12 WESTERN PALLET
Risk Insights
4 Key Workers' Comp Insurance Trends to Watch for 2025
with Brint Walker
Workers' compensation insurance is crucial for wooden pallet manufacturers. Your industry involves physically demanding jobs, heavy machinery, and fast-paced work environments, which can lead to workplace injuries. As we move into 2025, changes in technology and insurance practices are reshaping how businesses like yours handle workers' comp. Here are four trends every pallet manufacturer should pay attention to.
1. Telehealth Is Changing How Claims Are Handled
Telehealth is becoming an essential part of workers' comp. Instead of needing to visit a doctor in person, injured workers can use video calls for medical consultations and follow-ups.
For wooden pallet manufacturers, this is especially useful:
- Faster Care: Injured workers can quickly get medical advice, even in rural areas where access to healthcare may be limited.
- Lower Costs: Virtual care tends to be less expensive than in-person visits, saving your business money.
- Better Recovery: Quick treatment means employees are more likely to heal faster and return to work sooner.
Expect more insurance companies to include telehealth options in their workers' comp plans, helping you manage claims more efficiently.
Smart gear, like helmets or gloves, can monitor workers’ movements and alert them to potential risks, such as heavy machinery getting too close.
2. AI Is Improving Risk Assessment and Claims
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing workers' comp processes. For pallet manufacturers, AI can make your workplace safer and reduce insurance costs. Here’s how:
-Spot Risks Early: AI can analyze your operations – like machine use or repetitive tasks – to identify accident hotspots and suggest fixes.
- Streamline Claims: AI speeds up paperwork and claims approvals, so injured workers can get their benefits without delays.
By embracing AI tools, you can better understand potential risks in your plant and take steps to avoid them. This not only protects your workers but can also lower your insurance premiums.
3. Customizable Insurance Plans
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all
insurance. In 2025, pallet manufacturers will benefit from more flexible workers' comp options. Policies can now be tailored to:
Specific tasks, such as operating forklifts, handling nail guns, or stacking heavy pallets.
Risks unique to your operations, like repetitive strain injuries or machine-related hazards.
Company-specific claims analysis showing claims trends and areas where most claims occur.
4. Safety Tech Is Reducing Injuries.
Preventing accidents is one of the best ways to save on workers' comp, and new technology is making it easier to do just that. For wooden pallet manufacturers, safety tech is becoming a game-changer. Tools to consider include:
Wearable Devices: Smart gear, like helmets or gloves, can monitor workers’ movements and alert them to potential risks, such as heavy machinery getting too close.
IoT Sensors: Sensors can track workplace conditions like air quality in sawdust-heavy areas or vibrations in machinery that might signal a problem.
VR Training: Virtual reality lets employees practice handling machinery or responding to emergencies in a safe, controlled environment.
These tools not only help protect your team but also demonstrate your commitment to safety, which can lead to lower insurance rates.
For wooden pallet manufacturers, workers' comp insurance is evolving to meet the needs of your unique and challenging industry. Telehealth, AI, customizable plans, and cutting-edge safety tools are making it easier to protect your employees and reduce costs. By staying informed about these trends, you can create a safer workplace and ensure your business is prepared for the future. With the right strategies, you can keep your workers safe, your operations running smoothly, and your insurance expenses in check.
Brint Walker, CLU, ChFC
805-427-5720
Acrisure Insurance
Brint Walker,
Contributing
Writer
January 2025