March 5, 2026 Risk normalization occurs when repeated safe experiences lead workers to underestimate hazards, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Key Highlights Experience can create blind spots, making seasoned workers more prone to shortcuts and complacency, which can be mitigated through targeted retraining focused on reflection and storytelling. Leadership plays a crucial role; by modeling humility and encouraging open conversations about near misses, managers can fos

March 4, 2026 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Florida plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractor for exposing workers to struck-by hazards after an employee suffered a fatal injury at a Bal Harbor Shops worksite in August 2025. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Aug. 28, 2025, a Hyvac Inc. pipefitter installing a new air-conditioning system for a mall expansion construction project was fatally

March 4, 2026 "This progress shows that when employers focus on serious injury and fatality risks, invest in prevention and build strong safety cultures, lives are protected," said Lorraine Martin, CEO, NSC. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024 fatal occupational injuries data showed 5,070 worker deaths – a second consecutive year of decline. The fatal work injury rate was 3.3 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2024, a decrease from a rate of

March 3, 2026 LAKE WORTH, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Land O’ Lakes-based petroleum tank services contractor for exposing workers to chemical and respiratory hazards after an employee was fatally exposed to benzene and toluene when they entered a fuel storage tank at a Lake Worth worksite in July 2025. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited PCE Petroleum Contractors Enterprises Inc. with 12 serious violatio

March 2, 2026 Contractors – of all tiers – are often surprised to learn they may be considered a “ special employer ” of individuals who actually work for independent third parties—such as temporary staffing agencies or equipment rental companies—on their projects. Even more surprising, contractors (including owners who self-perform) can be held primarily responsible for the negligent acts or omissions of these third-party workers because of this “ special employer ” status.

March 1, 2026 Workers’ compensation judges may consider a variety of factors when determining whether a claimant is permanently disabled. A case involving a worker injured operating a front-end loader highlights the type of factors that come into play. In Louisiana, those factors should also dictate whether or how an employer decides to challenge a WCJ's finding. The 58-year-old claimant was injured when the front-end loader she was operating struck concrete and jolted her, i

March 1, 2026 As older workers remain in or reenter the labor force, the workers compensation industry is zeroing in on an area where claims tend to be more severe, medically complex and costly. “Our workers compensation data clearly show that the percentage of the workforce that is older is growing,” said Rich Ives, Hartford, Connecticut-based senior vice president of business insurance claim for Travelers. “That comes with favorable impacts — lower injury frequency — and un

February 27, 2026 For more than a decade, insurance companies and physician groups have battled it out over the true meaning of Florida statutes: Are doctors considered pharmacists, allowed to dispense medications to injured workers, often at a higher price? A Florida appeals court this week may have finally answered that question, giving a multimillion-dollar win to employers and carriers that have spent years trying to undo state workers’ compensation regulations that have

February 27, 2026 Washington — OSHA has released a new version of its poster informing workers of their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 , as part of the agency’s “OSHA Cares” initiative. The Job Safety and Health Workplace Poster must be displayed in the workplace where workers can easily see it, per regulation 1903.2 . OSHA says employers can use this version, which is available for free, or continue using an older version. For employers under

February 26, 2026 MIAMI – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a concrete manufacturer for exposing workers to hazards after an employee suffered fatal injuries after entering the unprotected area of a concrete block cubing machine in July 2025. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Adonel Concrete Corp. – operating as Adonel Block Manufacturing Corp. – with nine serious violations for inadequate machine guarding, and for failing to ensure