Volume 22 / Issue 12 - December, 2017
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LCSC Program Committee Presents

Date:  Friday, December 15, 2017
Topic: Anatomy of a Contested BWC Workers Compensation Case - BWC Fraud


Speaker: Michael J. Bertsch, Esq., Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper, LLC


Time:

Registration: 11:15 a.m. Lunch & Program: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Location:

PLEASE NOTE LOCATION: Villa Croatia - Event Venue & Party Center (The Croatian Lodge), 34900 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake, OH 44095


Cost: Members: $20
Non-Members: $25

Date:  Friday, January 26, 2018 (PLEASE NOTE DATE)
Topic: HazCom (Hazard Communications)


Speaker: TBD


Time:

Registration: 11:15 a.m. Lunch & Program: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Location:

PLEASE NOTE LOCATION: Villa Croatia - Event Venue & Party Center (The Croatian Lodge), 34900 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake, OH 44095


Cost: Members: $20
Non-Members: $25

LCSC Friday, Dec. 15 - Anatomy of a Contested BWC Case

The steering committee for the Lake County Safety Council is proud to present the December monthly program  ---  Anatomy of a Contested BWC Workers Compensation Case - BWC Fraud --- on Friday, December 15.

The keynote speaker will be Michael J. Bertsch, Esq., Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper, LLC.

Bertsch will provide best practices for defending/handling suspect workers compensation claims.

As a member of the Cleveland law firm Nicola, Gudbranson and Cooper he defends employers facing workers compensation claims, alleged safety and US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations, allegation of international torts and other employment-related matters.

His presentation will include three real-life examples focusing on:

---Tell-tale signs to be on the lookout for

---Investigative techniques - new and old

---And, "mindful" medical evaluations - if or when to have them

Bertsch's wide range of civil litigation experience includes workers compensation court appeals and mandamus actions, defense of employer intentional torts and wrongful discharge, product liability and first-party insurance matters.

He has a BSBA from Xavier University and a JD from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

The meeting will be held at the Villa Croatia Event Venue & Party Center (The Croatian Lodge), 34900 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake, OH  44095, with registration beginning at 11:15 a.m. The cost of the event is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Reservations may be made online at the LCSC web site listed below. The event is sponsored by:

---Lake Health

---HzW Environmental Consultants

Council Director
Andrea Vann
andrea@vlchapmanelectric.com
(440) 354-2310

Council Director Elect
Position Open


Council Secretary
Sue Fuerst
sfuerst@painesville.com
(440) 392-2975

Past Director
Mike Orlando
morlando@aexcelcorp.com
(440) 290-9785

Council Advisor
Bob Siktberg
karen_gridley@lincolnelectric.com
(216) 383-4737

Council Liaison
Chris Weber-Bresky

cweber@mentorchamber.org

(440) 255-1616

Steering Committee
Chris Brill-Packard
chris.brill-packard@lakehealth.org
(440) 354-1933

Donna McCaskey
dmccaskey@eagroupohio.com
(440) 951-3514

Lee Silvi
lsilvi@lakelandcc.edu
(440) 525-7252

Clifford Smith
clifford.smith@altana.com
(440) 954-7653

Gordon Levar
gflevar@att.net
(440) 479-1539

Joanne Clapp
cfo@perryvillage.info
(440) 259-2671

Council Assistant
Mark Wainwright
mwainwright@mentorchamber.org
(440) 255-1616


Ohio Bureau of Workers'
Compensation Representative

Scott Turner
Garfield Heights Office
216-469-6600
scott.t.1@bwc.state.oh.us

Joan McAllister
Garfield Heights Office
216-538-9721
joan.m.1@bwc.state.oh.us

Interested in joining our Steering Committee? Contact Mark Wainwright for more information.

Safety Updates & News

BWC Safety Update Information - December 

 

Winter Holiday Safety

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a website for fire safety in the winter. Fire safety is an issue especially around winter holidays. Candles, holiday decorations, winter greens and fireplaces all pose a fire risk. The NFPA Winter Holiday website contains data on the fire risks this time of year as well as safety tips, videos and children’s activities all designed to keep you safe during winter. This website from the U.S. Fire Administration contains additional holiday fire safety information.

 

BWC News

Grants for Ohio Employers Working with Persons with Developmental Disabilities

BWC is now accepting applications for the Employers Working with Persons with Developmental Disabilities (EWPDD) Grant Program. The EWPDD grant can provide up to $20,000 at a match of 5-to-1 to state-fund private or public employer taxing districts that work with children and/or adults with developmental disabilities. The 5-to-1 matching grant can help employers purchase approved equipment/items. If they prefer, employers can apply for a grant of up to $20,000 without a match for nonviolent de-escalation and/or trauma-informed-care training and nonviolent de-escalation and/or trauma-informed-care-training certification.

 

NIOSH/CDC News

New Report on Tobacco Use

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued the results of new research on tobacco use in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Oct. 27, 2017. While cigarette smoking has declined during the past few decades, use of noncigarette products has increased. Use of tobacco products is highest amongst construction workers, with 34.4 percent using any kind of tobacco and 7.1 percent using two or more products.

 

OSHA News

Crane Certification Requirement Deadline Extended

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) extended the employer duty to ensure the competency of crane operators in construction by one year to Nov. 10, 2018. This delays the deadline for crane operator certification for one year as well. Details are found in the Federal Register of Nov. 9, 2017.

Beards and Respirators

Did you grow a beard or moustache in November for any one of the awareness campaigns raising money for charity? If so, this blog post from NIOSH might help you determine which style to wear to still comply with requirements for tight-fitting respirators at work. The post has a chart of facial hair styles and notes as to which ones are likely to give you an appropriate seal. Pencil thin moustaches are in and mutton chops are out!

Fentanyl Safety for First Responders

NIOSH and other agencies and organizations issued a poster with safety recommendations for first responders in the event of encountering materials suspected to contain fentanyl. The document contains information to protect first responders from exposure, what to do if exposure occurs and how to recognize the signs of exposure in others.

New NIOSH Research Web Page

A new web page is now available for information on the NIOSH extramural research and training program. The page includes information on funding opportunities, research and training grants, performance data and reports, news and notices. It also has a new dashboard that shows extramural activity.

 

Other News

Employer-Reported Workplace Injury and Illnesses, 2016

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the numbers for non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2016. The injury rate was 2.9 cases per 100 full-time equivalents (FTEs). This total represents nearly 48,000 fewer cases than in 2015, a reduction of 0.1 cases per FTE. The number of cases fell in construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail trade; they stayed the same in 14 other industry sectors. You can find the news release along with links to associated charts on the BLS website.

Food Safety at Holiday Buffets

Keep yourself and your guests safe from foodborne illnesses by following these food preparation, storage and cooking guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Freight Facts & Figures 2017

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics Freight Facts & Figures 2017 report provides a snapshot of the volume and value of freight flows in the United States along with reports on the physical network, economics and safety, energy and environmental implications. The safety portion of the report is in Chapter 6. It shows the total number of fatalities in the industry has declined 28 percent since 2000 with most of the fatalities involving passenger travel on highways.

Risk Management Tool for Farms

Farm/Agriculture/Rural Management – Hazard Analysis Tool (FARM-HAT) is an App for mobile iOS devices developed by Penn State Extension to assess risks and provide suggestions for corrective actions for a variety of hazards at farm or ranch operations.

2016 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes

The October 2017 edition of Traffic Safety Facts Research Note reported on the 2016 statistics for motor vehicle fatalities. There was a 5.6 percent increase over last year’s numbers overall. The largest category increase was in pedestrian deaths, up 9 percent over last year and the highest number since 1990. This increase along with an increase in 2015 lowered a decade-long downward trend by more than one third.

Electrocutions and Prevention in Construction

The Center for Construction Research and Training, known as CPWR, released its third quarter data report on the topic of electrocution in construction. Overall electrocutions were down between 2003 and 2015. However, 82 construction workers died of electrocution in 2015, which was 61 percent of all work-related electrocution deaths. The report discusses trends, subgroups of deaths and prevention of electrocution.

ASSE Standards Guidance Document

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) A10 Construction and Demolition Compendium of Standards is a series of 47 standards for the protection of workers on construction and demolition sites. ASSE published a free guidance document to help safety professionals understand these standards and how they relate to one another.

Please contact the library@bwc.state.oh.us or 614-466-7388 for more information on any of these items.

 

Attendance - 11/17/17

Advanced Controls, Inc.
Advocate for Independence
Aexcel Corporation
Amerathon, LLC
AMG Resources Corporation
Astro Manufacturing & Design
Avery Dennison - EFD
Beachwood City School District
Career Centered Staffing
Cast Nylons Ltd.
Champion Contract, Inc.
Chemsultants International
City of Eastlake
City of Kirtland
City of Mayfield Heights
City of Mentor-on-the-Lake
City of Willoughby
Classic Auto Group
Component Repair Technologies, Inc.
Concord Township
Contemporary Electric Inc.
CPP Eastlake
Crossroads Health
Crown Staffing Services, Inc.
CT Consultants
De Nora Tech Manufacturing
De Nora Tech R&D
Dyson Corporation
EA Group
Empro Job Network (Thomas Emp.)
ENPAC, LLC
Equistar Chemicals, Inc.
Euclid Fish Company
Fredon Corporation
Frontage Laboratories
Fusion, Inc.
GBGI, Inc.
Grand Rock
Greenbridge
Hardy Industrial Technologies
Holden Forests and Gardens
Hose Master LLC
HZW Environmental Consultants, LLC
Infinity Resources, Inc.
Inova Staffing Services
J.J.O. Construction, Inc.
Just In Time Staffing
Kalcor Coatings Company
Kerr Lakeside, Inc.
Kirtland Local Schools
Kline Rostocil Construction Corp.
Lake County Council on Aging
Lake County Dept. of Utilities
Lake County Nursery
Lake Metroparks
Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority
Lakeland Community College Retired
Laketran
Lantern of Madison
Lassiter and Son, LLC
Leroy Township
Levin Furniture
Life Services
Lincoln Electric
Lintern Corporation
Madison Local Schools
Maersch Environmental & Safety Consulting
Mapleview Country Villa
MatPlus
McNeil Industries
McPhillips Plumbing & HVAC Co.
Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce
Mentor Public Library
Mentor Public Schools
Metal Seal Precision
Metz Culinary Management
Midwest Materials
Mold Masters Intl. LLC
MT Heat Treating
MUM Industries
North American Coating Laboratories
Northeast Masonry
Olon Ricerca Bioscience, LLC
Omni Cart Services
Pace Engineering, Inc.
Painesville City Board of Education
Painesville Township
PCC Airfoils Inc.
Pepco (Professional Electric Products Co.)
Permanent Solution Staffing
Perry Township
Process Technology
R.T. & T Machining Inc.
Range USA Mentor
Ranpak Corp.
RJ Kirkland Construction Co., Inc.
Roll-Kraft
Royal Plastics Inc.
Safety Controls Technology
Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio
Sheet Metal Products Co., Inc.
The News-Herald
Tom Schaefer Plumbing, Inc.
Transfer Express, Inc.
Tri County Ambulance Service
TT Electronics Integrated Mfg. Services
Umicore Specialty Materials Recycling
Universal Metal Products
University Hospitals
USM Precision Products
Vector Security
Vector Technical Inc
Village of Fairport Harbor
Village of Perry
Visiting Angels of Northeast Ohio
Volk Optical
Western Reserve Water Systems
Wickliffe Country Place