The News You Need for May 16
Our march through the week continues with tech, safety, and systems thinking.
Wearables, Computer Vision Highlighted as Key Safety Tech at NCCI
Orlando, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -- When you think of personal protective equipment, you might think hardhats, vests, goggles, ear plugs, and the like.
But according to a panel of experts at NCCI 's Annual Insights Symposium Tuesday, computer vision and wearable devices could be right alongside traditional PPE sooner than you think, and workers' compensation carriers might be the ones to lead the way.
In a session titled "The Future of Workplace Safety," Kinetic Insurance 's cofounder and chief strategy officer Haytham Elhawary and Voxel board member Aidan Madigan-Curtis , shared insights on what they have learned from their companies' experience with tech and safety in the workplace.
What's the Tech?
Elhawary explained that Kinetic makes wearable devices that look like a pager and clip on a worker's belt. When the device senses that the worker is engaging in a "high-risk" movement such as bending, twisting, running, or jumping, it vibrates to alert the employee and sends a report to the employer, which can be used for coaching and training.
"It's collecting data about what workers are doing on the floor," Elhawary said, pointing out that it does not track down time an employee might indulge and cannot be used to check up on how much work workers are doing.
"We'll give you a to-do list based on the data we collect," he said.
Madigan-Curtis said that Voxel's technology uses computer vision that is trained on "typical AI" and a battery of cameras in a workplace that can quickly detect safety hazards, such as missing PPE, "near misses" involving forklifts, and improper techniques for working.
The data the cameras receive is compiled into a dashboard that tracks safety metrics and prepares points for instruction.
"With our detections, Voxel can work with safety managers for a highly active reduction in claims," Madigan-Curtis said. "It's a tool for coaching."
What's the future?
Madigan-Curtis told attendees that despite the sometimes "scary" narrative around AI and technology in the workplace, which includes concerns about privacy, costs, and the loss of jobs, adoption of innovations will prevent injuries and keep costs down.
"We'd love to be a partner to stop claims before they start," she said.
Elhawary said that workers' compensation is a changing environment, thanks to technology. Kinetic partners with carriers to provide its devices at no charge to policyholders, and Elhawary encouraged insurers to think differently about their role in the claims cycle.
"Being a workers' comp carrier is changing, and it's going to be about providing employers with tools to prevent injuries," he said. "Don't just be a payer of claims but adopt a better way to provide to policy holders."
Eight Workers Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida Bus Crash
Ocala, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) – At least eight people are dead and another eight are in critical condition after a bus carrying farm workers to a job site crashed and overturned in Florida Tuesday.
Officials said the bus was transporting dozens of workers to a watermelon farm when it was hit by a Ford Ranger heading in the opposite direction on State Route 40. The Florida Highway Patrol said the two vehicles sideswiped each other sending the bus onto the shoulder of the road where it struck a fence and two trees and overturned.
Highway patrol said eight people were killed, eight were in critical condition, another 10 had serious injuries and at least two dozen occupants of the bus had minor injuries. About 40 people were transported to hospitals, officials said. The driver of the pickup was also hospitalized in serious condition. James Lucas with Marion County Fire Rescue said the number of fatalities could grow because of the conditions of the critically injured bus occupants.
“There’s a high probability this may be beyond eight fatalities,” he said, noting some of the injured, including the driver of the pickup truck, are in “very serious condition.”
The workers were laborers for a private company and were on their way to Cannon Farms in Dunnellon, Florida, about 20 miles east of Ocala. The crash occurred Tuesday morning, around 6:35 a.m., officials said. The owner of the company was on the bus with the workers and was also transported to the hospital.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said the bus passengers are believed to be migrant workers, and praised the passengers for their work ethic.
“We’re a very big agricultural county. So this time of year, we always have migrant workers that are in our county, that are on buses just like this,” Woods told reporters at a press conference. "My heart goes out to them."
Woods said his office was assisting investigators, especially with translation. The victims’ identities are being withheld pending notification of their families.
Juan Sabines, the Mexican consul in Orlando, said the victims were all from Mexico and in the country on temporary work visas.
“Please pray for these nationals,” Sabines said. “We hear a lot of bad things of the immigrants all the time, in the reality, these people (are) good people. (They are) very good people, young people. They stay in this country just for work, with (a) visa. These (are) very good people and now they lost the main support of their family.”
Bryan Maclean Howard, the driver of the Ford Ranger that struck the bus, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of manslaughter while driving under the influence, a release from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released Tuesday afternoon.
“Identities of the deceased will be released pending next of kin notification,” Kerner said in his statement. “Our sympathies and prayers are with the families of the deceased. Consistent with our duties, the Florida Highway Patrol will conduct both a thorough and exhaustive traffic crash and criminal investigation.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, transportation accidents were the leading cause of death for farmworkers in 2021. Those accidents include roadway crashes as well as things like tractors overturning.
领英推荐
In February, eight people were killed in California in a similar incident when a van carrying farmworkers collided with a pickup truck. One two of the people in the van were wearing seatbelts, officials said.
In another crash in Florida, this one in July 2016, four people were killed when a bus carrying migrant farmworkers crashed into a bus. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the 5:16 a.m. collision near St. Marks, Fla was caused when a bus driver, likely fatigued after helping pick crops, did not stop at an intersection and collided with the truck. The NTSB also found that the bus company, Billy R. Evans Harvesting, did not exercise adequate safety oversight of the driver. The agency also cited a lack of effective oversight by the Department of Labor and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
"I don't think they would want holes in their baskets, and I don't think they should have holes in the safety net that is there to protect them while they are being transported," NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said at the time in regard to the farmworkers. "Yet we did find holes in that safety net."
The board also found similar problems in other crashes involving migrant farmworkers in Little Rock, Ark., and Ruther Glen, Va.
In Arkansas, a crash killed six passengers in November 2015. In that accident, a motorcoach traveling from Michigan to Texas struck the underside of an overpass on I-40. The Virginia crash also killed six passengers in June 2016, and involved a 15-passenger van rolling over as it traveled from North Carolina to New Jersey on I-95. Driver fatigue was also cited in those crashes, the NTSB said, and in those crashes the bus drivers also worked in the fields. The Arkansas driver had been on duty for 14 hours before his crash while the Virginia driver had been on duty for 17.5 hours.
“Fatigue was a factor in all three," Sumwalt said in 2016. “It is not enough to be a land of plenty, we must also be a land of safety."
Beyond Injury: Systems Thinking and the Injured Worker Network
Sarasota, FL (WorkersCompensation.com) -- "Give me a lever long enough, and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world." This statement from Archimedes highlights the enormous power of leverage. It illustrates the core principle of systems thinking, a methodology that can meaningfully impact complex challenges. In the context of workers' compensation, the focus is often solely on the physical injury and immediate needs of the injured worker. However, little attention is paid to the vast interconnected systems that impact their entire life and recovery. This narrow focus may limit our ability to provide comprehensive and practical assistance. This article explores how adopting a systems thinking approach can profoundly improve our understanding of the situation of injured workers. By considering the myriad roles and systems they interact with in their development, we can develop more extensive support strategies that consider the bigger picture.
The Injured Worker’s Network
An injured worker often has multiple responsibilities beyond their professional role. They may be the primary breadwinner, a parent, a spouse, and an active member of their community. These responsibilities create a complex web of interactions significantly affecting the individual and the community. The consequences of their injuries extend beyond the immediate physical and psychological effects, impacting their family's financial stability and ability to provide for their household. In addition, their role in social and community contexts is vital, such as a mother who volunteers at a local community center. Her absence can affect the center's operational capacity and the emotional well-being of its community. These disruptions highlight the far-reaching impact of an injury, extending beyond the immediate family and reflecting the vast network of which each worker is a part.
Systems Thinking in Workers' Compensation
Systems thinking is an approach that allows us to view complex interactions holistically. Thinkers like Jay Forrester have developed and popularized this approach in organizational learning, helping us understand dynamic patterns and underlying connections that may go unnoticed. Applying systems thinking to workers' compensation helps us recognize the many effects of an injury, which often extend beyond immediate physical harm to various aspects of an individual and community life. This recognition allows for developing more comprehensive support strategies considering all aspects of an injured worker's life. For instance, we can promote better recovery outcomes by improving support structures for workers and their broader social roles, such as their participation in community activities or their role in family stability. These outcomes benefit the individual and contribute to the overall health and resilience of their communities, creating a more supportive environment for recovery on multiple levels.
Tools and Concepts for Systems Thinking
In the field of systems thinking, various tools are essential for modeling the complexities that are inherent in workers' compensation systems. These tools include inventory, flow, and feedback loops. The "inventory" refers to the accumulation of factors within the system, such as the worker's health and well-being or job satisfaction. "Flow" describes the rates of change between these stocks, including resources coming into and out of their recovery systems, such as medical treatment, financial assistance, and emotional support. Feedback loops demonstrate the interrelationships and cyclical nature of these changes, showing how improving a worker's health can improve the stability of their family, which in turn can result in further improvements in their mental state. Using these tools provides a better understanding of how different elements of the workers' compensation system interact, helping to highlight potential areas for intervention that can lead to more effective and comprehensive solutions. By highlighting these relationships, systems thinking allows stakeholders to identify and implement changes that can positively impact the entire network, making the recovery process more adaptive and responsive to the needs of injured workers.
Embracing a Holistic Approach in Workers' Compensation
To truly meet the needs of injured workers, it is crucial to consider the various systems they interact with daily. By adopting systems thinking, we can identify and leverage the most effective points within these systems, which can significantly improve the recovery and well-being of injured individuals. By taking a broader perspective encompassing these interconnected systems, we can develop more robust and effective support mechanisms that not only help injured workers recover individually but also strengthen the resilience and well-being of their communities. Integrating systems thinking into workers' compensation strategies ensures that interventions are targeted and comprehensive, leading to lasting improvements in workers' lives and the overall health of the workplace and community ecosystem.
A Strategic Shift Towards Systems Thinking in Workers' Compensation
Industry leaders and stakeholders in the workers' compensation sector are strongly advised to adopt a strategic system-thinking approach to improve the outcomes for injured workers. This approach provides a broader perspective and allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the various factors that influence recovery. By incorporating systems thinking into their strategies, stakeholders can identify interactions and dependencies that may have been previously overlooked, leading to innovative solutions that fully address the complexities of each case. This approach improves individual recovery outcomes and creates a more supportive and flexible work environment. For ongoing success, industry leaders must commit to continually learning and implementing the principles of systems thinking, ensuring that their interventions are both holistic and practical.
Further Exploration of Systems Thinking: Resources for Deepening Understanding
If you are interested in learning more about systems thinking, there are a variety of resources available to help you understand its concepts and applications. These resources offer a comprehensive overview of how systems thinking can be effectively applied in different contexts, especially in improving worker compensation strategies. You can find a wealth of information in books, academic articles, and online courses that provide detailed discussions and case studies illustrating the practical implementation of systems thinking tools. Websites like the Systems Thinking World Wiki and the Waters Foundation for Systems Thinking offer tutorials, tools, and community support for beginners and experts.
Sponsored: Tower MSA Partners Offers Section 111 Audit
Section 111 Reporting Audit Service to Help Workers’ Comp Payers Correct Systemic Issues and Avoid Penalties
Delray Beach, Fla.?(May 14, 2024) – Workers’ compensation payers have approximately six months to get their Section 111 reporting houses in order.?Tower MSA Partners?has introduced a Section 111 reporting audit service to help them do just that.
Starting October 11, 2024, workers’ compensation plans, liability insurance (including self-insurance, no-fault insurance), and Responsible Reporting Entities (RREs), and will be held accountable for the timely reporting of Medicare beneficiary claimants where ongoing responsibility for medicals (ORM) has been accepted, or where a Total Payment Obligation to the Claimant (TPOC) has occurred. Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) for untimely reporting of ORM acceptance or TPOC can be thousands of dollars on a single claim.
Tower’s Section 111 reporting audit service detects problems or potential problems in the RRE’s reporting processes that could lead to CMPs due to untimely reporting.?It also addresses the issuance of unnecessary Conditional Payment Demands by Medicare’s recovery contractor that occur when ORM Term Dates are not reported as part of TPOC reporting.
“Our compliance experts examine a set of claim input and response and query response files over a set time period and review the organization’s reporting policies and procedures,” said Chief Compliance Officer Dan Anders . “The audit detects the types of errors, inconsistencies and omissions that hinder compliance and could trigger a reporting penalty.”
Tower goes beyond just identifying problematic processes.?Experts collaborate with the RRE to take corrective actions and implement changes to ensure compliance. “It’s not just a snapshot in time,” Anders said. “Changing processes fixes issues for the long term.”
About Tower MSA Partners
Serving clients nationally, Tower MSA Partners, LLC provides comprehensive Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services, including Section 111 Mandatory Insurer Reporting, conditional payment resolution, and Medicare Set-Aside optimization and preparation. For more information, please visit?www.towermsa.com?and subscribe to?https://towermsa.com/blog/.
# # #
Media Contact: Helen King Patterson, APR , King Knight Communications, 813-690-4787,?[email protected]