Ep 153: Work Comp Claim Length | How Employers Can Improve Post-Incident Process
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Release Date: 04/15/2025
Ep. 167: Wearable Safety Tech | How Smart Devices Cut Work Comp Claims by 90%
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Wearable safety technology helps businesses identify workplace hazards before they cause injuries. Tom West of MākuSafe explains how data-driven safety approaches reduce work comp costs, improve productivity, and cut safety incidents by 50-90%.
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Ep. 166: Ask the Right Questions | School Safety Starts with "Why"
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
From slips and falls to emergency preparedness, schools face diverse safety challenges. Zac Rantz, Nixa Public Schools Chief Communications Officer, shares his people-first approach to preventing workplace injuries. By asking the right questions, creating sustainable systems, and addressing the root causes behind unsafe behaviors, administrators can build a collaborative safety culture that protects everyone on campus.
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Ep. 165: Careers in Safety and Risk | Making an Impact and Saving Lives
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Considering a career in safety? Brandon Jones, MEM Director of Safety and Risk Services, shares insights from his 35-year career helping businesses create safer workplaces. Discover why communication skills matter as much as technical knowledge, how technology is changing the field, and why this profession offers meaningful opportunities to impact people’s lives.
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Ep. 164: Complex Workers Compensation Claims | High Risk, High Dollar
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
When workplace injuries become complex, high-dollar work comp claims, the financial impact extends far beyond immediate medical costs. MEM’s claims experts Shannon Fox and Lyndi Barthel share strategies for recognizing warning signs, managing costs, and successfully navigating the most challenging claims.
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Ep. 163: Working Near Roads | Safety Essentials to Reduce Roadside Risk
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Work zone deaths are on the rise, affecting construction crews and everyday drivers. MoDOT’s Jon Nelson shares critical safety practices, including training, risk assessment, communication systems, and accountability measures that can prevent work zone incidents and save lives.
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Ep. 162: Practical Home Safety Tips | Bringing Work Habits Home
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Safety habits don't clock out when you do. The same hazards that cause workplace injuries occur just as frequently at home. MEM Safety and Risk Services Regional Manager Sheila Schmidt shares how to apply workplace safety principles at home, build a family safety culture, and create consistent awareness that protects you everywhere.
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Ep. 161: Second Opinions in Work Comp | How They Work and When to Seek One
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
When treatment isn't progressing or complications arise in workers' compensation claims, second medical opinions can provide crucial clarity. MEM Claims Operations Manager Shannon Fox shares the warning signs that signal when a second opinion is needed, how state laws affect the process, and how employers can navigate these situations effectively to support your injured worker's recovery.
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Ep. 160: How Payroll Impacts Your Workers Compensation Coverage | Avoiding Common Mistakes
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Most business owners know that payroll affects their work comp premium. Did you know it also determines who's covered if an injury happens? From naming the wrong business entity to classifying subcontractors, payroll mistakes can create coverage gaps and surprises at audit time. MEM Underwriting Specialist Tammy Canton shares how to protect your business with accurate reporting and proactive communication.
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Ep. 159: Industrial Hygiene | Your Guide to Hidden Workplace Hazards
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
Workplace hazards like noise, chemicals, and poor air quality often go unnoticed until employees develop serious symptoms. These invisible risks can lead to permanent health conditions and costly work comp claims. Industrial hygiene specialist Rhonda Kaufman explains how to identify hidden workplace hazards, address them cost-effectively, and protect your most valuable asset – your employees – before they suffer permanent health issues.
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Ep. 158: Frequency vs. Severity | The Impact of Claims Big and Small
The WorkSAFE Podcast | Workplace Safety Strategies
In the world of workers compensation, loss runs affect a business's risk evaluation. Underwriters look carefully at a company's claim history. This process gives them an understanding of how frequently claims are happening, how severe they are, and if a business is putting effort into reducing workplace risk. Learn the differing impact of claim frequency versus claim severity on a business' s risk evaluation with Becky Duello, Senior Underwriter at MEM.
info_outlineA claim that lingers for months—or even years—can create uncertainty, increase costs, and impact both the injured worker and the business. Several factors can keep a claim open longer than expected, such as medical complications or legal roadblocks. Learn why claims are often delayed, and what employers can do to help keep the process moving, with Shannon Fox, Claims Operations Manager at MEM.