Every October the MTM Annual Members’ Meeting is held. This October was no different. On Thursday, October 17th, 120 MTM members gathered at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth. The annual meeting starts at 11 A.M., includes an excellent lunch put on by the St. John’s staff and then 90 minutes of presentations. The goal of the meeting is to bring timely information to the members. This year’s topics were: Maintaining a Safe and Drug Free Workplace presented by Lori Schuck Barresi from Allied Safety Consultants. The second presentation was Creating a Safety and Security Plan for your Business by Darcy Leutzinger and Lindsay Gietzen from Premier Safety Group. Lots of questions from members about drug policy and situations were received. And the Safety and Security issues of the day kept the members’ attention.

The program also included a 5 minute update on MTM financials and outlook for member dividends payable in March, 2020. So far, so good was the message on 2019 loss results. One other congratulatory honor was announced, Karen Schluckebier, Director of Human Resources for StageRight is retiring and looking forward to spending much more time in Florida. She has been a valuable MTM Board member for 5 ½ years. We are sad to see her leave. Of course no meeting is complete without door prizes. Here’s the list of prizes given to attendees:

• Airline tickets w/ suitcase
• iPad
• Gift Card Tree
• Inn at St. John’s stay with breakfast
• $100 Gift Card
• Amethyst Bracelets
• $100 Gift Card for early registration
• And 13 attendees won $25 Gift Cards

As tradition has it the meeting closes with a music video and picture montage of pictures from the past year. Many from the MTM dividend deliveries from March and April 2019.

Staff celebrates the success of the Annual Members’ Meeting for a day or two, then we critique – what could we improve and the planning starts for next year. So mark your calendars. October 15th, 11 A.M. at the Inn at St. John’s, Plymouth will be the time and location of next year’s meeting. Hope you can attend.

By Ruth Kiefer, IH, ARM, Vice President of Loss Control

The year end is fast approaching and once again we will be addressing your record keeping questions for the next few months to come. MiOSHA requires that all recordable injuries be logged onto the MIOSHA Form 300 throughout the year, and when it comes to determining how many days away from work should you be logging on the form always results in questions. To better prepare you in completing the MiOSHA Form 300, let us review some of the most common questions regarding days away from work. Over the years, the questions below, have been some of our most common questions to date that we seem to get every year.

(1) How do I record a work-related injury or illness that results in days away from work?

When an injury or illness involves 1 or more days away from work, you must record the injury or illness on the MIOSHA 300 Log with a check mark in the space for cases involving days away and an entry of the number of calendar days away from work in the number of days column. If the employee is out for an extended period of time, you must enter an estimate of the days that the employee will be away, and update the day count when the actual number of days is known.

By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

I received notice of litigation the other day regarding an injury that allegedly occurred many years ago. The injury did not occur while MTMIC was the Workers’ Compensation carrier, but we currently insure the employer where the employee works. The original injury occurred in 2002. That’s correct – the employee sustained an injury to his foot when he jumped off a truck 17 years ago, and he is now alleging “total disability”. The employee has been working these past 17 years, not necessarily without incident or treatment, but certainly there have been other circumstances in his life that may have had an impact on his feet!

October 17th, 2019 | Inn at St. Johns, Plymouth, Michigan

For a change of pace, let me share an MTM project with you that I have been working on. And I will warn you that it includes some insurance geek. You buy insurance to provide financial reimbursement in case of loss. You do this to protect your building, your cars, your health, your life and in the case of MTM – your workers for workplace accidents. All of us do not want large financial surprises if one of these loss events occurs. Like us, insurance companies buy insurance too. When an insurance company buys insurance it is called reinsurance. While insurance companies retain financial reserves to pay losses, what happens if we had a plant explosion with 20 or 50 employees injured? What if an MTM member had a building fire that injured a group of employees? Or a car accident with 5 employees seriously hurt? You get the picture. While this type of loss probability is low, it can (and will) happen. It is prudent for MTM to have protection for these possible shock losses.

At MTM we buy reinsurance for catastrophic events. Your MTM pool has plenty of financial reserves to cover losses. This is proven by our financial reserve evaluations by the Michigan State Insurance Department, independent outside actuaries, the MTM Board made up of members and verified by an outside insurance rating agency, Demotech which rates MTM financial stability as A’ – Unsurpassed. Still, we would not want MTM’s financial condition (or our member dividend program) hurt by a shock event. We would never want our Member dividend program harmed because of a low probably, but significant single loss event. Conservative management of your company requires us to buy this type of insurance protection.

So with that background, now is the time of year to search, evaluate and purchase MTM reinsurance effective 1/1/2020. Over the last two weeks I have met with 9 companies to get competitive bids for MTM reinsurance. Due to the expense of this coverage and effect on MTM’s members, several MTM officers are involved. They include VP of Sales, Megan Brown, Chris Doebler, CFO, Glenda Moyle, Premium Accounting Manager, Donna Motley, VP of Claims and Ruth Kiefer, VP of Loss Control. Showing the quality of MTM management brings the price down for this reinsurance coverage.

Reinsurance cost is one of our highest expense items after claims payments. And like you with suppliers, I have to negotiate hard with present vendors and look for new vendors to reduce expenses. It’s part of our job. For me, saving money on reinsurance goes straight to the bottom line and into the MTM member dividend program.

Now you know about insurance company insurance, reinsurance.

Until next month, enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

If you ask any member of our Loss Control Department, what is one of the questions that we hear most often, our answer will be “how do you remember all of these rules”. While our answers to that question may vary, the most accurate answer, is that we take continuing education opportunities in the field of safety items, ergonomics and MIOSHA standards. These classes provide us with knowledge of new standards, changes in current standards, how rules can be interpreted in different manners, risk management efforts and an overall understanding of the current safety world. At MTMIC, we encourage our policyholders to also take part in continuing their education. As we are all aware of the need to manage costs, MTMIC offered this class to our policyholders at no charge to them.

Normally in the summer MTM has a slight slowdown from the rest of the year. Here’s the high level annual MTM plan: In January we are wrapping up details/printing documents for our members largest renewal month. February we are working hard to finalize 12/31 numbers and the required actuarial work to present to Board Committees and the full MTM Board. These meetings are where the important member dividends are discussed. Then in March and April we prepare and deliver member checks. In May once again we have Board Marketing/Underwriting Committee, Board Finance Committee and full Board meetings. It’s busy. June we are prepared for another busy member renewal month – July. In July and August staff will take vacation and we get ready for the normal year-end sprint. September is when we plan reinsurance (insurance for possible large MTM member losses) meetings, our annual member meeting in October and send out individually tracked ballots for the annual Board member vote. October is a month when all Board committees meet as well as the full Board and the Annual Members Meeting. Finally in November and December we are preparing all the studies and documents for January renewals. Each renewal push involves Claims staff, Loss Control, Accounting, Underwriting and Marketing staff.

That’s the year in summary. But this summer has been different. Several projects took over July and August. Let me cover them for you.

Beta testing of a new out-of-state coverage option for our members. Beta test #1 in January found several flaws. Much was learned. Beta test #2 went/is going well. We plan a full rollout for January 1, 2020.

Loss Control 3 Day MIOSHA 10+ Hour General Industry class for our members as well as individual Stop the Bleed trainings and kits.

Reinsurance program revamping (seeing if we can save MTM insurance cost – which goes back to our members).

Office buildout going on this summer, moving in September. We got more space and saved money too.

Loss Portfolio marketing and out-of-state option. Still deep in this project, but on target.

When you tell me how busy your shop is, I now have more empathy. It is a busy time for all of us. Hope you are getting some time to enjoy the last of our summer days.

By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

A while ago I wrote about the medical profession’s new diagnosis of “Text Neck” – concerns about physical conditions being created by a person’s head being constantly bent forward while using a cell phone. Reading material I have received recently from a physical therapy facility now lists additional “new” diagnoses: Texting Thumb, Selfie Elbow, Text Neck and Tablet Tingling. These are new titles for “overuse conditions” officially titled Trigger Thumb, DeQuervains Tenosynovitis, Epicondylitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. All of these conditions relate to straining and overuse of said body part resulting in inflammation.

If you are a January 1st renewal, please be on the lookout for your payroll renewal form. Payroll renewal forms have been sent out to all insureds that have an effective date of January 1st 2020. We are asking for your estimated annual payroll for 2020 which assists in reducing that chance for additional audit money due at the end of your policy. Please complete the form and return it to Glenda or an additional copy can be requested by emailing glenda.moyle@mtmic.com/blog.

As of September 30, 2019 our new address is:

39500 High Pointe Blvd. Suite 260
Novi, MI 48375

Please continue to mail all correspondence to:

P.O. Box 9150
Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9150
Phone: 800-274-5606
Fax: 248-488-1980

On Thursday, October 17, 2019

AGENDA:

• Welcome & Introductions: Megan Brown, ARM, CWCP, CAWC, Vice President of Sales & Marketing
• Company Overview: A Year in Review: John R. Karlen, CPCU, APA, ARe, President
• MTMIC Dividend History: An Early Look at 2019: Chris Doebler, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
• Maintaining a Safe and Drug Free Workplace: Lori Schuck Barresi, Allied Safety Consultants
• Creating a Safety and Security Plan for Your Business: Darcy Leutzinger and Lindsay Gietzen, Premier Safety Group

Well, after having no spring, summer has finally arrived and it’s in full force. Hot, humid, mosquitos – the summer we all know in Michigan. With July here, the first six months of 2019 of MTM loss results are now in the books. During my recent visits to MTM members, the most common question is how does it look for our next dividend. Here’s my answer on that subject with the caveats: 1) things can change good or bad. 2) we still have half of the year to complete. With that said, the first six months of 2019 were good. The results if this was the whole year would be a nice member’s dividend to distribute. 2019 losses are lower than expected both in frequency and severity. As an example on the severity side, last year, in 2018 we experienced two fatalities. So far in 2019 (knock very hard on wood) we are at zero. On this one metric, over the last six years: 3 of the years we have had one fatality per year, two years at 0, and then last year, at 2. Even with “regular” claims, frequency this year is looking good. Congratulations to our members for their Loss Control efforts and a special shout-out to the MTM Loss Control team.

My goal/hope is that the second half of 2019 is as good as the first half of 2019. This would make delivery of member dividend checks early in 2020 a lot of fun. This would be the sixth year in a row of owner dividends.

Lastly, every October we have the annual MTM members’ meeting and lunch. As in past years this lunch is held in the delightful location/facility of The Inn at St. John’s, Plymouth, Michigan. The date has been set for October 17th. A “Save the Date” notice was recently mailed out. Last year’s presenter was “active shooters”. This was a very interesting presentation and our members gave it high marks. This year the topic is “MTM is providing tools to a safe, secure, and drug-free workplace”. MTM’s own Megan Brown, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales does a great job finding outstanding speakers on hot topics. I hope you can join MTM staff and another 100 MTM members.

Until next month, enjoy the summer. — John

By Chris Demeter, Senior Loss Control Consultant

This year marks my 16th year with MTMIC as a Senior Loss Control Consultant. My prior job was a Safety Director at a prototype stamping manufacturer in Livonia and our sister pattern shop company in St. Clair Shores. I was responsible for developing safety policy, employee safety training, monitoring all health and safety incidents, and ensuring the overall safety of the workplace of over 200-employees. Every year and a half or so, I would receive a visit from a MIOSHA Compliance officer. It was not because we had above average injuries; it was because we were in a targeted industry with historically high rate of occupational injuries and illnesses. Some of those targeted industries would include press shops, forgers, foundries, platers, heat treat, and fabrication shops just to name a few. Those industries are targeted because there are greater risk factors for injury then let’s say a grocery store. The company I worked for had power presses ranging from 50-ton to 1,400-ton and we had a Kirksite foundry, hence the frequent visits. 

By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

Truly, it wasn’t that long ago everyone was complaining about snow, ice, cold and asking the question “Where is Spring?” As most assumed, we really didn’t have a “Spring”, instead, we went right into summer. That “sudden change” is a stressor to our bodies. Being immediately thrust into heat and humidity can take a toll on anyone. Typically, Spring gives us time to gradually acclimate to warmer weather conditions. Now that the heat has arrived we have to learn to deal with it!

Be on the lookout for the 2020 Election Ballots that will be mailed to you in the next few weeks. The nominees for re-election are:Jack Accardo – Haller InternationalKurt Heuser – Tooling Solutions GroupJoe Keppler – Shuert Industries, Inc.The results of the election will be announced at the Annual Meeting in October.

Did you know that you could be rewarded by referring business to MTMIC?

If a policyholder or their staff makes a referral they are eligible to receive a $100 gift card when the referred company binds coverage with MTMIC.

Please contact Megan Brown for more information.

We are excited to announce that we have enhanced our customer portal so that you will now have the ability to upload medical documents as a means to get them to the claims adjuster that is handling your claim. This can be done by following these simple steps:

MTM members are well acquainted with their Loss Control representative and the services they provide. MTM Loss Control focus has been the same for 44 years. Last year we conducted in excess of 950 site visits. Given that we have 921 existing members, almost all members see their Loss Control rep in person regularly.

By Ruth Kiefer, ARM, Loss Control Manager

As many of you know, we base our annual safety inspections on injury trends and MiOSHA’s most common cited violations. Last year MiOSHA issued 408 general industry health citations with the average citation being $1,708, that’s $696,911 collected in health citations with regards to general industry.

For general industry Safety violations, a total of 1.38 Million was collected and 543 citations issued. So the average citation issued in 2018 was $2,555. This year MiOSHA broke down the top violations into both Health Violations and Safety Violations. If you are unsure if you have a Health or Safety violation, please ask your Loss Control consultant for more guidance on any of these violations noted below.

Listed below are the 2018 most recent general industry HEALTH violations cited by MiOSHA: