Recently Risk Management Monitor's Emily Holbrook wrote about the ten most dangerous jobs in America, based on information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a quick summary, they were: Fishermen Logging workers Airplane pilots and flight engineers Farmers and ranchers Mining machine operators Roofers Sanitation workers Truck drivers and delivery workers Industrial machine…
A Visual Tribute to 9/11 Victims: "We Will Never Forget"
It was a beautiful morning here in Sarasota, FL. I had an early morning breakfast meeting at the Sarasota Quay, at the corner of US 41 and Fruitville Road. President George W. Bush was in town, and his motorcade was scheduled to pass by our location just after our meeting concluded. Having never seen a…
A 65th Wedding Anniversary: Alzheimers Separates What Time Could Not
(This is one of those non-WC posts our disclaimer warns you about) Today is a bittersweet milestone; in that a man and a woman could celebrate a rare event, 65 years of loving, prosperous and successful marriage. However, today there will be no celebration, no family gathering to mark the achievement. Their house, perched atop…
Are Regulators Responsible For Return To Work?
It was a discussion worth having for the Disability Management and Return to Work Committee at the recent International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) Annual Conference in Madison, WI. With overwhelming evidence pointing to the benefits of effective return to work programs, just how do we go about getting broader adoption of…
IAIABC Proves The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Major Protests. Strikes and work stoppages. Business and labor diametrically opposed. A conservative governor dealing with progressive, even socialist elements in the legislature. Wisconsin 2011? Right state, wrong date. It is Wisconsin, but the year is 1911. In an extremely unique, very innovative program the IAIABC, in the opening presentation of it’s 97th Annual Conference in Madison, Wisconsin,…
Become a "Tech Translator": National Unemployment Rate for Technology Jobs Is 3.3%
While doing a little research for the Workers' Compensation Technology Alliance, I stumbled across the fact that, while national unemployment continues to fester at 9.2%, the rate for the technology sector was much lower at a surprising 3.3%. This could explain why I still have a job…. Moreover, an article published in USA Today indicates…
Laugh or You're Fired! Reducing Stress with Workplace Humor Is No Laughing Matter
Let’s face it. It’s scary out there. 9.2% unemployment. Downsizing. Outsourcing. Political gridlock. A future unknown….. Workplace stress is on the rise, and the toll it can take on you, co-workers and employees can add up to a big expense for your company. Experts tell us that each year in the United States $300 billion…
Study Reveals 97 Percent of Canadian Workplace Deaths are Male; US Not Far Behind
An interesting study crossed my (cluttered) desk recently. A broad ranging health study conducted in Canada found that 97% of workplace deaths there are suffered by males. While it is known that generally men are more likely to occupy high risk positions, that number still surprised me a great deal. In fact, the study sites…
Seriously? Video Shows "Father of the Year" Verizon Picketer Placing Daughter In Front Of Moving Truck
A video has surfaced of a Verizon picketer using his little girl as a "human shield" to block a moving Verizon vehicle, while he delivers a profanity laced tirade about the occupants hurting his family. A terrific learning experience, I am sure. The little girl learns that Daddy’s job is more important than her safety,…
The Death of Thomas Matthew McCabe – Mentor and Friend
I will be the first to admit that this is not a workers’ compensation oriented post. Far from it. It is, however, directly related to employment and personal development on the job. It is about recognizing and appreciating those who took you under their wing and made a difference in your life and career. And…