By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

Accident investigation and analysis is a means used to prevent accidents. As such, the investigation or analysis must produce information leading to corrective actions to prevent or reduce the number of accidents in the workplace. In 2014 the state of Michigan had 37 workplace fatalities. The investigations from these events are essential as they provide the possible root cause of the accident as well as assist in developing long term remedies. Injuries result in loss of productivity and efficiency, increased workloads on supervisors and co-workers, possible damaged equipment costs, economic hardship to the injured workers’ family, and a cost of the time spent on the accident investigation, return to work programs, and workers’ compensation claims management. By conducting accident investigations a company could possibly implement a remedy that could prevent future occurrences.

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By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

We are all aware of how and where potential “serious” injuries can occur in the workplace and hopefully actions are taken to avoid those situations. Things like weight limits on lifting, guarding on machinery, wearing safety glasses and other personal protection equipment. But what about those seemingly innocent actions and movements, that are almost second nature to a person? The following are actual claims handled by our office.

An employee stopped to get the mail and slipped on black ice and snow resulting in an ankle fracture in three places and a shattered heel. Surgery was performed with plates and screws; and the employee remains disabled from work.

An employee jumped off the bed of a truck resulting in a heel and foot fracture. The employee has been referred to a specialist to see if surgery is necessary. The foot fracture was not noticed on the initial diagnostic testing. The employee remains disabled from work.

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GREAT NEWS TO ANNOUNCE!

A benefit of being part of a small mutual/owner directed insurance company is that the profits that are generated are owned by its members. This is in contrast to commercial carriers where profits are owned by the stockholders. After writing about this topic for the last three months, the MTMIC Board at their February 19th meeting reviewed the 2014 results and determined that a policyholder/member dividend is in order. The Board of Directors, the management team and staff are proud to announce a $2,500,000 dividend. $1,000,000 is to be shared by all members with a policy inforce on February 19, 2015 that had coverage 12/31/12 and prior. An additional $1,500,000 dividend is being shared by members that meet this criteria plus have a loss ratio of below 40%.

We thank you for these great results. This dividend is the result of aggressive claims management, hands on loss control practices and most importantly our policyholder member’s commitment to reducing loss costs.

Dividend checks are being delivered by MTMIC staff, your brokers and the post office beginning as early as March 10th. The MTMIC Board also made it clear that they want to distribute dividends in the future as long as company results warrant it. Congratulations on the MTMIC 2014 results.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendar now to join us for lunch at the MTMIC Annual Meeting to be held on October 15, 2015 at the beautiful Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth.

Watch for more information to follow.

By Chris Demeter, Senior Loss Control Consultant

Are you prepared for an emergency when it happens in your workplace? If your workplace has more than 10-employees, it is recommended you develop a written emergency action plan. At a minimum, your emergency action plan should include the following:

• A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies;
• An evacuation policy and procedure;
• Emergency escape procedures and route assignments such as floor plans, workplace maps and safe or refuge areas;
• Names, titles, departments and telephone numbers of people within and outside your company to contact for additional information or an explanation of their duties and responsibilities under the emergency plan.
• Procedures for employees who remain to perform or shut down critical plant operations, operate fire extinguishers, or perform other essential services that cannot be shut down for every emergency alarm before evacuating.

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Great news to start 2015. As mentioned in previous newsletters, the MTMIC Board approved a dividend resolution late last year directing management to prepare required documentation for a 2015 members/owners dividend if the 2014 financials supported such. As Chris Doebler, MTMIC CFO, and our actuary wrap up the claims numbers for December 31, 2014, I am pleased to say that is the case. MTMIC management has the resolution and supporting detail for the Board to review and vote on at the February 19th Board Meeting. It is anticipated that the Board will approve a plan that includes members’ payments to go out in March. I also expect consistent with the Board’s prior instructions that the dividend will be member loss ratio based. That is the accounts with good loss ratios will be included in the distribution. Their instruction “let’s make sure that the members who contributed to the good results get the benefit of it”. The dividend will also likely have a years of service credit. The longer the account has been a member the larger the dividend.

I hope the above gives you a clue of what is coming. I do not know the final chosen parameters or exact amounts. The Board will determine those at their meeting. I can tell you that giving back profits to member companies is what a small mutual company is about. We operate to provide our members/owners with the best service we can at premiums that are financially sound and excess profits earned belong to members/owners.

By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

Studies have indicated that the longer a person is off work due to a work related injury, the less likely they are to return to productive employment. Once (physical) restrictions are imposed by the treating physician, an employer has the decision to make whether or not they will let the injured worker return to work with those limitations. For the office worker that is given the restriction of “sit down work only” or the machine operator that is restricted to “no lifting over 50 pounds” and his regular job does not require any lifting or only lifting up to 10 pounds, the decision to return the employee to work is not that difficult. As indicated, a return to work policy is beneficial for the employee as they remain productive members of society, and the employer, as it does not impede work flow and will aid in limiting their Workers’ Compensation exposure. Bringing an employee back to work with restrictions also sends a message to all employees that being injured at work will not result in a paid vacation!

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By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

As the desire to minimize business costs grow, the availability to have employees designated to maintain housekeeping and cleanliness has diminished. Sadly, slip, trip, and fall hazards have provided a staggering number of 25,000 incidents daily. Since 2009, MTMIC has spent approximately $11.5 million on injuries resulting from a slip, trip, fall, and/or debris on the walking surface. General housekeeping and cleanliness plays a vital role in reducing the possibility of these types of injuries.

Injuries that can be attributed to slips, trips and falls can include lacerations, contusions, punctures, fractures, and strains. Strains from slips, trips, and falls accounted for $4.1 million of the $11.5 million spent on these types of injuries.

Some important aspects to remember when analyzing your workplace for any slip, trip and fall hazards is to:

• Keep electrical cords and air hoses out of traffic areas.
• Remove clutter (boxes, excessive raw material, trash, chemical containers) from traffic areas.
• Immediately clean up any spills
• Place a wet floor sign when area is cleaned using a mop.
• Make sure that traffic areas are properly lit as a person will trip over what they can’t see.
• Regularly inspect traffic areas for damages and hazards (chipped floor coverings, cracked and/or missing concrete, and uneven levels of walking surfaces.)
• Complete an audit of spill response and spill response measures.
• Complete walk-throughs of the work area focusing on general cleanliness.
• Mark any changes in walking surface elevations by either using a highly visible paint or tape that shows a hazard.

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By Chris Doebler, CPA, Chief Financial Officer

Did you know that you can make your monthly premium payments without ever having to write or mail a check? Over 1/3 of our policyholders remit over 1/3 of our monthly premiums via AutoPay, and you can too! Your payments will be spread over 12 months instead of 10 and will automatically be debited from your checking account on or about the 10th of each month. All you need to do is return the Authorization for AutoPay form that is included with your annual renewal package and we’ll take it from there. You can even sign up mid-year by directing us to take your remaining scheduled payments via AutoPay.

If you have any questions about AutoPay or wish to sign up and need an Authorization form email Chris Doebler at chris.doebler@MTMIC.com or call (248) 488-1172 ext 1012.

We hope you had a wonderful holiday. The holidays at MTMIC are always hectic. Over half of all our members’ renewal December and January. Because of this, there are many customer questions to answer, policy documents to send, new state regulatory posters and notices to send to all members. As we start our 39th year of service, this peak in MTMIC work is an annual tradition.

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By Glenda Moyle, Premium Accounting Manager

Wow, can you believe another year has gone by. And what that means is that it is final audit time for our January renewals which is coming up shortly. When we issued your policy, we based your premium on the estimated payrolls by class codes which you provided. Now the final audit will give us actual payrolls, by class codes, to see if you owe us more premium or we owe you a refund of premium. About half of our policyholders will be going through the annual audit process in the next few weeks/months and will be contacted by The Aprise Group by the end of January to schedule your audit.

When you received your renewal documents you should have received a one page flyer titled Guidelines for your Premium Audit. It also included the list of inclusions and exclusions that is used in the Remuneration as the Basis of Premium. Use these items for reference for your audit.

For over 30 years I have been helping you with this process and I continue to be ready should you have any questions.

By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

Injuries seem to run in cycles. During the course of the year, we will see a rash of a particular type of injury. At certain times, it will seem like we receive an above average amount of hernia claims, or shoulder injuries, or foot injuries, etc. This past November and December, we received an inordinate number of head and/or face/mouth injuries.

ANY injury to the head is serious. ANY injury to the head should be called in to us immediately. ANY injury to the head should be treated immediately. A visit to the occupational clinic is fine; if the clinic feels it is warranted, they will refer the injured worker to the emergency room where, most likely, a CT Scan may be performed. You want to avoid the employee indicating they are “fine”, then going home and deciding later that evening that they need medical treatment and they then go to the emergency room without authorization.

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By Ruth Kiefer, ARM, MSc, Loss Control Manager

I know we just came out of the season of giving, however, this is most likely something that your fellow employees don’t want to exchange, the dreaded flu. Having just experienced this sidelining virus myself, I must attest that my policyholders who I needed to visit, appreciated that fact that I didn’t come out to see them while I was sick. They graciously rescheduled our visit for the following week. Since there has been such an increase in flu cases, OSHA has provided a baseline infection control procedure for the seasonal flu. Employers should ensure that they have the most up-to-date information when making decisions about operations and planning.

What to do to protect yourself during flu season:

1) Vaccination is the most important way to prevent the spread of the flu

2) Stay at home if you are sick. The HHS/CDC recommends that workers who have a fever and respiratory symptoms stay at home until 24 hours after their fever ends (100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.8 degrees Celsius] or lower), without the use of medication. Not everyone who has the flu will have a fever. Other symptoms could include a runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

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All State and Federal Labor Law posters have been mailed. If you did not receive them or need additional sets, please email Patty Allen at patricia.allen@mtmic.com/blog with requests for additional sets.

The MTMIC Board of Directors is pleased to inform you that at the last Board Meeting the Board Members unanimously passed a resolution setting the stage for a Policyholder’s Dividend in the first quarter of 2015. Final determination of the dividend will be made in February 2015 once the 12/31/14 financial results are finalized. It is anticipated that the Policyholder Dividend will be based on policyholder premiums paid with eligibility determined by account loss history. While we do not yet have year-end results and final determination of the dividend, the Board Resolution is the first step in the process of a Dividend Declaration for early 2015.

2014 MTMIC Annual Members meeting:

Location: St. John’s, Plymouth

Surveys were given to each attendee. The comment on the meeting location – all checked “Excellent”. Hand written comments added “St. John’s is Awesome”, “Very Nice, and “Keep the same location”. Food also had unanimous “Excellent” grading.

Our guest speakers were: Keith Castora, Workers Compensation Claims Magistrate and John Harris, President of Shadow Investigations. Both were informative. John had interesting investigations stories that were enjoyed by all. For full disclosure, a couple surveys commented that the audio system needed to be turned up for the Magistrate as he was soft spoken and hard to hear. We will have a more rapid response to the speaker system next year.

General comments about the meeting:

“The meeting location was beautiful. I enjoyed my first time at the annual members meeting.”

“I was happy I attended and wish I had come in the years past. It (the meeting) moved quickly and was time well spent. Also I enjoyed the networking opportunities with other members, including Board Members.”

“This was my first time attending the Annual Meeting and it was a very positive experience! The site, food spectacular and the hospitality was excellent. Looking forward to 2015.” The plans have already begun for next year as we have already reserved our meeting rooms at St. John’s. When it gets closer to the meeting date, we will give you specific information and hope you will put this on your list of things to do.

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By Donna Motley, Director of Claims

Medical expenses always seem to be on the rise. The Workers’ Compensation weekly benefit (the amount paid to the injured worker) usually increases annually even though it is based on the State Average Weekly Wage. Workers’ Compensation coverage is mandatory in the State of Michigan – part of the cost of doing business!

Once a Workers’ Compensation claim is turned in to our office, we take the reins and take control, attempting to minimize all the costs involved, the length of disability, and to assure a successful return of the injured worker to productivity. Everyone benefits. But, as an employer, there are things that you can do to help mitigate the expenses or costs on the claim.

Obviously, one of the most important things an employer can do, is report the claim As Soon As Possible! That way, we are controlling treatment (and costs) from the onset. As an employer, NEVER tell an injured worker to seek treatment with their primary care physician or a physician of their choosing. Any treatment outside the Occupational Clinic results in a delay in obtaining medical records that are required before authorization to treat can be rendered. If an employee is off work during this period – the cost of the claim has just increased significantly. If the injury is questionable and/or you are unsure of the direction that should be taken, PLEASE call our office for advice.

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By Chris Demeter, Senior Loss Control Consultant

OSHA has expanded the list of severe injuries & illnesses that employers must report and updated the list of industries who are partially exempt from routinely keeping OSHA records.

“OSHA will now receive crucial reports of fatalities and severe work-related injuries and illnesses that will significantly enhance the agency’s ability to target our resources to save lives and prevent further injury and illness. This new data will enable the agency to identify the workplaces where workers are at the greatest risk and target our compliance assistance and enforcement resources accordingly.”
— Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels

For workplaces under Federal OSHA jurisdiction

• Final rule becomes effective January 1, 2015 For workplaces in State Plan States (MIOSHA)
• States encouraged to implement new coverage provisions on January 1, 2015, or as soon after as possible.

The rule expands the list of severe work-related injuries and illnesses that all covered employers must report.

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The MTMIC Marketing Staff are in the process of mailing out the updated State and Federal Labor Law Posters for 2015. Your company will be receiving them in the next couple of weeks. Contact Patty Allen at patricia.allen@mtmic.com/blog if you will be in need of more than one set of posters.

Please let us know if we can assist you in any manner and thank you for being a customer of MTMIC, we value your business.

It’s hard to believe summer is over and with that the MTMIC staff started the annual task of preparing for January 1 policy renewals. Nearly half of all MTMIC policy holders renew on January 1. I should mention that before we start the individual account review, some significant big issues are taken care of. The first is regarding an overall company rate change: great news is that since February 1, 2013 we have not had a rate increase. Secondly all employer experience modifications have been ordered from the state rating agency. When our policyholders talk about workflow peaks and valleys, we fully understand the challenges. For each renewal, we contact you or your broker for the 2015 estimated payrolls, we review current Loss Control reports, study loss history and contact you with any questions we might have. The end goal of this whole process is to make sure we properly renew your account and use all the available discounts you are entitled too. Thanks for your help in this process.

On another item, the MTMIC annual members meeting is going to occur on Thursday, October 16th. This year the meeting is being held at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth. The meeting begins at 11:30, wraps up by 1:30 and includes lunch. We promise to use your valuable time efficiently. Our guest speakers for this year are Workers’ Compensation Magistrate Keith Castora who will present an “Update on the Workers’ Compensation Mediation Process”. John Harris from Shadow Investigations, Inc is our second speaker and will discuss “Social Media Impact on Workers’ Compensation Investigations”. We think you will find their presentations interesting and helpful. We hope you will join us as all MTMIC staff will be in attendance.

By Donna Motley, Director of Claims

While scanning some publications, I came across an article that itemized “8 CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL W/C PROGRAM”. The original source of the article was Zurich American Insurance Company. Below we have modified the article to explain these characteristics and include ways MTMIC can help you with your programs. The characteristics were listed as follows:

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