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  • 5 Strategies for Construction Companies to Slash Workers’ Comp Costs

    5 Strategies for Construction Companies to Slash Workers’ Comp Costs

    Controlling Workers’ Compensation Costs

    Has your construction business experienced rising workers’ compensation costs due to on-the-job accidents? If so, your first response was most likely aimed at trying to reduce insurance costs and spending. While this may seem like the best approach, a sound safety program designed to continuously improve can yield significant savings by reducing injuries and illnesses—ultimately reducing workers’ compensation costs in the long run.

    5 Steps to Building a Solid Safety Program

    You can control workers’ compensation costs with five easily implementable steps designed to create a well-rounded safety program that produces a safer job site, achieves OSHA compliance, and reduces accidents—saving your bottom line.

    1. Develop safety programs required by the OSHA standards.
    2. Integrate those programs into daily operations.
    3. Investigate all injuries and illnesses.
    4. Provide training to develop safety competence in all employees.
    5. Audit your programs and your worksite on a regular basis to stimulate continuous improvement.

    Develop Programs Required by OSHA Standards

    In addition to being a requirement for those in the construction industry, OSHA standards provide a good pathway to incident reductions. Many accidents stem from poorly developed or poorly implemented OSHA programs: not using the proper fall restraint system when working at heights more than 6 feet, improper use of personal protective equipment when working with hazardous job site materials and poor lifting techniques resulting in back strains are just a few examples.

    OSHA construction standards require that written programs be developed and then communicated to workers. Experience shows that companies with thoroughly developed, OSHA-compliant programs have fewer accidents, more productive employees and lower workers’ compensation costs.

    Integrate Programs into Daily Operations

    Policies alone won’t get results; your safety program must move from paper to practice to impact your bottom line. Achieving this requires a strategic plan clearly communicated to workers, good execution, and a culture that both inspires and rewards people to do their best.

    When developing your safety initiative, there must be an emphasis on helping your site foreman succeed. If the site foreman understands the safety program and is motivated to make it work, it succeeds; if not, the program is a source of struggle and an endless drain on resources. Providing your site foreman with knowledge and skills through training is critical to the success of your safety program.

    A solid OSHA program, integrated into your worksite’s daily operation and led by competent site supervisors, is just the beginning. Successful safety programs are also proactive instead of reactive.

    Investigate All Injuries and Illnesses

    Accident investigations provide an excellent source of information on real or potential issues present on the job site. Because workers’ compensation covers a worker’s wages for injuries or illnesses that arise from or out of the course of employment, increasing claims drive up workers’ compensation costs. To reduce costs, you must reduce accidents. And the ability to reduce accidents is significantly enhanced when they are fully investigated instead of simply being reported.

    Accident reports cite facts; accident investigations go deeper to uncover the root cause of an accident and make improvements to prevent its reoccurrence. To stop your workers’ compensation costs from rising unnecessarily, you must have an effective accident investigation process. Unless you can determine the root cause of an accident, recommendations for improvement will remain fruitless. Again, training proves beneficial because a site supervisor skilled in incident analysis is a better problem solver for all types of project management issues, not just safety.

    All accidents should be investigated to find out what went wrong and why. Some may suggest investigating every accident is a bit over the top and only those that incur significant costs are worthy of scrutiny, but this approach is shortsighted. If your emphasis is only on those incidents that have to be recorded on the OSHA 300 log, you ignore the single largest accident category: first aid-only incidents. Many firms focus solely on recordables or lost-time accidents because of the significant costs involved, but they don’t realize that the small costs and high numbers of first aid-only incidents really add up.

    Reducing serious accidents means you must reduce your overall rate of all accidents—including first aid-only incidents. That only happens when every incident is fully investigated, and corrective actions are identified and integrated into daily job tasks.

    Training and Auditing for Continuous Improvement

    The final steps focus on training and auditing your program for continuous improvement. Training plays a significant role in safety and in reducing workers’ compensation costs. The goal of training is to develop competent people who have the knowledge, skill and understanding to perform assigned job responsibilities. Competence, more than anything else, will drive down costs. Site supervisors must have the knowledge and ability to integrate programs into each job on the job site so that employees know what is expected of them.

    Once the programs are developed and implemented, they must be reviewed on a regular basis to make sure they are still relevant and effective. This might require a significant change in how you manage your safety program, but if your workers’ compensation rates are high, it may be time to make this leap.

    Tangible Benefits

    1. Studies indicate there is a return on investment and that firms see direct bottom-line benefits with a properly designed, implemented and integrated safety program.
    2. A competency-based safety program is compliant with OSHA construction requirements and therefore reduces the threat of OSHA fines.
    3. A competency-based safety program lowers accidents, which reduces workers’ compensation costs. When incidents do occur, a competency-based safety program fully evaluates the issue and finds the root cause to prevent reoccurrence and provides a job site that is free from recognized hazards.
    4. A safer job site creates better morale and improves employee retention. Auditing keeps your programs fresh and effective, and drives continuous improvement.
    5. A competency-based program produces people who are fully engaged in every aspect of their job, producing high-quality craftsmanship.

    How Can We Assist You?

    At Lawley, we are committed to helping you establish a strong safety program that minimizes your workers’ compensation exposures. Contact us today at 716.849.8618 or CLICK HERE to learn more about our OSHA compliance and safety program resources.

  • Choosing a Medicare Insurance Option – The 5 Things You MUST Know!

    Choosing a Medicare Insurance Option – The 5 Things You MUST Know!

    Medicare Insurance can be complicated. At Lawley, we have developed a team of professionals to help you find, and enroll you in the Medicare insurance option that are best fits the needs of you and your family.

    Read below to understand the top 5 things you need to know when choosing a Medicare insurance option for your and your family.

    1. What is Medicare insurance?

    Medicare insurance is a federal health insurance program for Americans ages 65 and older, as well as those with certain disabilities. Through a combination of its four key parts, Medicare covers many health care costs for those enrolled.

    2. What are the four parts of Medicare insurance?

    Medicare insurance is broken into four parts: A, B, C & D.

    • Part A – Hospital insurance and covers costs associated with confinement in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
    • Part B -Medical Insurance and covers physician services, outpatient care, tests, and supplies.
    • Part C – This is also known as Medicare Advantage Plan. It is an alternative program to Parts A & B offered by approved private insurance companies. These plans often include prescription and drug coverage and other benefits like vision or dental coverage. These plans usually have a network of providers who provide care at a lower cost to the enrolled participants.
    • Part D – Medicare D is an optional prescription drug plan offered by approved private insurers. These plans designate covered drugs and the pharmacies where you can get them, and vary from plan to plan.

    3. Are there other options for Medicare insurance?

    Medicare Supplement insurance options, offered by approved insurers, cover co-pays and deductibles that Parts A & B do not. They are accepted by any doctor who accepts Medicare assignments.

    4. What is the cost of Medicare?

    Lawley’s team of  Medicare & Individual Health Insurance Consultants will help you decide on the plan that best fits your needs, including your budget. Any associated costs will be determined once a plan is decided upon together.

    5. How do I go about choosing a Medicare insurance option that is right for me?

    The team at Lawley Medicare Solutions can discuss and provide knowledge on all aspects of Medicare insurance, including the many moving parts and enrollment processes. They can also help you understand changes with premiums, benefits & coverages, drug tiers & formulary, Medicare insurance deductibles, and life events (income, health, Rx).

    To discuss your options, call us at 716.849.8223 TTY- 711 or contact us here.

    We do not offer every plan available. Currently we represent eight organizations which offer 60 products. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. We are a non-government entity.
  • Melissa McIsaac Recognized with Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) Designation

    Melissa McIsaac Recognized with Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) Designation

    Georgetown Lawley Group, a financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce Melissa McIsaac, Compliance Coordinator, has attained comprehensive applied knowledge in essential financial planning as a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®).

    The ChFC® designation, conferred by The American College of Financial Services, is an industry-recognized mark of excellence that demonstrates a financial advisor’s breadth and depth of knowledge in the most important areas of financial planning. This includes an education in a number of areas such as insurance, taxation, retirement, estate planning, behavioral finance, non-traditional family structures, small business planning, and more.

    “I believe education is not something you complete, but something that is ongoing. There is always new material to learn, and this industry is certainly no exception. I hope to continue being the best I can for my clients by utilizing what I have learned in the past, while looking forward to new education opportunities in the future. This designation is a testament to that belief,” says McIsaac.

    Within today’s complex financial markets and even more complex familial and individual situations, Americans need comprehensive financial advice applicable to their needs. With the ChFC®, McIsaac has proven a commitment to meeting the needs of all Americans and joins an elite group of financial advisors qualified to assist clients in developing comprehensive financial plans that are suited to their financial and personal needs.

     “Georgetown Lawley is extremely proud of Melissa and all of her accomplishments. This certification is a testament to her dedication to her clients.  She has been with the firm for over 24 years and continues to be a valuable asset to both the firm and her clients throughout her tenure,” says Joseph V. Curatolo, President of Georgetown Lawley Group, LLC.

    A ChFC® has partnered with The American College of Financial Services, an accredited institution committed to meeting the financial needs of all Americans. The College is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals and has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs.

    ABOUT GEORGETOWN LAWLEY

    Georgetown Lawley is a comprehensive financial services firm committed to helping our clients improve their long-term financial success. Our customized programs are designed to help grow and conserve our clients’ wealth as we strive to deliver an unprecedented level of personalized service. The firm, Georgetown Capital, was founded by Joseph V. Curatolo in 1987 to give investors independent financial advice, not part of a national chain-store brokerage firm that often gives cookie cutter recommendations to fulfill their corporate agenda. Georgetown Capital partnered with Lawley in 2022, forming the new division, Georgetown Lawley Group.

    Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

  • Kim Navagh Ranks on 2024 BBF Power 200 Women List

    Kim Navagh Ranks on 2024 BBF Power 200 Women List

    Congratulations Kim!

    We are proud to share that Kim Navagh, Director of People Strategy and Recruitment, has once again ranked on the Buffalo Business First  Power 200 Women List.

    Kim became Lawley’s first recruiter in 2013 and is skilled in human resource management. She oversees all areas of recruitment, compliance, learning and development, and performance management.

    Kim brings 20+ years of expertise and is a member of the Western New York National Human Resource Association, the Buffalo Niagara Human Resource Association, and the Society for Human Resource Management.

    We are so grateful for Kim’s expertise for over 10+ years with the agency.

    The full list of the 2024 BBF Power 200 Women can be found here.

  • Lawley Adds Four Employee Business Sales Consultants to Expand Employee Benefits Division

    Lawley Adds Four Employee Business Sales Consultants to Expand Employee Benefits Division

    Buffalo, NY, (May 13th, 2024) | Lawley, an independent family-owned insurance and employee benefits firm, continues to expand their employee benefits division. By recently adding four Employee Business Sales Consultants, Lawley continues to foster business relationships and help companies manage one of their largest expenses – medical insurance.

    Serving as liaisons between clients and carriers and working to provide the best customized plan options, Lawley welcomes Charlie Burt, Jen Desmond, Jeff Morgan, and Kalene Pencek as Employee Business Sales Consultants. These additions aid in several growth initiatives across the agency.

    Burt specializes in group health insurance, dental insurance, medical plans, and benefits technology. He brings expertise from roles in payroll and human resources technology from ADP and Paylocity. Burt is a Qualified Employee Benefits Specialist (QEBS), and earned a bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart University. He looks to expand Lawley’s employee benefit offerings across Connecticut, where Lawley recently acquired 4 offices with its partnership with the Shoff Darby Agency in October 2023.

    Desmond holds 15+ years of experience and will serve as a trusted advisor to companies in southern-tier communities of Buffalo, NY. Prior to Lawley, Desmond was a director of operations at Top Gun Staffing Inc., a sales and recruiting manager at Kelly Services, and held roles in pharmaceutical sales. Desmond earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo, is a part of the Chautauqua Leadership Network, and supports the Child Advocacy Program of Chautauqua County.

    Bringing business development expertise from M&T Bank and ACV Auctions, Morgan will provide comprehensive solutions and strategic initiatives to enhance employee benefits programs for WNY’s small business segment. He is versed in benefits administration solutions, like Lawley Marketplace, which is exclusively designed for employers with 25-99 employees. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hilbert College.

    With 20+ years of experience, Pencek specializes in employee benefits, sales, and customer service. Prior to Lawley, Pencek held business-to-business roles at Verizon Wireless and several pharmaceutical sales positions. Pencek also serves as the business development and marketing manager of Sperduti Fitness. Pencek earned a bachelor’s degree from Medaille University, was recognized as WNY Finest Young Professional Rising Star Honoree through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and serves as the 1st Vice President of AMVETS 897 Ladies Auxiliary.

     With 15+ locations and continued growth efforts across the footprint, Lawley has protected assets and minimized risk to help their customers avoid financial hardship. Lawley provides more than 50 specialized services, including business insurance, home and auto insurance, Medicare insurance coverage, retirement, wealth management, and employee benefits administration.

     “We are proud to continue to add skilled individuals to our employee benefits division to provide the best employee benefits for our clients and their employees,” says Chuck Allesi, partner of Lawley.

  • Asthma: Managing Your Condition

    Asthma: Managing Your Condition

    Asthma is a serious and occasionally fatal disease. However, with a careful diagnosis, expert medical treatment and responsible self-care, most people with asthma lead normal, healthy lives.

    Causes

    It is not exactly clear what causes asthma. Those who seem more at risk of developing the condition include individuals with a family history of asthma or allergies or those who were exposed to tobacco smoke, infections and certain allergens early in life.

    Symptoms

    Common asthma symptoms include the following:

    • Coughing that is often worse at night or early in the morning
    • Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when breathing)
    • Chest tightness
    • Shortness of breath
    • Faster or noisy breathing
    • Trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning

    Attacks

    Many factors can lead to an asthma attack. Some people may only have an attack if a combination of triggers is present. Asthma triggers are essentially anything that makes symptoms appear or worsen, such as:

    • Allergens—Animal dander (from skin, hair or feathers), dust mites (contained in house dust), cockroaches, pollen from trees and grass, and mold (both indoor and outdoor)
    • Irritants—Cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold air or changes in weather, strong odors from painting or cooking, scented products, strong emotional expression (including crying or laughing hard), stress and exercise
    • Other triggers—Medicines such as aspirin and beta-blockers; sulfites in food or beverages; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that causes heartburn and can worsen asthma symptoms; infections; and irritants or allergens that one may be exposed to at work, such as special chemicals or dusts

    Treatment

    Treatments for asthma include:

    • Self-management—Make plans for controlling asthma daily and an emergency action plan for stopping attacks.
    • Avoiding triggers—Remove dust-catchers from the bedroom and keep humidity levels in your home low. Consider using an air filter in the bedroom. Do not smoke cigarettes or spend time in environments where others are smoking and try changing your workouts to put less stress on your breathing.
    • Medication—Use preventive (long-term control) and rescue (quick-relief) asthma medications; sometimes allergy medications and shots are recommended as well.

    Prognosis

    There is no cure for asthma, but with proper treatment:

      • Your asthma can be controlled.
      • You will have fewer attacks.
      • You should not need to use quick-relief medicines as often.
      • You should be able to do normal activities without having symptoms.
  • The Difference Between Mental Health & Mental Illness

    The Difference Between Mental Health & Mental Illness

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national campaign designed to raise awareness about mental health issues and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Mental health issues and mental illness are common. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 60 million U.S. adults lived with mental illness in 2021.

    Your mental health is as important to your overall well-being as your physical health, but it’s often overlooked. Similarly, mental illness often goes untreated or undiscussed. According to Mental Health America, over half of adults with mental illness don’t receive treatment.

    Although mental health and mental illness are related, they aren’t the same. Mental illness can contribute to poor mental health and vice versa, but it’s possible to have poor mental health without a diagnosable mental illness just as it’s possible to have good mental health with a mental illness. This article explains the difference between mental health and mental illness.

    Understanding Mental Health

    Mental health describes your psychological state of well-being. This includes how you feel, think and interact with others. But your mental health doesn’t just impact your mood and cognition; it also affects your physical health. Poor mental health can cause digestive issues, headaches, insomnia, fatigue and other physical symptoms.

    Everybody has mental health, just like everyone has physical health. Your mental health can change over time and may be influenced by numerous factors, including:

    • Stress
    • Burnout
    • Grief
    • Physical or mental fatigue
    • Financial hardship
    • Physical health

    Although mental health may look different for everyone, it’s often measured by one’s ability to:

    • Cope with stress, change, and adversity
    • Maintain healthy relationships
    • Participate in productive activities (e.g., school and work)

    Poor mental health can develop into mental illness if symptoms are unmanaged. This can cause distress and the inability to function in everyday activities.

    Improving Mental Health

    Just like physical health, mental health can be improved with positive lifestyle choices. The following are ways to better your mental health and improve your overall well-being:

    • Practice relaxation exercises, such as meditation, journaling, and listening to music.
    • Make time for people who uplift you.
    • Take part in meaningful activities, such as volunteering or joining a recreational sports club.
    • Spend time outdoors.
    • Take care of your body by exercising, eating well, and getting adequate sleep.

    Speak to a professional if you need someone to talk to. Even if you feel fine, they can help you proactively manage your mental health. 

    Understanding Mental Illness

    A mental illness is a diagnosable health condition that changes the way you think, feel or act. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental illness is one of the most commonly diagnosed health conditions in the United States, affecting 1 in 5 Americans every year. Even if you don’t have a mental illness, they could affect the people around you, including your friends, family, and co-workers.

    Similar to physical health conditions, mental illness can take many forms and range in severity. Examples of common mental illnesses include:

    • Depression disorder
    • Anxiety disorder
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
    • Substance use disorder
    • Bipolar disorder
    • Schizophrenia disorder

    Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or background. The following factors may increase the risk of developing a mental illness in your lifetime:

    • Genetics
    • Alcohol or drug use
    • Trauma or abuse
    • Other chronic medical conditions (e.g., cystic fibrosis or cancer)
    • Loneliness

    Managing Mental Illness

    Mental illness is treatable and can be alleviated. Depending on your condition, successfully managing a mental illness may include a combination of healthy lifestyle choices and professional treatment.

    Here are some ways mental illness may be treated:

    • Talk therapy
    • Medication
    • Support groups
    • Exercise
    • Healthy lifestyle choices (e.g., eating and sleeping well)

    You don’t have to suffer with a mental illness alone. Seek professional support immediately if you’re struggling with a mental illness. You can also check with your employer for more information on available resources, such as an employee assistance program.

    Conclusion

    Everyone can take steps to better their mental health, but some mental illness is unpreventable. Understanding the difference between mental health and mental illness is crucial to ensure you get the proper support for your needs.

    For further mental health assistance, contact Lawley today.

  • Running for Good Health

    Running for Good Health

    Hitting the pavement geared up with your running shoes is great for your health and is a very inexpensive way to exercise. Running also fights the aging process, assists in weight loss, alleviates stress, and reduces blood pressure. Plus, it is one of the most effective forms of cardiovascular exercise for burning the most calories in the least amount of time.

    Here are some things to consider when starting your new routine:

    • Determine your baseline fitness level by calculating how long it takes you to run one mile. Then, create a program centered on your baseline and future goals.
    • Purchase running shoes with adequate support to alleviate the potential for injuries.
    • Schedule time in your daily routine to run and keep that schedule finite.
    • Create a log to track your progress. Once you reach pivotal benchmarks, re-evaluate your goals and your game plan.

    The physical benefits of running include:

    • Prevents muscle and bone loss
    • Reduces the risk of stroke and breast cancer
    • Fights the early stages of osteoporosis, diabetes and hypertension
    • Reduces the risk of blood clots
    • Boots the immune system
    • Improves lung capacity and physical endurance overtime

    The mental health benefits of running include:

    • Reduces stress and depression as your brain releases endorphins while you sweat

    Healthy Hints

    Don’t forget to warm up and cool down by walking or jogging slowly for 10 minutes before and after your run to prevent injuries.

  • The Importance of Underground Service Lines Coverage

    The Importance of Underground Service Lines Coverage

    There are a lot of property risks to keep in mind if you’re a homeowner. But have you thought about the ones that might be lurking under your property? As a homeowner, underground service lines that run from your home to the property line are your responsibility to maintain. It’s easy for an incident, or general wear and tear, to eventually result in some unforeseen expenses.

    Underground service lines coverage is typically not included in a standard homeowners policy. Utility companies may offer coverage, but these options can be costly and might only cover one utility line, as opposed to everything running under your property.

    Hold the Line

    Some examples of underground service and utility lines include:

    • Water, sewer and drainage pipes
    • Electric, telephone, internet and cable wires
    • Natural gas lines

    A lot can happen to utility lines underneath your property. A tree root could grow through a water pipe, causing a leak and higher bills until it is repaired. Freezing pipes, damage from animals, an artificial electric current and even just the repeated weight of vehicles pressing down on the ground can all cause thousands of dollars in damage.

    Root Out Your Risk

    Regardless of how the damage may occur, repairs can be costly. Fixing a water lateral is less simple than just repairing the pipe itself. As a homeowner without service line coverage, you may be responsible for expenses related to digging up your driveway, sidewalk or landscaping to reach the line, as well as repairing and replacing everything.

    Contact the Lawley Personal Insurance team today to learn more about home service line coverage.

    © 2019 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved. This Know Your Insurance document is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice.

  • Why Do Producers Want to Join Lawley?

     

     

     

     

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