May 24, 2022
Work injuries among school employeesSFM conducted an in-depth study of school employees in Minnesota to learn which employees were most likely to be injured, and how. What they learned might surprise you.
April 18, 2022
Compensability of adverse COVID-19 vaccine reactionsU.S. employers have the right to encourage or require employees to vaccinate against COVID-19. This raises the question of compensability for adverse reactions from the COVID-19 vaccine, and related medical treatment and time lost from work. A key factor for workers’ compensation compensability is whether the vaccination was required by the employer.
February 7, 2022
Resumption of the presumption: Minnesota's COVID-19 presumption lawMinnesota’s workers’ compensation law has been temporarily amended to include a presumption of liability for certain workers with a positive COVID-19 laboratory test or clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 when a test is not available.
January 13, 2022
How hobbies can improve mental health and overall well-beingJust as eating fruits and vegetables can play an important role in physical health, research suggests there may be a similarly simple way to improve mental health – having a hobby.
November 10, 2021
MN Supreme Court rules on medical cannabis in work compRecent MN Supreme Court decisions create a new bright-line rule about the compensability of medical marijuana in workers’ compensation claims.
November 10, 2021
When is PTSD covered by workers’ compensation?For PTSD to be covered by workers’ compensation, it must meet the criteria as described in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and be diagnosed by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
September 15, 2021
Prepare to prevent winter slips and fallsWinter slips and falls are among the most common causes of workplace injuries. As an employer, there’s a great deal you can do to prevent these injuries at your workplace.
September 13, 2021
Artificial intelligence-powered tool helps prevent pain and strainA new artificial intelligence-powered tool helps loss prevention representatives quickly identify any high-risk body positions during a job task.
July 19, 2021
Claim adjusters’ best tips to avoid workers’ comp misstepsSFM’s claims representatives share their top tips for employers when dealing with workers’ compensation claims.
June 16, 2021
Avoid common mistakes when reporting work injuriesFast, accurate injury reporting can reduce frustration for everyone involved. Watch out for these common mistakes.
May 5, 2021
Top blog posts of all timeSFM's most viewed blog posts cover important safety and workers' compensation claims topics.
April 29, 2021
Increasing blue light exposure has a dark sideRelatively short exposure to blue light can temporarily stimulate the brain and improve mood. Prolonged exposure, however, is likely to damage retinal cells over time.
April 29, 2021
Tips to cut down on virtual meeting fatigueA recent study by global staffing firm Robert Half indicates that workers may be suffering from video call fatigue. Among the 1,000 people surveyed, 76% said they participate in virtual meetings and that they spend about one-third of their workday in front of a camera.
April 29, 2021
Subrogation: When third parties bear responsibility for work injuriesWhen one of your employees is injured in the course and scope of employment and a negligent third party bears some responsibility, we can sometimes recover a portion or all of the workers’ compensation claim costs from the responsible party through subrogation.
February 3, 2021
Workers’ compensation waiting periodsWhat workers' compensation waiting periods are, what they mean for bringing employees back to work and how they differ between states.
January 26, 2021
Reporting injuries to OSHA and your workers' comp insurer — what's the difference?You must report all workplace injuries to your workers’ compensation insurer, but in some cases you must also report injuries to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
January 26, 2021
How your workers’ compensation e-mod is calculatedYour e-mod is used to calculate your workers’ compensation premium that’s based on your workers’ compensation claims experience.
January 20, 2021
Four quick tips for safe snow shoveling this winterFollow these four tips to reduce the risk of injuries while shoveling snow, so you can get back inside safely.
January 14, 2021
Easy way to avoid winter falls: Step down, not out.Using the “Step down, not out” method when getting out of a vehicle or stepping off a curb forces you to stand up or step flat footed, eliminating the chances of slipping.
December 29, 2020
Iowa commissioner deems rotator cuff a ‘shoulder’ injuryIowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Joseph Cortese determined that an injury to a muscle in the rotator cuff is considered a shoulder injury for the purpose of determining permanent partial disability benefits.
December 29, 2020
MN Supreme Court addresses workers’ compensation caseThe Minnesota Supreme Court addressed the rights of intervenors in workers’ compensation proceedings in the August 12, 2020, decision of Koehnen v. Flagship Marine Company and Auto Owners Insurance Company.
November 16, 2020
Chemical safety tips for your employeesKeep employees safe by providing them training and personal protective equipment tailored to the specific chemicals they’re using.
November 9, 2020
SFM Foundation featured on KARE 11SFM Foundation was featured on Kare11's "Communities that Kare" segment, showcasing the impact scholarships have made on families.
October 21, 2020
Do you have a plan for investigating work injuries?You hope a work injury doesn’t occur, but if one does, use this four-point accident analysis plan to investigate.
October 7, 2020
The value in reporting minor work injuriesReporting minor injuries helps create a record in case the injury becomes more severe. Incident-only claims won’t affect your premium.
September 8, 2020
Keeping employees safe and engaged while working from homeAmid the frenzied transition for many people to work from home, some important aspects of a healthy workplace may have taken a backseat, such as mental health considerations, communication practices, ergonomic adjustments and general safety preparations.
September 4, 2020
Streamlined phone reporting option availableIn response to feedback from employers and workers, we’re offering a new option when you call the SFM Work Injury Hotline to report injuries.
September 4, 2020
A legal perspective on injuries while working from homeIt can be challenging to determine whether an employee’s injury is considered work related, even in the typical work environment. Working from home can present unique workers’ compensation issues due to the inevitable mix of work-related and personal activities.
July 29, 2020
Ladder safety resourcesFalls from ladders continue to be a top cause of workplace injuries. Remind yourself and your employees about proper ladder safety with resources from SFM.
July 15, 2020
SFM rolls out online portal for injured workersInjured workers covered by SFM now have 24/7 digital access to their claim information through SFM’s website through a new online portal.
