March 25, 2026 Heat exposure, workplace violence and structural changes to coverage systems are key emerging issues shaping the workers compensation landscape in 2026, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The report indicates that while familiar policy debates — including mental injury claims, presumption laws, cancer initiatives and worker classification — remain active, regulators and lawmakers are increasingly focused on

March 23, 2026 When employers try to understand why injured workers hire attorneys, the conversation often centers on the claim itself. Was the injury legitimate? Was the claim denied? Was the employee exaggerating? But those questions miss a much more important truth: Most workers don’t hire attorneys because of the claim. They hire attorneys because of fear — specifically, financial fear. At the center of that fear is what we can call the Breadwinner Effect. The Moment Ever

March 20, 2026 A Florida appellate court on Wednesday ruled that the costs associated with a tetraplegic worker’s travel to visit family out of state did not qualify for coverage as medical benefits. As documented in Purple Pride Inc. v. Burgess , the man worked for Purple Pride Inc. He suffered injuries in a work-related motor vehicle accident in 2019 that left him tetraplegic. Burgess now requires around-the-clock attendant care. The insurance provider for Purple Pride acc

March 16, 2026 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrest of a man accused of hiding payroll information through two money service businesses to dodge more than $1 million in workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Jacques G. Denomme was arrested March 3 on charges of organized scheme to defraud and workers’ compensation premium avoidance fraud, Ingoglia said in a statement. The arrest followed an investigation by the Departme

March 16, 2026 WASHINGTON – In an effort to promote workplace safety, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the launch of its Safety Champions Program, a new cooperative initiative designed to help employers develop and implement effective safety and health programs. The Safety Champions Program meets businesses where they are on their pathway to safety and health success and encourages them to take proactive steps wi

March 15, 2026 Workers' Comp Playbook The 48 hours following a workplace injury influence claim direction more than many organizations realize. During this short window, employees form early interpretations about how they will be treated, what recovery might look like, and whether the system surrounding them feels supportive or uncertain. These impressions rarely emerge from formal policy or written procedure. Instead, they develop through the tone of early conversations, the

March 13, 2026 Washington — As part of its ongoing effort to bolster electrical safety in the construction industry, OSHA has launched the Electrical Roll Up Initiative. The initiative is aimed at promoting basic electrical safety awareness throughout the industry. “Electrical hazards affect more than just electricians,” OSHA says in an electrical safety toolbox talk . “In fact, 74% of workplace electrical fatalities occur in nonelectrical occupations. Many employees may n

March 13, 2026 SEMINOLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor cited a Florida utility construction contractor for Duke Energy after one worker was electrocuted and two others injured at a Seminole site in August 2025. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined a work crew from Primoris Services Corp. – operating as Primoris T&D Services LLC – was replacing a utility pole when the pole contacted an energized overhead transmiss

March 12, 2026 Misclassified commodities, blocked blue spaces, and exceeded storage heights are major problems. Warehouses are the backbone of modern supply chains, serving as hubs where goods are stored, sorted, and shipped. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of e-commerce has driven demand for more warehouse space, both in new construction and tenant expansions. Yet with vast floor areas, tall storage racks, and high fuel loads, warehouses present some of the most sign

March 10, 2026 Milwaukee — Inconsistent training and pedestrian-forklift interactions top the list of dock operator safety challenges, according to a new report from Rite-Hite. The manufacturer of loading dock equipment and other in-plant products commissioned a survey of 168 facility managers, operations leaders and safety professionals across multiple industries throughout North America. Its aim: Provide peer benchmarking data to help dock operators evaluate their facilit

March 9, 2026 Chicago — More construction workplace injuries occur around 9 a.m. than at any other time of the day, according to an analysis conducted by construction safety software provider HammerTech. That insight, gained from a review of more than 75,000 construction incidents that occurred from 2018 to 2024, was published in Hammertech’s Safety at Scale 2025: Construction Insights from the Field report. “It’s not an overwhelming spike,” the report states about the 9 a.

March 9, 2026 New analysis from Traceone finds 5.6 violations per 100,000 workers. Where U.S. Employers Fail to Warn Workers About Chemical Dangers Millions of U.S. workers handle, store, or work near hazardous chemicals every day—from cleaning solvents and industrial adhesives to flammable gases and corrosive substances. Without proper training, clear labeling, and accessible safety data sheets, employees may not fully understand the health risks they face, including respira