so it isn’t surprising that 30-35 percent of businesses have classification errors. But have you considered the potential impact on your business insurance costs that an erroneous job classification can bring?

Workers' Compensation Insurance and Risk-Based Job Classifications

Why should you care?  These ratings, based on an estimated level of risk, help determine how much Workers’ Compensation premiums you will pay for each job classification.  The following misclassifications are examples of mistakes that can significantly increase your Workers’ Compensation premiums:

  • An administrative assistant who sits at her desk all day is classified at the same job risk level as a tree trimmer who spends most of her day swinging through the trees.
  • A dispatcher who spends most of his time on the phone is classified at the same job risk level as a driver who spends most of his time behind the wheel of a tractor trailer full of flammable materials. 

How can you avoid misclassifications?

  • Review your NCCI Classifications
  • Don’t use the same classification for everyone in your company.  Classify each worker individually.
  • Ask your insurance agent how jobs are being classified.
  • Read your policy.
  • Don’t let the insurance agent copy from an old policy from year to year. Things change; your business changes. 

Contact us for help with proper job classifications for workers compensation insurance in Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Allentown, Pittsburgh, Erie, PA and beyond.Don’t wait for your workman's compensation insurance premiums to skyrocket to discover something is off kilter.  For more information about job classifications and controlling workers’ compensation premiums, contact American Insuring Group at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Business Insurance Reading PA, Business Insurance Berks, Business Insurance Philadelphia Pa, Business Insurance Lancaster Pa, Business Insurance Harrisburg Pa, Business Insurance York Pa, Commercial Insurance, Business Insurance Allentown PA, Business Insurance

Safe Lifting Tips to Avoid Workers Comp Insurance Claims

Posted by David Ross on Sat, Jun 14, 2014

Reduce workers' comp insurance claims with these safety lifting tips. Serving Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown, the Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie, PA and beyond with affordable, high quality workers compensation insurance.A Leading Cause of Workplace Injury

OSHA reports, “Lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace.”  This is particularly true in the healthcare industry.  Improper lifting can cause back sprains, muscle pulls, wrist injuries, elbow injuries, spinal injuries, etc. 

Sharing the following smart lifting practices with your employees will not only help improve the health of your employees, but also help reduce the number and cost of lifting-related workers’ compensation insurance claims.

There are several factors that contribute to lifting injuries:

  • Weight of Objects
  • Awkward Postures
  • High-Frequency and Long-Duration Lifting
  • Inadequate Handholds
  • Environmental Factors

Avoid Workers Comp Injuries - Follow These Safe Lifting Tips.

Here are some tips from OSHA to help your employees avoid injury from lifting:

  • Limit the weight you lift to no more than 50 pounds.  When lifting heavier loads, use two or more people to lift the load.
  • Use ramps or lift gates to load items into trucks rather than lifting them by hand.
  • Use your legs instead of your back when lifting an item from a low location.
  • Avoid twisting, especially when bending forward while lifting.  Turn by moving the feet rather than twisting the torso.
  • Keep your elbows close to your body and keep the load as close to your body as possible.
  • Break down loads into smaller units and carry one in each hand to equalize loads.
  • Rotate tasks so employees are not exposed to the same activity for too long.
  • Take regular breaks and split tasks into shorter segments.
  • Move materials from containers with poor or no handholds into containers with good handholds.
  • Wear proper personal protective equipment to avoid finger injuries and contact stress.
  • Adjust work schedules to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures.
  • Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration in excessive heat.

More Safe Lifting Tips

For more information about safe lifting techniques, go to https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/electricalcontractors/materials/heavy.html#awkward

Be Prepared for the Unexepected with Quality Workers' Comp Insurance

Contact us for all your workers compensation insurance needs.Following these tips will help ensure the safety of your employees and reduce workers’ comp claims; however, injuries may still happen. 

The right workers' compensation insurance will protect your business from these unforeseen incidents. 

Contact American Insuring Group at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.  We can help with all of your business-related insurance needs, including workers’ compensation.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Business Insurance Reading PA, Business Insurance Berks, Business Insurance Philadelphia Pa, Business Insurance Lancaster Pa, Business Insurance Harrisburg Pa, Business Insurance York Pa, Commercial Insurance, Business Insurance Allentown PA, Business Insurance

Fire Safety & Commercial Insurance - 6 Ways to Reduce Risk

Posted by David Ross on Mon, May 26, 2014

What a Tragedy Taught us About Fire Safety & Commercial Insurance

Reduce your long term workers compensation insurance and commercial liability insurance costs by following these fire safety tips. We serve Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Allentown, York, Pittsburgh, Erie, PA and beyond with quality commercial and workers compensation insurance.On March 25, 1911, the US witnessed one of the deadliest industrial disasters in American history – the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City.  The fire resulted in the deaths of 146 garment workers – 123 women and 23 men – who were working on the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors.  Some died from the fire, but many were killed by smoke inhalation or falling or jumping to their deaths.   

This horrible tragedy led to legislation that improved worker safety standards, including better building access and egress, fireproofing, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and automatic sprinklers.  More than one hundred years later, the lessons learned from this tragedy still apply. 

Here are some reminders on how to avoid workplace fires and injuries, thereby reducing the long-term cost of your commercial and workers comp insurance by minimizing both the number and severity of your insurance claims.

6 Tips to Avoid Workplace Fires & Injuries

Give them a way out. If the doors to the stairwells and freight elevators in the Triangle Factory weren’t locked to prevent theft, many of the 146 workers who perished would have survived.

Enforce smoking bans. Although smoking was banned on the Triangle Factory floor, it was common knowledge that workers often snuck cigarettes in.  The suspected cause of the Triangle fire was a discarded match or cigarette.

Quickly get rid of scrap material. Two months’ worth of highly flammable fabric cuttings (hundreds of pounds) were in the scrap bins in the Triangle Factory.

Keep them separated. Fabric hanging close to the scrap bins helped the fire spread more quickly.

Make it easy to spread the word. There were no working telephones on the ninth floor of the Triangle Factory, so workers there didn’t know about the fire until it had reached their floor.  Working, audible fire alarms and emergency communication systems could have made all the difference.

Regularly inspect your fire escapes. Twenty people died when the flimsy fire escape at the Triangle Factory collapsed.

Be Prepared with the Right Commercial Insurance

Contact an American Insuring Group agent at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to ensure that you have the proper workers compensation insurance and commercial insurance to protect both your employees and your business. As independent agents we offer insurance solutions from over 25 competing insurance companies to give you the best options at the best price. Serving Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, Allentown, York, PA and far beyond. Call today.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Commercial Insurance Allentown PA, Commercial Insurance Lancaster PA, Commercial Insurance Harrisburg PA, Fire Safety, Commercial Insurance, Commercial Insurance Reading PA, Business Insurance, Commercial Insurance Philadelphia PA, Commercial Insurance York PA, Commercial Insurance Berks County

12 Ways to Avoid Electrically-Related Worker's Comp Claims

Posted by David Ross on Mon, May 05, 2014

Get the right worker's compensation insurance to cover electricians. By American Insuring Group, serving Reading, PA, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, Harrisburg, Allentown, the Lehigh Valley and beyond with affordable, high quality workers comp insurance.Electrically-Related Worker's Comp Injuries

Electrical hazards cause more than 200 electrocutions (death by electric shock) and 4,000 workplace injuries each year, costing businesses millions of dollars in Workers’ Comp claims, fines, medical costs, litigation, lost business and equipment cost.  “While electrical hazards are not the leading cause of on-the-job injuries, accidents, and fatalities, they are disproportionately fatal and costly,” according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). 

The good news is that most electrically-related injuries and the resulting workers’ compensation and fire-related rebuilding costs can be avoided with a comprehensive electrical safety program. That's good news for electrical contractors and other businesses whose employees perform electrical maintenance and installation services.

12 Ways to Avoid Electrical Injuries and Reduce Worker's Compensation Insurance Claims

Whether you’re in an office, a warehouse, or a manufacturing facility, there are things you can do to avoid electrical injuries and costly worker's comp claims:

  • Avoid using electrical equipment in unsuitable conditions, such as a wet or dusty workplace.
  • Ensure electrical panel doors are freely accessible and unblocked by furniture or clutter.
  • Tuck cables and cords away so they don’t create tripping or slipping hazards.
  • Place electric cords where there is air circulating to prevent overheating.
  • Keep electrical cords away from heat sources, such as radiators and space heaters.
  • Ensure that the electrical load of equipment such as computers, printers, scanners, faxes, shredders, and telephones is spread over several circuits.
  • If you are using extension cords as a permanent source of power, consider having additional circuits installed.
  • Plug office electronics into a surge protector.
  • Ensure grounded (3-prong) appliances and equipment are plugged into grounded outlets.
  • Avoid spilling beverages on electronics, and if it happens, be careful, as electrically powered devices may become live to the touch if they become wet.
  • Pull on the plug, not the cord, when unplugging equipment.
  • Get rid of old, unsafe or poorly maintained equipment, such as old coffee makers, radios, lamps, and space heaters.

Improve Electrical Safety in your Workplace

ESFI offers the following steps:

Step 1: Awareness

What does electrical safety mean to you?  The How Do You Know? video modules demonstrate how safe electrical practices are vital to everyone in your business.

Step 2: Assessment

Are you confident that your company's electrical safety program is up-to-date and comprehensive?  Evaluate your program with ESFI's Electrical Safety Self Assessment. It's an easy to use tool that will help you review and analyze your company's electrical safety practices related to facilities, personnel, and procedures.

Step 3: Improvement

Once you identify areas that need to be addressed, what's the next step?  ESFI has compiled a library of safety resources and links to help you find the information you need.

Worker's Compensation Insurance - Do You Have the Right Coverage?

Get the right worker's comp insurance from American Insuring Group. Call today.Following these suggestions will help ensure the safety of your employees, reduce workers comp claims, and avoid fire-related business costs. 

However, even the best laid plans sometimes fail.  When that happens you need to have the right insurance to protect your business from those unforeseen incidents.  Contact American Insuring Group at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 for help in obtaining the right worker's comp insurance to properly cover your business from loss.  We can help you with all your business-related insurance needs.

Tags: Workers Compensation Insurance, Small Business Insurance, Commercial Insurance Allentown PA, Commercial Insurance Lancaster PA, Commercial Insurance Harrisburg PA, Commercial Insurance, Commercial Insurance Reading PA, Commercial Insurance Philadelphia PA, Commercial Insurance York PA, Commercial Insurance Berks County

How Health Insurance and Other Benefits Can Help Your Bottom Line

Posted by David Ross on Sat, Mar 08, 2014

Providing employee health insurance and other benefits helps retain top talent. Do you believe employees are your most valuable asset? Contact us today for affordable employee benefits like health insurance, life insurance, and workers compensation insurance. We serve Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, Allentown, York, Lebanon, Pittsburgh, Erie, PA and beyond.Do you believe that your employees are one of your most valuable assets?  Do you think of your employees as an investment rather than an expense?  

The fact is that happy, engaged, and loyal employees work harder, provide better customer service, and stay with you longer. That's why great benefits, especially health insurance, can be crucial to attracting and retaining the best employees.

Consider these facts:

  • The average cost of recruiting, hiring and training a new employee is close to $4,000, according to an article in Entrepreneur Magazine.
     
  • The companies listed on Fortune’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ list experienced stock prices that rose an average of 14% per year from 1998-2005, compared to 6% for the market as a whole, according to a study from the Jackson Organization. That's more than double the norm, and suggests a strong link between employee satisfaction and company performance.

If you truly value your employees, it's important to do more than just say that you value them, so prove it to them via their health insurance, life insurance, and other benefits!  If you don’t show you care about their needs, they'll be less motivated to care about your company or their work, and your bottom line will suffer as a result.  If you want to stand out as an employer and attract real talent, it’s important to do what you can to ensure that your employees are healthy and happy – both physically and financially.

Start with a Good Employee Benefits Package

A good employee benefits package is a great place to start.  Unfortunately, during these rocky economic times, many companies are tempted to cut employee benefits.  This “cost-saving” measure will most likely backfire on you by creating less motivated employees and a higher turnover rate.

Mandatory Employee Benefits

While some benefits are optional, all employers are required to provide employees with the following benefits:

  • Give employees time off to vote, serve on a jury and perform military service.
  • Comply with all workers' compensation requirements.
     
  • Withhold FICA taxes from employees' paychecks and pay your own portion of FICA taxes, providing employees with retirement and disability benefits.
     
  • Pay state and federal unemployment taxes, thus providing benefits for unemployed workers.
     
  • Contribute to state short-term disability programs in states where such programs exist.
     
  • Comply with the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Providing additional benefits, such as health insurance, dental, vision, and life insurance plans will attract better-qualified candidates, ensure higher retention rates, and increase your bottom line. 

We Can Help You Craft a Better Employee Benefits Package

Contact us for help in crafting a better employee benefits package that includes health insurance and life insurance.Contact American Insuring Group at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to discuss affordable health, life, and workers compensation insurance plans to make yours a better company that attracts and retains the high-caliber talent you need to excel in the marketplace.

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