Studies show that for every major workplace injury or fatality, there are nearly 10 minor injuries – and more than 30 accidents that lead to property damage.

Capturing data even on minor incidents that may seem trivial in isolation can be critical in informing efforts to prevent much greater dangers in the future. A big part of that effort involves ensuring businesses maintain a complete set of data.

Managers at all levels should focus on solid and thorough documentation. Here is where management’s main effort should be concentrated:

Don’t ignore minor incidents. Document all of them. Even if you have avoided injuries and severe property damage so far, keeping careful records may provide critical risk management insights – and enable managers to take action to prevent accidents before they occur.

Identify patterns. Do minor incidents seem to happen in the same area? Involve the same or similar machinery? Are they in the same department or under the same manager? Careful record-keeping is a valuable tool for identifying patterns.

Discourage presenteeism. Workers who come to work sick may be taking medications that increase the risk of incidents. Workers are not robots: Sick or distracted workers may make serious or deadly mistakes. To prevent this, have a sustainable sick day policy and encourage workers to take time off when needed – especially in dangerous occupations.

Encourage reporting. Studies have shown that the vast majority of minor incidents are not properly reported or recorded.

One study found that 85% of workers told researchers they had experienced work-related symptoms, 50% had experienced persistent work-related medical symptoms and 30% reported they had lost time from an incident or from a repetitive motion injury – yet only 5% of workers told researchers they had formally reported any of these incidents.

When asked why they didn’t report safety incidents, workers cited a number of reasons:

• Fear of reprisal

• Poor management response to prior reports

• Fear of losing their job or being transferred to a less desirable position

• Belief that pain or another medical symptom was a normal consequence of work activity or ageing.

Maintain OSHA-required injury logs. By federal law, most employers must maintain the following safety documents:

• OSHA Form 300 –  Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

• OSHA Form 300A – Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

• OSHA Form 301 – Injury and Illness Incident Report

Employers with 10 or fewer employees at all times during the preceding calendar year are exempt from the federal requirement, though many states may impose more stringent requirements.

Record near misses. Often, near misses – in which property damage, injury or fatality were narrowly avoided – can provide data that’s just as valuable as for incidents resulting in actual damages or injuries. This information can prove vital to informing prevention efforts.

Perhaps most importantly, carefully documenting all safety incidents and near misses, however minor, may help establish a culture of safety throughout the organization.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU!

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits too.

In addition, we offer all personal insurance coverages including home, auto, boat, jewelry, fine arts, life, disability, health and long-term care.  When was the last time you got a complete check up for all your coverage needs?   We are extremely caring and would love the chance to help you with your personal insurance needs.

BGES Group is an insurance agency whose owner is very responsible, responsive, offers boutique, very personal service and is ALWAYS there when you need him most!

We know reading an article we post or getting an email is not the best way to consider working with someone.  If you are interested, go read our “Google Reviews” and see what people have to say about us!  That can give you the comfort level needed to contact us.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

While safety improvements slowly take hold in the construction industry, some firms are turning to technology to reduce workplace injuries.

Owners and management have been scrambling to find new and better ways to monitor employee safety and prevent accidents as the industry grapples with growing workforces that often include new workers with little experience.

There are also language barriers as the number of foreign workers entering the trade continues growing as employers struggle to fill positions.

Construction, for example, is one of the least-digitized sectors in the world, according to research from The McKinsey Global Institute. But that’s changing as technologies like helmet cams and smart glasses, smart safety vests, drones, and even smart boots are being employed.

The technologies are aimed at both training new workers in the safety aspects of the job and warning them if it appears that danger is imminent. This type of real-time communication has been proven to reduce risk and improve quality.

And there is an added benefit in that most of the new technologies also collect data that can be used if a contractor is sued for construction defects.

Here are some of the new technologies that contractors are using on their worksites, according to The Hartford, which recently published a paper on trends in construction safety.

Smart glasses and helmets

Smart glasses essentially capture video from the view of the worker. Smart helmets do the same through a camera mounted on the unit.

This wearable technology can help train less-experienced workers by allowing management to monitor their work from a different location.

By monitoring the action in smart glasses, management can:

• Flag mistakes that workers make so that they can be fixed to avoid a construction defect. That’s because new instructions can immediately be sent to a worker who has made a mistake.

• Improve safety in real time, including alerting workers of dangers.

• Be used to train workers and enhance communication among employees and supervisors.

• Improve decision time and work quality by allowing management to review video.

Some helmets are also equipped with display visors that can dynamically project relevant information onto the surfaces of objects in the wearer’s field of vision.

Smart safety vests

Some new safety vests will alert workers when they’re entering a dangerous area at a job site. There are also new vests that can monitor a workers’ heart rate and stress levels and alert them and supervisors if they are at unsafe levels.

Some vests even will send a signal to slow or stop heavy equipment when the vest is detected nearby.

There are also GPS-enabled safety vests that track worker locations across crowded jobsites. As a result, workers within a geofenced jobsite can be located with the utmost precision – within 8 inches, in fact.

Smart boots

Some boots on the market now have sensors that can detect temperature changes, and track location and motion through GPS and Wi-Fi.

From a safety perspective, the ability to track a worker’s location could be extremely helpful during a time of crisis.

Drones

Some contractors are using drones to monitor unsafe practices on job sites. Since a supervisor can only be at one place at time, a drone with a bird’s eye view can provide real time monitoring of many workers at the same time.

Contractors are also using drones to monitor and document the quality of a project. They can also be used to keep clients up to date on the progress of a project, while documenting the project for possible future questions about building to specifications or code.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU!

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits too.

In addition, we offer all personal insurance coverages including home, auto, boat, jewelry, fine arts, life, disability, health and long-term care.  When was the last time you got a complete check up for all your coverage needs?   We are extremely caring and would love the chance to help you with your personal insurance needs.

BGES Group is an insurance agency whose owner is very responsible, responsive, offers boutique, very personal service and is ALWAYS there when you need him most!

We know reading an article we post or getting an email is not the best way to consider working with someone.  If you are interested, go read our “Google Reviews” and see what people have to say about us!  That can give you the comfort level needed to contact us.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

More employers are testing new hires in physical jobs to establish a baseline in case they ever file a workers’ comp claim down the road.

The aim is to establish what physical ailments and pain the new hire already has, so if they are injured you can find out if they aggravated an existing injury or it’s just an existing injury that’s flaring up. And if done correctly, baseline testing doesn’t infringe on the worker’s rights or health privacy.

Baseline testing should not be confused with physical evaluations that are conducted after a job offer, but prior to placement, to ensure the new hire doesn’t have physical constraints that would keep them from performing their job. The data in a baseline evaluation cannot be used for that.

In fact, the data collected in baseline testing is kept sealed from the employer.

How it works

Baseline testing is best conducted on workers in physical jobs.

Baseline tests measure the signals traveling in the nerves and muscles, and include the use of electromyography. The tests are non-invasive and often include range-of-motion testing.

Employers that send their employees for testing cannot view the test results unless the information is needed to confirm or refute a subsequent injury.

If a worker files a claim for a soft-tissue or repetitive motion injury, the employer can order a second test, which will be used by the insurance claims adjuster or treating physician to compare to the baseline test. If there is no change in pathology, the claims administrator can deny the claim and the chances are high it won’t be contested.

To avoid problems with singling out specific workers or disabilities, you should perform this testing on the entire workforce – or at least in all of your physical jobs.

Under the law, you can order baseline testing at any time on any employee, and not just when they are hired.

The good thing about the testing is that it can identify legitimate claims. Since there is a baseline, when doctors compare and see a change in pathology, they can order treatment and workers’ comp insurance pays for it and the worker’s time away from work.

On the other hand, a second test can show irrefutable evidence that there was no chain in pathology and so the injury that the worker is claiming is likely not work-related.

Savings

Anecdotally, employers that use baseline testing see tremendous results in their workers’ comp claims.

According to an article in Business Insurance, Wisconsin-based Marten Transport since starting baseline testing in 2015:

•          Has seen its rate of soft-tissue injury claims for new hires drop from 3.3 per 100 new hires to 1.4.

•          Has had only three of the 37 claims filed by new hires in their first six months showing actual injuries beyond soft-tissue pain that was documented when they began working.

Marten Transport conducts the tests as part of its employment agreement and uses a third-party company to carry them out.

The non-profit organization, the Gatesway Foundation, started using baseline testing by contracting with California-based Emerge Diagnostics to rein in its spiraling workers’ comp costs.

It had been experiencing a high share of work-related musculoskeletal injuries (soft-tissue) claims, like injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs.

The year prior to implementing baseline testing, the foundation’s developed claims losses were $1 million. In the first six months of the next policy year, prior to implementing the program, the foundation’s developed losses were $500,000 but, in the latter half of the year – after implementation – losses had dropped to $30,000.

Overall, it reduced claims costs by $316,544 and the program cost $9,200 – a return on investment of 3,441%.

The takeaway

As mentioned, workers in physical jobs are the best candidates for baseline testing. That includes both light and heavy manufacturing, construction, agriculture, cleaning services and movers, to name a few.

But it could also be applied to any job that involves any type of repetitive motion, even without physical exertion.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU!

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits too.

In addition, we offer all personal insurance coverages including home, auto, boat, jewelry, fine arts, life, disability, health and long-term care.  When was the last time you got a complete check up for all your coverage needs?   We are extremely caring and would love the chance to help you with your personal insurance needs.

BGES Group is an insurance agency whose owner is very responsible, responsive, offers boutique, very personal service and is ALWAYS there when you need him most!

We know reading an article we post or getting an email is not the best way to consider working with someone.  If you are interested, go read our “Google Reviews” and see what people have to say about us!  That can give you the comfort level needed to contact us.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

A new study has found that people who have had workers’ comp claims in the past are more likely to file future claims compared to those who have never suffered an on-the-job injury.

The study – the subject of an article published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine – concluded that a past claim is the most predictive factor in determining the likelihood of future workers’ comp claims.

While the findings shed light on a significant driver of workplace injuries, employers are in a difficult position as asking prospective employees about past claims experience is illegal in most jurisdictions.

The main findings of the study, “Reoccurring Injury, Chronic Health Conditions, and Behavior Health: Gender Differences in the Causes of Workers’ Compensation Claims,” are:

• A higher proportion of both men and women who had filed workers’ comp claims in the past also experienced a subsequent workplace injury.

• For both genders, a past claim is the most predictive factor in determining the likelihood of filing a future claim.

• Women who had certain pre-existing behavioral risk factors like depression, poor sleep habits and headaches were more likely to file a subsequent claim if they had already filed one. These same risk factors did not add to the likelihood among men in filing second claims.

• Future claims are associated with individual workers’ overall health.

The takeaway

Besides addressing workplace hazards proactively, anytime you have a workplace injury, you should investigate to determine how the incident occurred. Once you identify what went wrong or broke down in your processes leading to the incident, you can address the problem through new safeguards and training.

Also, if an employee does file a claim, when they are back on the job you should give them additional safety training and attention to reduce the chances of them suffering future workplace incidents.

And what about prospective employees? First off, most states bar employers from asking prospective hirees about any past workers’ comp claims they have filed with previous employers.

The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as numerous state laws, seeks to protect job seekers from discrimination in hiring as a result of filing valid claims.

The bottom line is that an employer cannot request workers’ compensation records in order to have a policy of not hiring anyone who has made a claim. It is discriminatory to penalize a person who has exercised a lawful right in a lawful way and filed a valid claim.

If you are considering trying to obtain past workers’ comp records, you should consult with a labor lawyer before making any moves.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU!

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits too.

In addition, we offer all personal insurance coverages including home, auto, boat, jewelry, fine arts, life, disability, health and long-term care.  When was the last time you got a complete check up for all your coverage needs?   We are extremely caring and would love the chance to help you with your personal insurance needs.

BGES Group is an insurance agency whose owner is very responsible, responsive, offers boutique, very personal service and is ALWAYS there when you need him most!

We know reading an article we post or getting an email is not the best way to consider working with someone.  If you are interested, go read our “Google Reviews” and see what people have to say about us!  That can give you the comfort level needed to contact us.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

Just the mention of a workers’ compensation audit can stir up the butterflies in your stomach and add a serious dose of stress to your existence.

But, if you are scheduled for an audit, there is no need to dread it. A small amount of preparation and common sense can save you a lot of aggravation and money.

Timing
Devoting a few hours of effort now can save you a lot of time in the future. Give your full attention to the auditor and remain with them throughout the entire process. The process may take a couple of hours to complete, so make sure that the time and date of the scheduled audit are convenient for you. Call to reschedule the audit if it has been scheduled at an inopportune time.

Documentation

As soon as you learn about the audit, begin to collect and organize:

• Payroll records,

• Overtime payroll records,

• Classification divisions, and

• Insurance certificates.

This should give you plenty of time to compose a summary of each, which will help you to better communicate important data during the audit process. Information that is well organized will also expedite the process. If you can reconcile your calculations to payroll records, such as W2s and payroll stubs, the auditor might be more comfortable trusting your data.

You will also want to make any needed adjustment to payrolls; for example, subtracting bonus pay from overtime pay.

If applicable, you will need to apply the maximum and minimum payrolls to the calculations. This part may take a little research, since the minimum and maximum will vary based on state, career, and even among sole proprietors, partners and executive officers.

Classification and subcontractors

Before the audit, review the different employee job classifications and make sure that each person is correctly classified.

This is a key element to ensure that the audit flows smoothly. If there’s any question about how to classify an employee, call us. The auditor is most likely going to ask you about the classification and job duties for multiple different employees, so be prepared and armed with knowledge.

One last important preparation concerns subcontractors. Payments issued to subcontractors can go against your workers’ compensation in the event that the subcontractor did not have a certificate of workers’ compensation.

You can get a copy of the certificate, but make sure that it is current and shows coverage during the time the subcontractor worked for you.

D-day

Once the audit arrives, you’ll be glad that you took a little time collecting, organizing and summarizing your information. You will also find that the auditor is not a nemesis, especially when you provide honest answers and organized paperwork.

At the conclusion of the audit, ask the auditor for the audit worksheet. Then ask us to review the accuracy of the final audit.

You have a legal right to ask for a corrected audit anytime you think there were any errors. If any overpayment was made under the last three preceding audits, you also have a legal right to recover it.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group, located in Larchmont, N.Y. are New York Construction Insurance Specialists that represent 50+ companies and all the BEST general & umbrella liability programs!  We offer every coverage you need including property, builders risk, inland marine, general liability, umbrella liability, auto, bid & performance bonds, workers’ compensation, N.Y.S. disability and group health.  We are extremely responsive, responsible, trustworthy, fast, minimize your insurance headaches, we don’t charge ridiculous policy or service fees and when you call, text or email, whatever time of day, even weekends, we are ARE THERE to help YOU!

BGES Group are Workers’ Compensation Insurance Specialists for Tri-State Business Owners: Unhappy with your rates, company, being cancelled, losses causing difficulty getting coverage, in the middle of an audit dispute, payrolls misclassified, whatever your issue, we can help!  We have special programs for: Auto Service, Contractors (especially New York), Limousine Services, Logistic Companies, Manufacturers, Recyclers, Truckers, we can help ANY tri-state business owner.  We are considered “Preferred Agents” for this one program that if we can get you in, their pricing is excellent, offers long-term coverage stability and can cover multi-state operations. Program takes the hassle out of doing annual audits too.

In addition, we offer all personal insurance coverages including home, auto, boat, jewelry, fine arts, life, disability, health and long-term care.  When was the last time you got a complete check up for all your coverage needs?   We are extremely caring and would love the chance to help you with your personal insurance needs.

BGES Group is an insurance agency whose owner is very responsible, responsive, offers boutique, very personal service and is ALWAYS there when you need him most!

We know reading an article we post or getting an email is not the best way to consider working with someone.  If you are interested, go read our “Google Reviews” and see what people have to say about us!  That can give you the comfort level needed to contact us.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has signaled that it plans to step up enforcement of workplace discrimination for all protected classes, particularly at firms that engage in “systemic” discrimination.

Employee and job applicant discrimination complaints filed with the EEOC grew about 15% in 2022 from the year prior. The fastest growing are class-based employment claims, and class actions involving EEO claims have resulted in historic settlement amounts. The total for all class-based employment discrimination cases settled grew to nearly $600 million last year, nearly double from 2021.

While disability discrimination and sexual harassment cases account for a majority of EEOC actions, other types of discrimination complaints have been growing, in particular sex and religious discrimination.

In fact, nine out of the 10 highest settlements involving class-based employment claims in 2022 involved sex-bias claims, and the tenth case involved a religious-discrimination claim related to a company’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Some of the settlements and lawsuits that the EEOC has announced recently include the following:

• After the EEOC investigated allegations that the Joe & the Juice restaurant chain failed to recruit, hire and promote females at its restaurants, the employer agreed to pay $715,000 and hire an employment monitor.

• The EEOC in December 2022 sued the Hometown IGA grocer for religious discrimination after it allegedly refused to hire a job applicant because of his Spiritualist Rastafarian dreadlocks hairstyle.

• After the EEOC investigated an allegation against Qualtool, Inc., a Florida tool manufacturing company, over allegations that it had refused to accept applications from or hire women who sought positions on the evening shift because of their gender, the employer agreed to pay a $50,000 settlement.

What you can do

To ensure your business doesn’t get caught up in a discrimination complaint, you need to  make sure that you have the appropriate personnel policies in place and that your managers and supervisors are trained to avoid taking actions that could appear discriminatory.

First of all, familiarize yourself with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against a person based on race, color, religion, sex — including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity — or national origin in such aspects of employment as:

• Job assignments

• Pay rates

• Hiring or firing

• Training

• Promotion

• Benefits

• Layoffs.

In an article by the Society of Human Resources Management, Peter Spanos, an attorney with Taylor English Duma LLP in Atlanta, recommended that employers:

• Adopt clear and meaningful anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies.

• Conduct periodic training for the workforce, management and HR personnel.

• Update mission statements that emphasize the company’s commitment to a workplace free from unlawful harassment and discrimination.

• Host employee forums regularly to explore whether workers feel that any discrimination or harassment is occurring.

Other steps you may want to consider include:

• Conducting pay-equity audits at regular intervals to assess whether your systemic compensation and benefits practices are susceptible to a disparate-treatment or disparate-impact claim.

• Consulting your counsel before making decisions that affect all or most of your staff in a given position, department or division, and if any of those groups pose any issues with employees’ protected status.

• Analyzing your current employee benefits offerings and rules for them (employee benefits issues are a common theme in discrimination lawsuits). If you are going to make changes that reduce or change these benefits, discuss your plans first with your counsel.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

A jobsite crawling with bulldozers, cranes, scrapers and tractors can sometimes feel like a danger zone. However, with the proper heavy equipment safety guidelines in place, you can reduce risk and ensure your workers head home unscathed every day.

There are three main ingredients to safe heavy equipment operation: safe equipment, proper training and a safe attitude, and constant awareness of all jobsite activities.

If heavy equipment operators are armed with these three tools, they’ll have no problem playing it safe. Read on to learn more about these and other essential safety factors for operating heavy equipment on the worksite.

Use dependable equipment

OSHA puts a heavy emphasis on the safety features of heavy equipment. But, there’s much more to keeping equipment safe than just inspecting the machine’s safety features. After all, countless things can go wrong with this complex equipment, and these problems can lead to some major risks on the jobsite.

It’s extremely important to create customized inspection checklists for each unique piece of equipment. Safety experts recommend that heavy equipment operators conduct a pre-operational walk around and pre-start-up (in-cab) inspection before starting work to ensure the following are all working properly:

• Service, emergency and parking brakes

• Headlights

• Taillights and backup lights

• The horn.

Of course, these are just a few of the items that should be included on the checklist. You should create customized checklists for each piece of equipment based on both OSHA guidelines and the information provided in the equipment operating manual.

Steer clear of jobsite dangers

Heavy equipment operators should be aware of all jobsite activities so they can avoid potential dangers. That’s why it’s critical for equipment operators to walk through site activity checklists each day.

Here are a few obstacles and activities for operators to stay on the lookout for:

• Overhead lines: Many fatal occupational injuries occur due to contact between large jobsite equipment and overhead lines. That’s why equipment operators must exercise extreme caution when working near overhead power lines.

Workers should assume that all overhead lines are energized unless electrical utility authorities have indicated otherwise, and that they are visibly grounded and appropriately marked. OSHA provides specific requirements for the safe use of equipment near overhead lines.

• Barricades: Barricades must be used on any worksite where heavy equipment is in operation. These barricades help to notify workers where equipment is in use so that they can stay out of the area and avoid serious injury.

• Hand signals: If a crane is operation on a jobsite, the crane operator and the signaler must know the hand signals that are required by OSHA. These hand signals can be used for other types of equipment, as well.

Ensure safety with well-trained workers

A jobsite is only as safe as its workers. That’s why it’s so important to employ only well-trained, safety-conscious workers for work at a heavy equipment site. You should also conduct regular training, such as tailgate sessions before a shift starts.

According to OSHA requirements, jobsites, materials and equipment should undergo frequent and regular inspections by “competent persons” designated by the employer. It takes training to be a competent worker.

It’s important to train your employees on proper equipment inspection and operation safety. After all, your workers’ lives could depend on it. For more information, visit the OSHA website at www.osha.gov.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

1. Since 1981 we have specialized at insuring New York Contractors.  We represent 50+ companies and THE BEST programs.  We can better your coverage and lower your costs.

2. We offer one-stop shopping for all your coverage needs.

   1. Property

   2. Equipment & Employee Tools

   3. Contractor General Liability

   4. Umbrella Liability

   5. Business Auto

   6. Workers’ Compensation

   7. N.Y.S Disability

   8. Bid & Performance Bonds

   9. Group Health

   10. Personal Lines

3. We have an incredible reputation and purchasing power.  This translates into better pricing and coverage for YOU!

4. Having us review your insurance can only better your situation.

5. We have an Umbrella Liability company whose pricing is up to 35% less than other companies and coverage is usually better than most too. Recently we saved two contractors $25,000 each.  We increased their limits from $3 million to $5 million and bettered their coverage too.

6. We offer GREAT Workers’ Compensation programs with low pricing, the right coverage, long-term coverage stability and some do not do invasive annual audits.  FREE MONEY – We have offer a service that goes back 7 years and finds overpayments made to past insurance companies.  They do all the work. You can get back hundreds of thousands of dollars.  There’s NO upfront cost and it’s a win, win for YOU!

7. Like a boutique mom and pop store, we offer FIRST CLASS SERVICE.  We are available Monday thru Sunday from 6:30am till 9:30pm.  Whenever you need us we are there for YOU!

8. When you call, in seconds, we answer the phone.  When you text, we text you back.  When you email, we email you back.  There’s no waiting when you work with us.

9. We are extremely reliable, transparent, trustworthy, helpful, pleasant and upbeat.  We are that “Diamond in a Rough Agency” that once in a “Blue Moon” you find to work with.  Check out our “Google Reviews.”  86 people say wonderful things about us.

10. Looking for new options for your group health coverage? We can help.  We have a unique way to make both group health and workers compensation more affordable.

11. We can help screen subcontractor’s insurance policies for you.  This is important because a lot of contractor general liability companies have “Hammer Clauses.” If you are not in compliance, you have no coverage for your subs accidents. We can help you monitor subs insurance.

12. We can help with reviewing owner and GC contract insurance requirements.

Here are what people think of us:  

V Jakupi

Best Insurance Broker you can get period!
In the middle of the busy season we received a letter from our old carrier that they no longer service NY, only NJ. We had only 60 days to find a new company. We got in touch with Gary who is very knowledgeable, friendly and experienced, assured us that he will take care of our insurance and he did. It has been now more than 5 years without an issue. Glad we found them and looking forward continuing working with Gary and the group.

E Ezhova

My broker, Gary Wallach, is the BEST!  He’s professional and a pleasure to deal with. Always has the answers for me and is quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. This is one reason I remain a loyal BGES Group customer. Good Rates on all my insurance needs too! 

R Lodato

Gary was very Helpful and Fast. He listened to my complicated insurance problem tried to solve it from different approaches before finding the best course of action for me. He selflessly spent a lot of time making sure that leaving the State Insurance Fund was definitely necessary before using his services. I am 100% happy with his services. I can’t recommend him highly enough.

E. Zaretsky

We have used BGES Group for our insurances for over 20 years and had an amazing relationship with Gary Wallach. Gary is always looking for the lowest cost insurance, the highest quality, and his speed at providing certificates cannot be matched by anyone.

WP Blue

We have been using Gary and his services for over 10 years now. He is absolutely amazing. Always right on top of things. Answers you back quickly and helps you through all your issues! Gets you certificates of insurances within the hour. We can’t recommend him enough! 

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

Note: BGES Group specializes at insuring New York Contractors.  If you are looking for better General and Umbrella Liability coverage or lower pricing, we offer all the best programs.  Call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 for immediate help.

Here’s What We Can Offer You:

1. Great rates – We can save you up to 30%+ because we are Workers’ Compensation Specialists who are much sharper than insurance company customer service representatives who have their company’s best interests at heart first.  WITH US, YOUR BEST INTERESTS COME FIRST!  AS SPECIALISTS, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO FOR YOUR ACCOUNT IN THE END YOU SAVE MORE WORKING WITH US!

2. First class service – Never wait on hold; never wait for a certificate; never wait for an email response; get the best advice from a 42+ year Workers Compensation Specialist who knows how to use the system’s rules TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

3. Pay as little as $200 to bind coverage (one of our company’s offers this option).

4. We can cover you in multiple states.  If you are in a state or assigned risk plan and work in multiple states, you may have a serious coverage issue.  We can help you.

5. Pay-As-You-Go so when monthly payrolls are low you pay less.

6. We have program’s that eliminate invasive annual audits. If the company you have asks for every document imaginable we can help.

7. So you do not overpay, we make sure your payrolls are properly classified.

8. There’s a special credit that can save you up to 19%+. We apply for it on your behalf every year (most agencies over look doing this).

9. Long-term coverage stability.

10. Unless through a state program or payroll/wc plan, our office DOES NOT charge $500 to $5,000+ policy fees nor 10% service fees.  Many brokers do and we DO NOT approve of it.  Our feeling is you pay enough and we DO NOT want to add additional hardship you being a contractor.

11. We offer multiple payroll services coupled with workers compensation insurance – We can also include health insurance through some.

12. Workers Compensation advice from a 42 year expert!  We know the ins and outs of the system and how to use the rules in your favor!

Listen to what clients say about us:

V Jakupi

Best Insurance Broker you can get period!
In the middle of the busy season we received a letter from our old carrier that they no longer service NY, only NJ. We had only 60 days to find a new company. We got in touch with Gary who is very knowledgeable, friendly and experienced, assured us that he will take care of our insurance and he did. It has been now more than 5 years without an issue. Glad we found them and looking forward continuing working with Gary and the group.

E Ezhova

My broker, Gary Wallach, is the BEST!  He’s professional and a pleasure to deal with. Always has the answers for me and is quick to respond to my emails and phone calls. This is one reason I remain a loyal BGES Group customer. Good Rates on all my insurance needs too!

R Lodato

Gary was very Helpful and Fast. He listened to my complicated insurance problem tried to solve it from different approaches before finding the best course of action for me. He selflessly spent a lot of time making sure that leaving the State Insurance Fund was definitely necessary before using his services. I am 100% happy with his services. I can’t recommend him highly enough.

E. Zaretsky

We have used BGES Group for our insurances for over 20 years and had an amazing relationship with Gary Wallach. Gary is always looking for the lowest cost insurance, the highest quality, and his speed at providing certificates cannot be matched by anyone.

WP Blue

We have been using Gary and his services for over 10 years now. He is absolutely amazing. Always right on top of things. Answers you back quickly and helps you through all your issues! Gets you certificates of insurances within the hour. We can’t recommend him enough!

If You Need a New Policy, Contact BGES Group, Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 60+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

The “Monday morning surprise” — the term for when an employee approaches you on the first morning of the working week to report an injury he or she sustained at work on Friday — can be a dreaded situation for an employer.

Nearly all organizations face this at some point and the injury report is likely to trigger an agonizing chain of events, according to a report by the Society of Human Resource Management.

The Monday morning surprise comes with several questions. Is the injury truly work-related?

Could it be a case of cumulative effects? Was this an injury sustained over the weekend, on the employee’s personal time? Do you have evidence to prove it?

The injury could be legitimate (especially if it involves the musculoskeletal system) or due to cumulative exposure, but employers should be wary of instances where an employee clocks out of a shift on Friday with no reported injury and returns on Monday with an injury.

That’s a red flag for workers’ comp fraud.

What not to do

Workers’ compensation fraud experts recommend that you do not:

• Spy on employees — If the employer plays investigator and creates a Big Brother atmosphere of spying on workers, especially when they’re injured, a huge divide in trust is created between employees and managers. When a supervisor functions as a spy, employees are quick to notice and feel devalued.

• Have employees sign a no-injury pledge — While the intent may be positive, to eliminate work-related injuries and illnesses, such an agreement discourages early reporting and could deter a worker from reporting an actual injury that gets worse over time.

• Restrict employees’ personal activities — The range of activities outside of work that could be deemed too risky for employees is impossible to define, and is not legally defensible. An employer who tries to dictate employees’ personal lives will end up with disgruntled workers.

What you can do

First you should put a policy in place that all workplace injuries should be reported to management on the day they occur. That way, the employer can investigate immediately and talk to other staff that may have witnessed the event.

The more time that goes by, the less likely that witnesses will remember anything pertinent to the claim investigation.

As you gather the facts on your injured worker, be sure to address how and when the injury occurred. Did they cite a very specific incident, or was it a gradual onset that worsened over time? If it was gradual, how long ago did the symptoms start? Did the pain stay in the same location, or is it moving around into extremities? Is it worse now after some rest or is it feeling better?

You should ask the employee why they are only reporting it on Monday, instead of Friday when the injury occurred. Often it could be an honest mistake.

Perhaps they told a supervisor who didn’t kick the information to management. Or perhaps they didn’t report it because they didn’t want to go to a clinic and thought they’d feel better after the weekend.

But the biggest violation may not be the employee’s fault, it could be yours. If they did not know they were supposed to tell you about a near-miss or incident-only injury, that’s due to poor communication on your part. Workers need to know that should any incident happen, they are required to report it.

End-of-week employee injury statement

One way to address the Monday morning surprise is to develop an “End-of-Week Employee Injury Statement.”

Your accounting department can attach something like the following statement to each employee’s paycheck:

I have not received or witnessed any injury during the course of this week’s work with [Employer Name Here.]

Employees would be required to complete the form, sign it and return it to their supervisor.

The benefits of such a reporting program include:

• Employees reporting workplace injuries in a timely manner.

• Improved management-worker communications.

• Strengthened accident prevention and employee safety.

• The ability to reconcile injuries that have occurred and to alert supervisors and management of hazardous conditions and unreported injuries.

• The identification of witnesses who should be interviewed during accident investigations.

It should be noted, however, that the use of an end-of-week statement would not be defensible against a claim for benefits at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, but it could be used to establish the condition of the employee leading up to the at-work injury.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

BGES Group’s office, located in Larchmont, NY is a full service insurance agency offering, Property, Liability, Umbrella Liability, Business Auto, Bid & Performance Bonds, Inland Marine, Worker’s Compensation, Workers Compensation Premium Recovery, New York State Disability, Group Health, Life insurance, Personal lines and Identity Theft.

Special Contractor Insurance Programs (NY, NJ, CT) – We we have 50+ insurance companies to market your general liability, umbrella liability, business auto, workers compensation, bid & performance bonds and group health coverages. We help contractors set up proper risk transfer. If you’re a contractor we offer extensive information about insurance markets, coverages, risk transfer, subcontractor screening, ways to lower your insurance costs.

BGES Group are Worker’s Compensation Specialists for the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – Issues we address: 1) Lowering pricing – we have specialty programs that can save you up to 40%; 2) Finding a new company; 3) Replacing policies that are being cancelled or non renewed; 4) Audit disputes; 5) Company creating fictitious payroll at audit time; 6) Lowering high experience modifications factors; 7) Misclassification of payrolls; 8) Lowering or eliminating renewal deposits;  9) Getting coverage when you’ve been without for a few months; 10) Covering multiple states under one policy; 11) Eliminating 10% service or policy fees; 12) Timely issuance of certificates; 13) Always being able to get someone on the phone or by email when you need to.

If you would like to speak with us call Gary Wallach at 914-806-5853 or click here to email or click here to visit our website.

Company: BGES Group, 216A Larchmont Acres West, Larchmont, NY 10538

e-mail: bgesgroup@gmail.com

website: http://www.bgesgroup.com

© – Copyright – 2023 – BGES Group

reporting workers compensation claim

workers compensation claim