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August 19, 2025   Earlier today, the Florida Chamber of Commerce met with the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) to review a proposed 6.9 percent decrease for workers’ compensation insurance rate on new and renewal policies to take effect on January 1, 2026.   NCCI files a rate filing on behalf of the majority of Florida’s workers’ comp carriers, and if approved, this decrease will contribute to a cumulative reduction of 78 percent since the reforms the Florida Chamber championed over two decades ago in 2003 when Florida had the highest workers’ comp rates in the country.   Factors influencing this year’s rate filing include a continued reduction in both the frequency and severity of claims, which is also a national trend. This improvement is attributed to employers’ ongoing commitment to enhancing workplace safety, which have reduced workplace injuries and facilitated quicker return-to-work processes for employees.   The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is expected to hold a public hearing sometime in mid-September and will approve or request a modification of the rate request sometime in October or early November. This timeline will allow the rates, once approved by OIR, to take effect as proposed for new policies and policy renewals starting January 1, 2026.

August 18, 2025   Scheme Caused $4M Loss to the United States A Florida man pleaded guilty today before Magistrate Judge Kyle C. Dudek for the Middle District of Florida to conspiring to defraud the United States by operating an off-the-books payroll scheme. The plea must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge.   The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Alexis Garcia conspired with others to operate an illegal, off-the-books cash payroll system for construction workers to avoid paying employment taxes to the IRS and to defraud workers’ compensation insurance companies. Between 2017 and 2019, Garcia managed and directed the operations of Tape Drywall Services Inc., located in Naples, Florida. Contractors entered into agreements with Tape Drywall to provide workers for various construction contracts and provided checks in the name of Tape Drywall for payment. Garcia and his co-conspirator would cash the checks and retain a small percentage as a fee. Garcia and his co-conspirator provided cash to the foremen who used the cash to pay the workers. In total, Garcia and his co-conspirator cashed over 3,600 checks totaling approximately $28 million.   Garcia and his co-conspirator did not report the wages to the IRS and did not withhold Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from those wage and pay them over to the IRS, as required by law. As a result, Garcia caused a loss to the United States of more than $4.2 million.   In addition, Garcia and his co-conspirator defrauded workers’ compensation companies by substantially misrepresenting the amount of Tape Drywall’s payroll. The misrepresentations resulted in substantially lower insurance payments.   The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government because, for example, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year.   Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.   IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.   Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Yolande G. Viacava for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

August 18, 2025   Workers in the construction industry represented more than a third of all workplace heat-related deaths in 2023 and 2022, according to a report from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR).   Researchers looked at data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, CPWR’s Fatality Map, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, and OSHA’s Severe Injury database.   In 2023, 18 (32.7 percent) of the 55 heat-related workplace deaths recorded occurred in construction. The year before, it was 17 out of 43 (39.5 percent). By contrast, construction employees represent seven percent of the total U.S. workforce. From 2011 to 2023, an average of 14 construction workers died from heat-related causes a year. The average for all industries was 41. By month, July (40) had the most construction heat-related deaths from 2011 to 2023, followed by June (27) and August (23). By state, Texas (25) had the most construction heat-related fatalities from 2011 to 2023, followed by California (13). A total of 620 nonfatal heat-related injuries that resulted in days away from work were recorded in the construction industry between 2021 and 2022, the most recent year data was available. “With each of the past 10 years being the warmest ever recorded, heat-related injury prevention remains critical for construction workers,” the bulletin stated.

July 30, 2025 ORLANDO, Fla.   Three Orlando residents were sentenced for a $146 million construction payroll scheme that defrauded the Internal Revenue Service and workers' compensation insurers.   Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced Eduardo Anibal Escobar, 45, Carlos Alberto Rodriguez, 36, and Adelmy Tejada, 57, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit tax fraud.   Escobar was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison, Rodriguez was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison, and Tejada was sentenced to 18 months in prison plus 6 months of home detention. Each pleaded guilty on April 3.   According to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, the court ordered the defendants to pay $36,957,616 in restitution to the IRS for unpaid payroll taxes and a total of $397,895 in restitution to two insurance companies for workers' compensation claims they paid out.   Court documents explain that from about January 2015 to about August 2024, the defendants conspired to facilitate the payment of construction workers "off the books" to avoid paying payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance premiums.   The scheme also facilitated the employment of undocumented workers who were not legally authorized to work in the United States, the release said.   Court documents explain that the defendants, through their companies, T. Escobar Construction and C. Escobar Construction, entered into agreements with hundreds of construction subcontractors to enable the subcontractors to obtain contracts with, and perform work for, construction contractors.   In exchange for six to eight percent of the subcontractor's payroll, the defendants caused certificates of insurance in the name of the defendants' companies to be sent to construction contractors from which the subcontractors wished to obtain work, representing that the subcontractors worked for their companies and were covered by the companies' workers' compensation insurance, per the release.   The company's insurance policies were based on applications representing that the policies would cover a handful of employees and a minimal payroll.   As a result of the defendants using their certificate of insurance to represent that the subcontractors worked for their companies, the insurers unwittingly covered hundreds of workers.   A total of $146,077,535 in payroll checks were deposited into the bank accounts of the defendants' companies, from which they withdrew cash to pay the subcontractors' workers, after subtracting their 6 to 8 percent fee—all without withholding, or paying over, payroll taxes to the IRS.   As a result, the U.S. Treasury lost $36,957,616 in unpaid payroll taxes.   The defendants' scheme allowed the construction contractors and subcontractors to disclaim responsibility for paying payroll taxes to the IRS, for ensuring that adequate workers' compensation insurance was obtained, and for verifying that the workers were legally authorized to work in the United States.   "This case highlights how federal and state agencies are working together to successfully investigate and assist in the prosecution of individuals who engage in illegal financial schemes to enrich themselves," said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, IRS-Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office.   "IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Department of Financial Services collaborated our resources to bring down a criminal enterprise that facilitated unfair competition by defrauding workers' compensation insurers and evading their obligation to pay federal taxes."   "These criminals defrauded the government by dodging payroll taxes and exploited vulnerable workers by not carrying proper insurance," said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker.   "Unscrupulous and illegal tactics in the construction industry damage the integrity of law-abiding contractors, and that price is eventually passed on to the consumer. These sentences are a testament to the persevering investigative work of HSI special agents and our partners with IRS Criminal Investigation and the Florida Department of Financial Services."   This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Department of Financial Services.   It is part of a continuing investigation by these agencies of the use of shell companies and "ghost" employees in the construction industry.   It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.   The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.

August 28, 2025   Immigration is once again front and center in the national conversation, and the renewed focus has prompted many employers to reexamine their I-9 practices. A recurring area of confusion, and where missteps are surprisingly common, is the requirement to physically inspect original documents in the presence of the employee.   Although this rule has been part of the I-9 process since its inception, pandemic-era flexibilities, followed by the Department of Homeland Security’s creation of a limited remote verification option, have left many employers uncertain about what is required today. The bottom line: in-person inspection remains the default, and shortcuts can leave an employer out of compliance.   Form I-9 may feel like simple paperwork, but regulators view the verification step as its cornerstone. Done carefully, it is routine. Done sloppily, it can become a compliance time bomb. With enforcement agencies sharpening their pencils, now is the time to revisit your onboarding procedures and ensure your document verification practices line up with the current rules.   In-Person Verification: The Longstanding Default Rule The general rule under federal law is straightforward: employers must physically inspect each original, unexpired document that a new hire presents, and they must do so in the employee’s presence. This requirement applies whether the employee presents a passport, a driver’s license and Social Security card, or any other combination of documents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents.   Timing : Section 1 of Form I-9 must be completed by the employee no later than their first day of employment or before receiving any pay. Following that, the employer must physically inspect the employee’s original documents and complete Section 2 within three business days of the employee’s first day of work. For very short-term hires (three days or less), the inspection must occur on the first day.   Authorized representatives : Employers are allowed to appoint an authorized representative to complete the in-person review on their behalf. This can be a manager, HR contractor, or even a notary acting as the employer’s agent. Importantly, no special certification is required for the representative. However, the employer remains legally responsible for the accuracy of the process. If the representative mishandles the verification, it is the employer who will face liability.   Purpose : The purpose of handling original documents is to allow the employer to review security features, confirm the photo matches the employee, and ensure that the documents reasonably appear genuine. A photocopy or email attachment cannot provide the same assurance.   While the requirement may feel old-fashioned in an era of remote work and electronic onboarding, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to insist that physical inspection is the standard method of compliance.   E-Verify: An Extra Layer, not a Replacement Employers often assume that participation in E-Verify relieves them of the obligation to conduct an in-person document review. It does not. ·         Supplement, not substitute : E-Verify checks the information on the I-9 against government databases, but it does not replace the inspection step. Employers must still complete the I-9, including physical review of original documents, before running anything through E-Verify. ·         No cure for errors : If the I-9 was completed without in-person review, entering the information into E-Verify does not “fix” the defect. Regulators have been clear that E-Verify is an added safeguard, not a cure. ·         Special requirements : E-Verify does impose certain additional obligations, such as requiring that any List B identity document include a photograph. But those documents must still be presented in person for review.   The message is simple: E-Verify is valuable, but it does not give employers a hall pass on document inspection. Read more

July 22, 2025   “When incidents keep happening because the setup never changes or the controls are outdated, the pressure builds,” says James Smith CEO of A-Safe.   Safety leadership in industrial settings is demanding by nature. For many professionals in this field, the responsibility does not end with the shift. Even when everything seems in order, incidents—near misses, disrupted workflows and equipment concerns—remain front of mind.   That persistent concern, to health and safety managers often invisible to others, carries consequences beyond operations. It affects well-being, mental clarity, and the ability to rest outside of the working environment.   When incidents keep happening because the setup never changes or the controls are outdated, the pressure builds. It is not only compliance at stake, but confidence, and that carries a cost.   The link between near misses and mental fatigue Each late-night alert, medical response, or shift disruption adds to a growing mental burden. These moments contribute to operational strain but also erode trust across teams. In 2023, the American workplace experienced over 4,500 preventable injury-related deaths and over 4 million medically consulted injuries, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).   But the victims of these accidents are not just those who get injured. These events also affect those directly responsible for preventing them. Continuous stress from the fear of overlooking a risk can result in chronic fatigue.   Decision-makers become hyper-alert, and confidence in their safety infrastructure starts to falter. For example, if equipment is hard to reconfigure or cannot adapt to layout changes, the burden only grows. The mental toll is rarely accounted for in traditional risk assessments. It does not show up in standard metrics, yet the mentality of constant risk anticipation shapes decisions on the ground every day—whether that is delaying maintenance to avoid blame or halting operations out of uncertainty.   Health and safety leaders must move beyond reactive approaches with tools that reduce guesswork and restore visibility and flexibility. Read more:

July 18, 2025   Last year was the hottest on record, and the century-long warming trend shows no signs of slowing down.   The impact on employees exposed to heat has been profound. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 43 workplace deaths due to extreme heat, and OSHA acknowledges that its heat-related work injury figures are likely vast undercounts.   These conditions have led state and federal authorities to consider and, in many cases, enact heat-related workplace safety regulations. However, with federal initiatives stalling, the regulatory response has become increasingly fragmented across many different jurisdictions.   Excessive Heat Exposure Heat-related workplace injuries represent a serious and escalating threat to employee safety across multiple industries. Illness can begin with seemingly minor symptoms such as heat rash and muscle cramps, but then rapidly progress to life-threatening emergency. Heat exhaustion causes dizziness, excessive sweating, and nausea.   The risk extends beyond obvious outdoor occupations.     While construction and agricultural employees often experience direct sun exposure during physically demanding work, indoor environments present their own heat-related dangers.   Manufacturing facilities with heat-generating equipment, warehouses with poor climate control, and buildings with metal roofs can become heat traps, particularly during heat waves.   Indoor employees face the additional challenge of reduced air circulation and higher humidity levels that prevent effective sweat evaporation, the body’s primary cooling mechanism.   Employees with preexisting medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, those taking specific medications, and new employees who haven’t had time to physiologically acclimate to hot working conditions, are especially vulnerable to heat-related injury.   These less experienced employees may also be reluctant to report early symptoms, fearing repercussions or appearing unable to handle the job demands.   Regulatory Uncertainty To address these issues, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had been developing comprehensive heat injury and illness prevention standards under the Biden administration, with proposed rulemaking issued in August 2024.   These federal standards would have established nationwide requirements for heat injury prevention plans, mandatory drinking water and rest breaks, indoor heat controls and specific protections for employees who haven’t acclimated to hot conditions.   However, the regulatory landscape shifted dramatically after the November elections. Shortly after taking office, the Trump administration implemented a regulatory freeze halting all pending federal rules, including OSHA’s Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard.   The administration also terminated heat safety experts from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the research arm that had been instrumental in developing the scientific foundation for the proposed regulations.   Read more:

July 18, 2025   A judge handed down prison time for a Hillsborough County man who prosecutors say stole thousands of dollars from Hurricane Ian victims in Sarasota County.   An unlicensed contractor from Riverview, Hillsborough County, was sentenced this week to five years in prison after prosecutors say he stole thousands of dollars from Sarasota County residents recovering from Hurricane Ian.   Justin Hoover, 47, of the 11600 block of Monette Road, was also ordered to pay $212,417.80 in restitution to the victims, according to a statement from the State Attorney’s Office for the 12th Judicial Circuit, which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties.   Hoover is listed as the CEO of J & J Screens LLC in Florida’s Division of Corporations website, which shows the company intended to install screen enclosures is currently inactive.   Prosecutors say Hoover did not have the appropriate license to perform work but signed contracts and collected deposits from Sarasota County residents who sustained damage from Hurricane Ian between January and April 2023 to repair or build car ports and screen rooms as well as build new sheds. Hurricane Ian hit in September 2022.   Deposits that Hoover accepted ranged from $1,500 to $15,000, and were mostly in the Venice Isles Estates community, according to prosecutors. In one case noted in the probable cause affidavit, authorities say Hoover took a $6,000 deposit to build a new carport and screen room and install new gutters and a soffit at a customer’s residence in February 2023.   By May of that year, work was not started, materials were not delivered, permits were not pulled and there was no further contact from Hoover after the resident provided the deposit, officials say.   The Sarasota County Building Licensing and Enforcement issued fines for each case in which Hoover entered into contracts without a license before the cases were received by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the affidavit says.   “Because we live in Florida, damage from hurricanes is always on the mind of our citizens, and for these victims it became a reality. Unfortunately, not only did they have to suffer from the impacts of Hurricane Ian but also from the impact of Justin Hoover, who was not a licensed contractor and never completed the work,” Assistant State Attorney Amanda Morris says in a statement. “Justin Hoover stole the hard-earned money of veterans, seniors and those on fixed incomes and now he faces the reality of a prison sentence for his actions.”   Circuit Court Judge Dana Moss sentenced Hoover to five years in prison followed by five years of probation for each felony count, to run consecutively. Hoover was sentenced for 36 counts of unlicensed contracting during the state of emergency, 31 counts of grand theft from those 65 years or older, six counts of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of unlicensed contracting, according to prosecutors.   Citizens can confirm contractors are licensed in Florida by checking the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website, and prosecutors advise people to be cautious when a contractor asks for more than a 10% deposit.

July 17, 2025   Liberty Mutual’s latest Workplace Safety Index has found that workplace accidents cost U.S. employers $58.7 billion annually, with the top 10 causes of injuries accounting for 86 percent of those costs, $50.87 billion.   The Index marks its 25th year identifying the top ten causes of the most serious workplace injuries – those causing an employee to miss more than five days of work – and ranking them by their medical and lost-wage payments.   Even as the rate of serious workplace accidents fell by about 40 percent over the 25 years represented by the Index, the total cost of workers compensation benefits increased by 30 percent, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Academy of Social Insurance.   Overexertion involving outside sources remains the the top cause, accounting for $13.7 billion in costs, largely due to manual material handling. This has held true for 25 years.   Falls on the same level is the second leading cause, with $10.5 billion in costs, emphasizing the need for slip, trip, and fall prevention strategies, the report noted.   Struck by object or equipment and Falls to a lower level also continue to be major injury drivers, together accounting for nearly $11.6 billion in costs.   Injuries due to other exertions and bodily reactions, roadway incidents, and caught-in or compressed by equipment also feature prominently in the top 10, underlining the diverse risks present in today’s workplaces.   While still making the top ten, costs associated with Repetitive motion injuries from micro tasks has dipped by 44 percent. The report outlines safety efforts are helping to reduce these types of injuries.   Workers being Struck against object or equipment rounded out the top ten causes of workplace injuries, totaling $1.7 billion in costs.   The report found that more than half (56 percent) of workplace injuries involving the back, shoulder, knee or multiple body parts drive nearly $32.6 billion in costs.   Seven of this year’s top 10 injury causes appeared in all 25 indices. “The Index provides employers a trusted roadmap for improving workplace safety,” said Liberty Mutual Senior Vice President and General Manager, Risk Control, Dorothy Doyle. “We’re proud to provide this important report, which offers valuable data and insights to help employers prevent injuries and manage risks more effectively, underscoring our commitment to protecting workers and supporting safer, more resilient businesses.”   Each index is based on data three years prior. Accordingly, the 2025 index reflects 2022 data.