Blog
Ridgemark Insurance Services
As Risks Rise Business Continuity Plans Are Vital
The last five years have seen the rise of new and unforeseen risks, like the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid increase of natural catastrophes and supply chain upheavals of unprecedented proportions. In today’s business climate, the key to success and survival will be...
New Cal/OSHA Rules: No Masks, Distancing for Vaccinated Workers
Last week, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board finally approved changes to the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard that greatly loosen workplace restrictions that were implemented last year to protect California workers. The biggest news in the changes is that workers who...
Cal/OSHA to Vote on Relaxed COVID-19 Standards with No Masks for Vaccinated Workers
After it canceled changes that were planned for its COVID-19 emergency standard last week, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board has introduced new, more relaxed revisions that it will vote on at its June 17 meeting. The Standards Board decided to...
The Risks for Businesses As We Emerge from Pandemic
As the economy starts waking up from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and more companies rehire workers or bring them back to the workplace, businesses will be faced with a number of risks that they may not have had to contend with in the past. That’s the...
In-House Inspections Crucial to a Safe Workplace
When was the last time you or the person responsible for safety walked around your facility, warehouse, office or workplace and did an inspection? Your Injury and Illness Prevention Program states that the owner, supervisor or person with authority and responsibility...
Fudging Workers’ Comp Payroll Records Can Cause Major Problems, Even Jail Time
The owners of a California flooring installation company allegedly underreported their payroll amounts to workers’ compensation insurers to the tune of $30 million, costing the insurance company almost $4 million in premiums. The men are each facing three felony...
Proposed Rules Would Relax Many Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards
California employers will recall that Cal/OSHA last November issued COVID-19 emergency temporary standards that were controversial. Now the agency is looking to implement revisions to the standards to make them less burdensome and more reflective of the current state...
New Changes to X-Mods, Classification Rules for Multiple Location Employers
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has approved a regulatory filing that will change the premium threshold for employers to qualify for an experience modifier (X-Mod). The approval was part of a larger regulatory filing the Workers’ Compensation Rating...
Five Tips for Employing Teen Workers
As summer nears many companies are ramping up hiring of teen workers, and many companies are taking them on as they deal with the labor shortage as the country emerges from the pandemic. Others employ them year round. Taking on a teen worker comes with added...
Recommendation: Workers’ Comp Rates Should Be Raised 2.7%
In an unusual move, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has filed with the Department of Insurance a recommendation that benchmark workers’ comp rates in the state be increased by an average of 2.7%, effective Sept. 1 of this year....