The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has released the annual list of their top 10 most cited violations. The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards in fiscal year 2011 (Oct 1, 2010 through Sept 30, 2011):
The growing threat of identity theft and the high costs associated with a data breach are making contractors increasingly aware of the importance of robust network security and data breach controls, but many contractors do not realize that their vendors’ data security protocols are equally important.
The IRS has issued Notice 2012-9, providing updated and new guidance on the reporting of employer-provided health plan coverage on Forms W-2, as required by the health reform law ("PPACA"). The new notice supersedes the March 2011 Notice 2011-28 (see Client Action Bulletin 11-03) and applies to taxable years beginning in 2012 (i.e., the W-2s employers generally furnish to employees by the end of January 2013).
On December 27, 2011, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published The Hours of Service of Drivers Final Rule, which revises the hours-of-service (HOS) safety requirements for commercial truck drivers.
Earthquakes in my neck of the woods? For many areas these last few days have been a bumpy ride. Many businesses and individuals who never thought of earthquakes now find themselves wondering what does it mean for my business and my family?
The moment an injury occurs, it initiates a sequence of events that can last for weeks or even months. But no matter how prolonged the recovery period, the first 24 hours after an injury are the most crucial. To respond effectively to an incident, the majority of the action items should occur within 24 hours.
As your company has likely experienced, health care costs were expected to rise between 5 and 11 percent in 2011, according to several reputable surveys and research groups.
Several causes were cited, including the slow economic recovery and increased health care utilization; the most notable factor was the cost to implement various health care reform provisions.
Faced with this cost increase and the expectation of continued rising costs, employers shared in these surveys various strategies they were utilizing or considering to control health care costs.
Over the past several years, there has been a dramatic increase in piracy on key shipping routes around the globe. The area that has been most affected, the Gulf of Aden connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, saw more than 100 incidences in the first half of 2010 alone. The continuing aggression has increased concerns for cargo security worldwide, especially for shippers of highly valued cargo like crude oil.
