Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. I X H E A LT H Y B U S I N E S S 18 M EMIC was formed in after the state's sweeping workers' com- pensation law changes of , and pro- vides workers' compensation insurance for , rms representing roughly , employees in the Northeast. Mainebiz recently spoke with him. An edited transcript follows. Mainebiz: What new challenges are there for Maine employers because of recent issues like marijuana legalization and the opioid crisis? Michael Bourque: [ ose issues are] a mine eld for employers, health care providers and insurers. On one hand, you have an expansion in marijuana as a legal drug while there is, quite rightly, a contraction and more stringent regu- lation of prescribed opioids. On the opioid side, it is absolutely the right thing to do. ese drugs are dangerous and have been over-prescribed. With marijuana, there's the contradiction between state and federal laws, with some indication from the administra- tion in Washington that it will not be as permissive as the past administra- tion. at con• ict has been part of the concern within the workers' compen- sation world, where there is an appeal pending at the Maine Supreme Court regarding an order for an employer to reimburse a worker for medical mari- juana, which he indicates is e ective at treating pain from his workplace injury. And we don't have a sense yet of what regulations may be put in place regard- ing recreational marijuana. Mainebiz: Are there other recent workplace safety issues that weren't concerns in the past? MB: I think the issue now is that there is an expectation that there will be greater social acceptance of marijuana use. ese kinds of social issues never stop at the door to the workplace. So, while drug use — and marijuana is the most prevalent — has long been a con- cern in workplaces, the sheer volume of potential users is where we expect to see the di erence. Mainebiz: How does the increased focus on wellness programs in the workplace tie in with workplace safety? MB: Since MEMIC's inception, we recognized costs could not come down without improving safety. at meant changing attitudes and, ultimately, workplace culture. is had an impact far beyond just safety. Positive team environments where employees feel valued improves not just safety, but leads to more innovation, e ciency and productivity. [Valuing employees] can lead to a healthier work environ- ment mentally and physically, and make Maine businesses more competitive. e state's historically low unemploy- ment, means erce competition to attract and retain the best employees, so employers are investing even more in workplace culture, health and safety. [An older, more sedentary workforce] leads to more workplace injuries that result from repetitive motion, or what is known as cumulative trauma. We invest heavily in ergonomics and redesign- ing work spaces to lessen the stress on the body. But ergonomics isn't enough. Healthier employees are less likely to su er injuries; if they do, they recover more quickly and are likely to cost less to treat. In fact, recent research indi- cates that costs for indemnity bene ts for injuries to obese workers is about times the cost of healthy-weight work- ers … If we can help people make more positive choices at work, then they are more likely to make healthier and safer choices at home. Behavior-based safety is where the safety industry is now. is is essentially about in• uencing choices that cause workplace injuries. We jam a miter saw guard because it gets in our way, or we don't wear eye protection. In• uencing behavior and establishing good culture is where the big gains are to be made. Mainebiz: Is there an increase in focus on preventive safety? MB: In Maine there was an absolute change in workplace culture, ushered in by the reforms and MEMIC's work around safety. Since then, the focus on safety, and the performance in safety, has gotten better across the board. Workers' compensation costs continue to fall, with rates down . on April of this year and a decrease of nearly since the reforms. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Michael Bourque, senior vice president for external affairs at MEMIC, says employers are starting to focus more on 'behavior-based' safety. Michael Bourque, senior vice president of external affairs at the Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Co., better known as MEMIC, is busy navigating changes in laws, including those affecting marijuana use, and workplace guidelines. CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE connectivitypoint.com 866-782-0200 Reduce distractions. Increase productivity. Protect privacy. 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