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Passing the Baton
After 53 years of insurance management, it seems time to turn the MTM helm over to a “new” manager. After lots of discussion, assessment and planning meetings, the Board of Directors over the last year came up with a transition date of 6/1/25.
My team and I are often asked “how can I improve my safety program?”. This is a question that comes up even to a seasoned safety professional as companies try to reduce operating costs as much as possible. A survey of regional safety professionals was recently conducted to determine what they would like to improve so they can provide a better safety culture in their workplace. Listed below are the top ten answers professionals gave to this question. I’ve added a loss control view after each identified issue.
As many of you have already experienced, MIOSHA had a full complete year of compliance audits and are on a roll. To help our policyholders stay on track, we always try to provide CET’s annual release of the top 20 that they provide at their annual Michigan Safety Conference. On the General Industry Safety violation side, approximately 500 citations were issued in 2023. They collected $1.33 Million in fines, which averages out to $2,606 for the average safety citation. Now for the Health side of things, as there are always two parts. The Health side issued 565 citations and collected $823,200 in fines. The average citation per location was $1,456. If you are unsure if you have a Health or Safety violation, please contact your Loss Control Consultant for more guidance of these most cited violations below. We are happy to help you stay in compliance.
Where Does the Money Go?
Occasionally I am asked “where does the premium go that is paid by MTM members?” I could break that down into more than two dozen categories but let me just give you a high-level view. If I took 2023 as an example year, I could put the percentages into three basic categories. No surprise, the number one category is claims including legal expenses with the second being administrative expenses which include company salaries, rent and of course, taxes. Not only are there income taxes to pay but we’re also required to pay assessments to the state and a percentage of the premium as a state premium tax. And the third category are the leftover funds which are paid to members as dividends. Again, going back to 2023, in rounded numbers, 55% of the premium is paid out in claims and claims handling costs with 25% paid for MTM administrative expenses and 20% was returned as member dividends.
As the weather is warming up, I am finding more and more of my visits with policyholders that result in us spending some time outside to check the perimeter of the building, parking lots, truck bays and other areas that often can go without routine inspections due to weather conditions. During one particular inspection I noticed a large area of dead poison ivy climbing the facility wall, and an impressive dormant bee nest in the tree next to their outside eating area. I asked them if they include the “outside” area in their facility hazard identification process. I was met with a response that got me thinking. That response was that they will add that aspect as soon as they start doing that inside the building first. My contact at this company felt that they weren’t qualified to identify hazards, and that by not knowing all of the standards and rules, it prevented them from being the person to do that. Sadly, as I started to ask some of my contacts at other policyholders if they felt that they were qualified to do hazard identification they said no, and that’s why they rely so heavily on their Loss Control Consultant. I want to assure all of you that you are qualified, and with some training on what to look for, you can become an expert at hazard identification as well.
I recently reviewed a new claim that crossed my desk for a “foot contusion” – a 14 pound part fell on the top of the employee’s foot. Fortunately, no bones were broken, but there was an abrasion with minimal blood, bruising and swelling. A trip to the local occupational clinic consisted of the examination, an x-ray and prescribing of the following: Bacitracin Ointment (an anti-biotic), Cephalexin (an oral anti-biotic), Naproxen (an antiinflammatory), Tylenol Extra Strength, an Ace Bandage, home dressing supplies, hot/cold pack, and a post-op shoe; also with a referral to physical therapy. Work restrictions were imposed with a return clinic visit in two days.
