Most workplace injuries in the Mountain West are musculoskeletal injuries. Some of the most common of these include muscle strains, joint inflammation, back pain, tendonitis, ligament sprains, pinched nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome or rotator cuff syndrome. These are all injuries that involve the muscles and the skeleton—basically the parts of the body that make us move. These work-related injuries affect muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, bones, nerves and blood vessels.  They are caused by certain work tasks that place excessive strain on our bodies over time.You may have heard musculoskeletal injuries referred to as the following:• Sprains and strains• Overexertion injuries•

The Mountain West is experiencing one of its hottest summers on record, and many employees work in occupations where they are exposed to hot, humid environments. In addition, some use special protective clothing and equipment that interfere with the body’s ability to dissipate heat and effectively maintain a normal body temperature. Heat stress and heat-related illnesses can occur when the human body is exposed to hot temperatures for prolonged periods of time. When employees work in such environments, precautions should be taken to prevent heat-related illnesses. The concern is not merely for comfort. Working in hot environments can cause sickness

If you don’t understand the definition of an “experience rating modification factor,” or e-mod, you are not alone. The e-mod is a critical part of many employers’ workers compensation insurance costs. While this article attempts to explain in simple terms how e-mods are determined, it does not include all the details that could affect your company’s individual e-mod. Many insurance carriers use basic business and industry classification codes developed by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). Under the system, each employee is assigned a class code based on job description and risk of injury. Many employers have multiple class

SUMMERHAYS Employers are often surprised to learn that injuries sustained in a motor-vehicle crash may be compensable under the workers compensation laws of several states. Fleet exposure is one of the most overlooked loss sources of a company's operations. This is even true when a company�s transportation needs are incidental to what the company does and the type of employees the company has on staff. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Driver Selection Do an interview that asks specific questions about an applicant’s driving experience and type of vehicles they will be driving. Get a copy of the applicant’s motor