July News Brief

Do You Have First Aid Covered at Your Workplace?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workplaces that do not have on-site medical professionals and are not located within a reasonable distance of a treatment facility to have “a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid.” (Refer to 29 CFR 1910.151(b)). Non-compliance can result in a $16,000 fine for a first offense and up to $160,000 for repeated violations. The distance to a nearby infirmary, clinic, or hospital is not defined in the standard, but it’s interpreted to mean that external emergency responders should be able to arrive within minutes at high-hazard locations. 

Covered employers are expected to provide first-aid supplies that are easily accessible, suited to the type of work being done, and that comply with ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 minimum requirements for first-aid kits. Industries with remote operations that are subject to additional requirements include construction, logging, electric power generation, and maritime operations. Facilities with chemicals and similar splash hazards must have eyewash stations or emergency showers as specified in 29 CFR 1910.151(c). 

Commonly used first-aid training sources include the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council, and qualified local training facilities. WorkCare’s on-site providers are trained to comply with OSHA first-aid and HAZWOPER standards. 

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TREND WATCH

Workers’ Comp Claims: Fewer Injuries, Higher Costs

In its 2025 Injury Impact Report, Travelers, a leading workers’ compensation insurer, reports that work-related injury claim rates have decreased over the past 10 years while related medical costs have continued to climb. The findings are based on an analysis of more than 2.6 million claims. Key findings include the following: 

• Construction industry: Workers’ comp claim costs were nearly twice as high as the all-industries average. Common causes of claims ($250,000+) included slips, trips, and falls, overexertion, being struck by or caught between objects, and vehicle accidents. 
• First-year employees: Employee turnover during and after the COVID-19 pandemic created a steady stream of new employees, a population that accounted for approximately 36% of injuries and 34% of overall claim costs over the past five years. 
• Aging population: Employees older than 50 were injured less frequently than their younger counterparts, but when injured they required more extensive medical care and took longer to recover. During the past five years, older employees comprised 41% of the injured employee population, a 39% increase when compared to the 2015-2019 study period. 
• Lost time: From 2020-2024, employees missed an average of 80 workdays per injury – an increase of more than seven days when compared with the previous five-year period. Injured employees aged 60+ were out of work due to injuries for an average of 97 days, 17 more days than the overall average and an increase of 14 days compared to pre-pandemic years. 

WorkCare has on-site and virtual solutions to help employers prevent work-related injuries, reduce workers’ compensation claim rates, and facilitate safe return to work after an incident. Learn more. 

AI Use at Work Rapidly Escalating in Certain Industries

In the past two years, the percentage of U.S. employees who say they have used artificial intelligence (AI) at work has increased from 21% to 40%, according to Gallup surveys. Vulnerabilities for employers identified by Gallup include: 

• Lack of workplace policies and guidance  
• Unclear use case or value proposition  
• Effects of AI use on customer interactions 

Industries with the highest percentage of frequent AI users included technology (50%), professional services (34%), and finance (32%). By comparison, 9% of production and front-line workers used AI in the past year. Despite the increase in use, only 15% of survey respondents agreed it was “very or somewhat likely” that automation, robots, or AI would eliminate their job within the next five years, although employees in some industries — such as technology, retail, and finance — felt more vulnerable.  

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REGULATORY UPDATES

Opinion Letter Program Launched

The U.S. Labor Department has launched an opinion letter program to provide official written interpretations of certain labor laws in response to requests from employers, workers, attorneys, and other parties. The program applies to OSHA, which already issues “letters of interpretation.” The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) provides compliance assistance resources through its new information hub. Other affected agencies include the: 

• Veterans’ Employment and Training Service    
• Wage and Hour Division  
• Employee Benefits Security Administration 

OSHA Updates Targeted Inspection Program

OSHA has updated its Site-Specific Targeting Program, which applies to non-construction workplaces with high rates of injuries and illnesses as identified by OSHA Form 300A data from calendar years 2021-2023. Worksites with more than 20 employees may be selected for inspections based on the following criteria: 

• High injury and illness rates from 2023 data 
• Upwardly trending injury and illness rates  
• Injury and illness rates well below industry averages 
• Failure to submit an OSHA Form 300A in 2023 

OSHA also uses voluntary national and local emphasis programs to assist high-risk industries with compliance. WorkCare provides compliance assistance to employers in all types of industries.

OSHA Renews 5-Year Program to Prevent Amputations in Manufacturing

OSHA has renewed a national emphasis program for the next five years to help prevent amputations in manufacturing facilities. The agency will use NAICs codes to identify high-risk workplaces and conduct inspections to help ensure compliance with safety practices while operating, servicing, or maintaining machines. Companies that passed an inspection within the past two years and did not have any amputations will not be included. 

Silica Rule Pause Ends in August

In April 2025, the MSHA temporarily paused enforcement of its new silica rule – Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection – for 60 days. It is scheduled to take effect for coal mine operations on Aug. 18, 2025. The enforcement pause was adopted to provide time for mine operators to obtain protective equipment and help accredited laboratories gain proficiency in mining-related analytical methods. A compliance date of April 8, 2026, for metal and non-metal mines remains in effect.  

FMCSA Adopts Medical Certification Rule

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has adopted a long-awaited Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule that is intended to enhance data accuracy, improve safety, increase enforcement efficiency, and reduce fraud. The rule mandates that certified medical examiners use specific electronic forms to document physical qualification examinations and issue medical certificates to qualified commercial motor vehicle drivers. Medical examiners must electronically submit results to the FMCSA’s National Registry by midnight (local time) of the next calendar day following the examination. WorkCare provides access to a national network of providers who are certified to perform DOT exams and submit reports, and we employ occupational physicians who are qualified to review exam findings that require clarification.  

Heat Standard Hearings Latest Step Toward Enactment

Public hearings on a proposed standard – OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings – were held June 16-July 2, 2025, as part of the agency’s fact-finding efforts. Adoption of a final rule is pending. If adopted, a phase‑in period would be allowed to give covered employers time to comply. Heat exposure can have serious health effects, including confusion, stroke, unconsciousness, and death. 

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WORKCARE COMPANY NEWS

WorkCare Names Aaron Atkinson as Chief Executive Officer

We’re excited to announce the appointment of Aaron Atkinson as WorkCare’s new CEO. Read the Press Release.

Dr. Greaney Releases New Book: My Harley—A Roadmap to Better Health

WorkCare’s founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Peter Greaney, has just released his latest book: My Harley: Drive Your Own Health Outcomes. The book introduces readers to the My Harley healthcare app—a tool designed to put individuals in the driver’s seat of their own health journey. Backed by medical insight and decades of clinical experience, Dr. Greaney explains how the app delivers personalized, physician-level knowledge to help users make informed decisions based on their unique health profile. Now available on Amazon.

CHR.com is now WorkCare.com

As we complete the integration of CHR into WorkCare, the CHR.com website has officially transitioned to WorkCare.com. Clients can now access the Health Examination Scheduling System by visiting the Customers > Schedule Exam section on the WorkCare site.

New WorkCare Corporate Headquarters in Orange, California

WorkCare’s main office has relocated from Anaheim to Orange, CA as of July 1, 2025. As our team grows and evolves with more remote flexibility, this move allows us to right-size our space while continuing to provide the high-quality service our clients rely on.