Harrison Wicker, Risk Advisor & Certified Work Comp Advisor

11/04/2021

Heads up small business owners and HR leaders!

OSHA vaccine mandates may yet be coming for you...

The vast majority of small-business owners employ fewer than 100 workers.

While small businesses might have been planning to leverage their unique position as a strategic hiring advantage, it is looking all the more likely that vaccine mandates will be coming soon for all businesses - no matter the size.

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private sector employees is planned to begin on January 4, just after the busy holiday season.

11/02/2021

North Carolina is the #1 state for Site Selection’s best business climate!

Being 1st in talent is our greatest asset!

North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Sanders said this on being :

“Unlike traditional economic development plans, this is focused on our greatest asset, which is talent,” she explains. “Others might focus on recruitment strategies and incentives and other things that are important to us, but this one is focused on preparing our communities, our businesses and our people for sustainable success, which will come through talent development.”

After tying for first place with Georgia last year, North Carolina pulls into the top spot.

10/29/2021

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 k̳i̳l̳l̳i̳n̳g̳ 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬?!

With a Certified Work Comp Advisor, it is never too late to take a stab at saving your program!

If your business has not gone through an Experience Mod Audit in the past 3 to 5 years to make sure it is even accurate, you might have a 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 hiding inside your own company and not even know it...

Don't fall victim to such a crime. More than 50% of businesses already make this mistake every single year!

Let's have a conversation about how to put your business back in control so you never have to worry again. 919-257-9306

10/13/2021

𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 with a complimentary tool 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦!

Workers’ compensation is a process that can feel complicated as you place coverage through an insurance company, comply with their safety recommendations, and follow the rules determined by various rating bureaus.

These issues are further complicated with a remote workforce. Then when an employee suffers an injury, there are doctors, claims adjusters plus, sometimes, attorneys to deal with.

Lastly, you have to make sure that your classifications, payroll, and experience modification factor are in sync.

The IQRM for Workers' Comp offers a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the process in simplistic terms and offers best practices for your consideration.

Please click the link below to take a 20 statement survey to gain your organization's IQRM Effectiveness Risk Audit Score and Report for !

https://inspeopleofnc.beyondinsurance.com/iqrm/take/workers_compensation

10/06/2021

Having a return-to-work program 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞.

Now, it's the norm!

Proven by a significant decline in lost-time claims frequency in 2020 tied to efforts to improve workplace safety.

The Workers' Comp market once again outpaced all other lines within the insurance industry in 2020 - more than double the next best line.

Workers' Compensation carrier profit margins have never been higher in the past decade - in large part due to declines in fraud, workplace accidents and defense costs.

But what does this data mean for you and your business?

A change is coming.

The market is cyclical.

While 2020 was a great year, uncertainty is looming.

24 of the top 25 workers compensation carriers had their premium decline in 2020.

AM Best issued a negative market segment outlook for the workers’ compensation segment, the largest component of the U.S. commercial lines market.

"Continued uncertainty about the effects of COVID-19, from an economic and a regulatory perspective, as well as a legislative one as states consider presumptive legislation stemming from the pandemic,” the ratings agency said.

AM Best said it also has concerns about the prolonged low interest rate environment.

As a result, investment returns are expected to remain flat, and insurers may begin seeking riskier investments to generate higher yield, the firm said.

So what is going to ensure your Work Comp program is seen as a competitive advantage versus just the norm?!
..

Workers' compensation underwriters have been consistently generating better underwriting profits than other property/casualty lines of business, and did

09/30/2021

𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 - we rely on it everyday!

Did you know North Carolina has the fifth largest manufacturing economy in the U.S. with our state's manufacturers contributing more than $107 billion to our GDP?!

It's North Carolina Week and we're celebrating how essential it is to the success of our economy.

Not only does North Carolina have the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, but it ranks 9th in the nation!

NC also ranks 3rd in the U.S. for food and beverage processing,

"Manufacturing Matters to North Carolina because:

• Out of all industrial sectors, manufacturing leads the state in GDP contribution at 20%. The closest sector to follow, real estate, rental and leasing, contributes 11.4%.

• Manufacturing employs 460,000 workers in the state.

• The weekly wages in manufacturing place it 8th among the state’s 19 industrial sectors. Manufacturing wages are higher on average than healthcare and social assistance, transportation and construction.

• Chemical product manufacturing provides the highest contribution to state GDP while Food Production ranks second. However, Food Production employs the most people within manufacturing, with chemical production a close second.

•Small manufacturers are the backbone of the sector. Of the 10,400 manufacturing companies in North Carolina, 80% have fewer than 50 employees and 51% have 9 or fewer employees."

09/29/2021

Hey contractors – are you outworking your Work Comp program or 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮?!

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell...

Seasonal losses for contractors have historically peaked in the busy summer months, but recently there has been no slowing down.

Maybe you've been busy training new employees during peak season. Did you know that knew hires pose the greatest injury risk?!

Maybe your business has filed fewer claims but experienced more severe injuries. Did you know that over the past decade, 40% fewer employees were injured but the total injury costs increased exponentially?!

Thanks to our partners at AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. and other carrier partners, solutions can be found in the thousands of claims data on hand.

But every contractor company is different!

That's why our Loss Control team specializes in loss prevention solutions that improve employee safety and can be personalized to your contractor company.

Identifying and taking personalized steps to reduce risks can lower the number employee injuries and reduce the overall impact of severe injuries should they occur.

Our library of Workers Compensation safety resources includes ladder safety tips and back injury prevention basics.

We can even help you to streamline safety training for your organization at no cost to you!

All of this proves that 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮!

Don't wait to get started on your personalized Risk Improvement plan or your Work Comp program might just outwork you...

09/24/2021

Need some for your business?

Your business deserves to run on high octane that can readily ignite and perform better!

When you insure your petroleum marketing business with Insurance People and EMC Insurance Companies, you receive the added value of industry-leading loss control services at no additional cost, no matter the size of your operations.

Here are a few of our risk improvement tools and services to help increase and protect your bottom line:

• Insurance Analysis & Market Placement
• Experience Mod Audit
• Premium Audit Review
• AutomateSafety Training
• OSHAlogs Recordkeeping & Injury Management
• 24/7 Injury Nurse Triage Hotline

INSP365® puts you in a position to walk away a winner at the insurance company by sharing with them your "A+" Report Card for safety and risk management.

• Ergonomic Evaluations
• Slip and Fall Prevention
• Hazard Control Assessments
• Injury Management Programs
• Duty to Warn Service

Medical Management services are the newest addition to help your employees receive appropriate, cost-effective medical care after an injury and return to work as quickly as possible. These services are provided at no additional cost and include:

• OnCall Nurse
• Medical Bill Review
• Pharmacy Benefits Management
• Utilization Review
• Case Management

What are you waiting for?? Let's talk about your convenience stores, oil and gas, or propane risk management processes today!!

09/22/2021

𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚

Does your fall protection fall short?

The first day of fall is as great a time as any to review your plan.

Every day 2,000 people are injured while using a ladder; one hundred suffer a long-term or permanent disability, and one person will die.

is back to hammer home that when it comes to fall protection, don’t wait until you need it to use it!

Keep sound fall protection tactics in place at all times, and you’ll turn a “close call” into “no problem at all."

The loss of an experienced employee due to an accident for any period of time will have a direct impact on your completion schedule and profit margin.

You'll undergo additional expenses due to hiring, screening, and training of a replacement.

Needless to say, morale takes a hit that is even harder to quantify.

But the effect on the bottom line doesn’t end there!

Your safety strategy directly links to your insurance costs, too.

When your Experience Mod, a factor which multiplies the overall price of your premium, goes up, so does your insurance premium.

Minimizing your losses can trend your down and help to minimize the impact on your bottom line.

Keeping your loss history clean helps you create a situation where insurance companies compete for your business. That drives your rates down!

Insurance People is proud to partner with Builders Mutual Insurance Company in pursuit of our common goal to prevent injuries and save lives.

Has your team analyzed the five leading causes of ladder accidents?

Do you use custom engineered solutions to help reduce injuries?

Ask me how you can get a complimentary consult regarding your fall protection plan today with an in-person Loss Control site visit!

09/08/2021

Work Comp 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 for the month of September.

Today we are joined by Builders Mutual Insurance Company, insurance coverage exclusive to the construction industry.

It’s not just their specialty — it’s all they do!

Builders Mutual analyzed thousands of Workers' Compensation 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.

Do you know what they found?

The 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫.

The top 4 claim types and how contractors can focus efforts to prevent those injuries from ever happening in the first place!

𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 #1

Falls, including those from ladders, scaffolds, elevated surfaces like roofs, or common slips & trips, accounted for nearly 3,700 claims over the past 5 years.

That translates to over $178 million in direct costs!

𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 #2

Strain injuries are the most frequent claim received.

The average cost of a strain claim is $20,000!

For workers 40 and over, strain injuries are the most common type of injury reported.

𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 #3

Struck-by incidents occur most often when a person is "struck by" falling or flying objects, moving equipment like the boom of a truck, bucket of a bulldozer, or the motorized piece of equipment itself.

Lumber and hand tools frequently associated with framing were most often involved in struck-by claims.

𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 #4

It should come as no surprise that vehicle collisions with other vehicles account for 44% of all injuries occurring in connection with vehicles.

The average cost of a workers' comp vehicle collision claim is nearly $32,000!

With all of that being said, what can you do about it?

Insurance People is a proud Builders Mutual Insurance Company agency partner.

From your office to our agency to your job-site, we are working together with our clients and community members to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to get the job done right.

Want an expert opinion on what is working for you and against you in your Workers' Comp program?

Schedule a meeting with my team today!

You don't need to have a history of claims.

(But if you do, we will analyze those for you!)

A worksite injury could already be waiting to happen.

Don't wait.

09/02/2021

Hey – did you know that year after year, the 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 1 reported 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 remains the same?

#𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔!

𝐒𝐥𝐢𝐩 & 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 on average 67% 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 than all other injuries!

And I bet it's no surprise to learn that ladders are the most common way to fall! According to AmTrust Insurance.

For every fall from scaffolding or a ladder – that's 34 days lost.

For every fall down stairs – that's 27 days lost.

For every fall from liquid or grease – that's 26 days lost.

Can your business afford to lose a key employee for an entire month at a time?

Has your employee had to recover from an injury while not being able to work at all, making just 2/3 of their normal earning income because "that's the way the system works"?

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮!

https://lnkd.in/gpj-yqTH