By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

One of the distinct advantages to having your Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage with Manufacturing Technology Mutual Insurance Company is our collective years of experience. As you are aware, we are celebrating our 40th year in this industry. The Claims Department has more than 100 years of experience in adjusting workers’ compensation claims. And just about when we think we have seen everything, and we have seen A LOT, an incident will occur that may surprise even us. Our experience and longevity provide us with certain insights a novice in this business will not have. We also have extensive experience, based on our longevity, in the tooling industry which is not something other insurers can claim. One may think a back injury is simply a “back injury”. But there would be a world of difference in processing the back injury claim of a machinist as opposed to a school teacher.

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By Patty Allen, Sales & Marketing Assistant

The Department of Labor revised the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Employee Polygraph Protection ACT (EPPA) effective August 1st.

Those revisions were mailed out to each of our companies to post over your existing Federal Labor Law Poster. New Michigan and Federal Labor Law posters will be reprinted in December to include all 2016 updates.

If for some reason you did not receive your updated postings; please contact Patty Allen @ 248-715-0013 or patricia.allen@mtmic.com/blog to request additional copies.

During the year, I write you each month with owner dividend updates, MTMIC financial updates, how individual company experience modifications work, etc. Only rarely do I write and update you on you, our member owners. So that is my topic for this month.

Last February we celebrated the 40 year anniversary of MTMIC and the Tooling Trust Fund. The success of MTMIC is mostly because of our members and the member Board of Directors. I am a numbers guy, so let me share what the MTMIC members has accomplished.

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MIOSHA has reported 9 fatalities that have occurred in 2016 so far, 7 of them were from a “fall”. That would equate to approximately one fatality per month. I know we are a good sized state, but I think that is a high number, particularly in this day and age when we are so much more aware, informed and safety conscious.

MIOSHA reported 29 fatalities for the year 2015. That would equate to more than two per month. In looking at the statistics provided by MIOSHA, age does not appear to be a factor, nor does industry. Of the 29 cases reported, 7 cases involved the employee being “struck by” something, 11 cases involved the employee being “crushed” by something, 6 cases involved the employee “falling” and 3 cases involved inhalation and/or burns.

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By Chris Demeter, Senior Loss Control Consultant

Have you ever experienced an eye injury at work or maybe at home while using that new weed whacker? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that every day about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment. Using the right eye protection can lessen the severity or even prevent many of these eye injuries.

Chemicals or foreign objects in the eye and cuts or scrapes on the cornea are common eye injuries that occur at work and even at home. Other common eye injuries come from splashes with grease and oil, burns from steam, ultraviolet or infrared radiation exposure, and flying wood or metal chips.

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By Glenda Moyle, Premium Accounting Manager

Recently I have been contacted regarding our payroll auditors. I am pleased to say that like the stability of the rest of MTMIC services, our auditors have been the same for over 20 years. Our auditors are from The Aprise Group. We recently have been notified by some of our members that there is a company called “CCS” that has been contacting our members concerning WC payroll audits. This company is NOT related to MTMIC or The Aprise Group. Of course, please call me with any questions.

By Megan Brown, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Effective July 1st, all MTMIC customers will have the ability to submit the required Form 100 through the customer portal. Once all of the fields are completed and the submit button is clicked, the Claims Department receives an email notification that a claim has been submitted. Medical documentation, notes and bills will still need to be submitted as they are currently (via fax, email or mail). We anticipate that MTMIC will have the functionality in place to accept all associated claim paperwork through the portal by the beginning of Fall. If you are interested in submitting the Form 100 through the Portal or have questions, contact Patty Allen at patricia.allen@mtmic.com/blog or (248) 488-1172, ext 1010.

Independent Rating Organizations Looking at Insurance Companies

In the insurance industry there are four well known outside independent rating organizations. These four organizations are: A.M. Best, Demotech, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch. A.M. Best has been around over 100 years, Demotech 30 years, and Standard and Poor’s and Fitch are commonly known for rating bonds rather than insurance companies. A.M. Best is known mostly for its rating of large, national-type companies while Demotech is known as a technical actuarial-driven rating model with a focus on mid-size and small insurance companies.

Independent rating organizations exist because insurance buyers want assurance from an outside agency that their insurance company has the financial wherewithal to pay claims that might take years to payout. After all, members pay premium with the promise that their insurance company will pay for losses in the future. If the insurance company does not keep the financial reserves it needs, then its ability to pay future claims could be hampered.

MTMIC is rated by Demotech. Each quarter we send them our financial information for their review. Each year, MTMIC Management meets in person with the Demotech analysts for a presentation and Q&A. This meeting was 1 held in early June and Management updated the Demotech analysts on current claims status, workload, loss control focus, and other operational areas.

When Demotech first rated MTMIC, based on our financial condition and claims practices, we received an A rating with the description of “exceptional”. About a week after our June meeting with Demotech, we received a notice that our financial rating was being raised from A, exceptional to A’, unsurpassed. Here is their notice:

“Thank you for the supplemental information provided. This was beneficial in our review and evaluation. Based on our review of the company’s current and recent financial performance, as well as the supplemental information provided, Demotech has assigned a 2016 preliminary financial stability rating of A Prime, unsurpassed. The company has made significant progress leading to the consideration for this rating upgrade. Please note that A Prime, unsurpassed, rating carries a higher standard of financial performance including, but not limited to, consistently reporting positive underwriting and operating results, surplus growth, favorable loss reserve development, liquidity, leverage, RBC, and other financial measures on a future quarterly and annual financial statements.”

This is great news for MTMIC and its members. It shows that the company that you own is in excellent financial condition and that Management has handled their fiduciary responsibilities well. Also know that this upgrade came at a time where dividends of $6 million were paid to members. It is always harder to pay members a dividend and at the same time make sure that the finances of the company provide the stability and growth that is necessary for a financial upgrade. My congratulations to the Management team and the Board of Directors for their strong stewardship that made this financial upgrade possible.

For anyone that would like additional information about this, please do not hesitate to call me. A few of our member companies are involved in the independent rating agency pretty deeply because the jobs they get for on-site work sometimes requires them to show their insurance company independent rating organization detail. We’re happy to help through that process if the need arises.

Until next month, we will celebrate the great news, but also know that this rating was a grade in time and that continued focus is required to keep this new rating. More updates on this and our members dividend program as the year progresses.

Janine Davis and Brianna Egbert will be two of our featured speakers at the October 19th Annual Meeting and will discuss ‘The Benefits of Nurse Case Management in the Workplace: From the Form 100 to a Full Medical Release.’

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By Travis Halsted, Loss Control Consultant

A vast majority of facilities that I visit each year have a welding operation present. Whether it be a large welding area with a plethora of welding cells or a smaller one table welding work station, there are a great deal of potential hazards present whenever welding operations are being completed. This is evident by the $119,803 MTMIC has spent on claims since 2009 that were traced back to welding operations. Of the 82 injuries reported, the injuries range from burns, strains, foreign bodies, inflammation, lacerations, and punctures. As there are a great deal of factors that go into these injuries, one particular item can often be found to be a root cause. In many cases, the lack of proper personal protective equipment was found to play a large role.

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How Does Your Loss Experience Compare?

I am often asked this question by our shop owners, plant manager, or CFO. Some of the shop owners/managers have an inkling of whether they’re better than average, average, or have loss challenges. However, their specific knowledge of other shops is usually vague at best.

I often start my response to this type of question with information on how general insurance industry and MTMIC losses overall are trending. I then move to individual company experience modifications as a specific company indicator. I state, IN GENERAL, an experience mod above 1.00 says your experience is worse than average. IN GENERAL, an experience modification below 1.00 tells me that your experience is better than average. I say IN GENERAL because an experience modification that is above 1.00 because of one loss is different in my mind than an experience mod above 1.00 caused by multiple losses year after year.

An experience mod of 1.00 is meant to be the guidepost of what losses are expected to be given a company’s payroll and classification. So, losses above that expected amount will cause a mod above 1.00 and if your losses are better than what was expected, then the experience mod will be below 1.00. For comparisons purposes, experience modifications we have at MTMIC range from a low of .57 to a high of $3.09. That is, a firm with a $2 rate and an experience mod of .57, their effective workers compensation rate is 1.14. For the shop with an experience modification of $3.09 is, their effective workers compensation rate is $6.18. A significant difference for these shop’s overhead costs.

Sometimes global numbers are helpful, so we took a looked at the track of the experience mods in 2016 compared to 2015. In 2016, 51% of experience mods have decreased. That is, the customer’s loss experience is improving. 26% of 2016 experience modifications are the same and 23% have increased (i.e. member experience has deteriorated).

As you know, we have three field loss control representatives. They are assigned about 270 accounts each. That allows them to spend significant time helping MTMIC members get the best loss control results. I, again, am volunteering them to help you any way we can to reduce your loss frequency. A reduced loss frequency is good for your employees, good for your shop and its costs of workers comp, and also good for MTMIC.

Call me anytime I can help you.

The last two months the staff has been working hard to get the MTMIC member dividends calculated and distributed. We are now nearing the end of that process for this year and as usual, it was great fun delivering checks to our member-owners. A few more pictures of the member delivery process are in this Newsletter. While the member dividend is clearly one of the most important benefits of being an MTMIC member, there are several others. Two of the most important are small case load for focused claims handling and hands on Loss Control Services. Both of those functions are helpful in achieving company results that allow for reduced premium and member dividends.

Today let me tell you about the MTMIC Loss Control services. Many of you probably know much about MTMIC Loss Control because you have a close relationship with your Loss Control Consultant. However, some operating details may be helpful. Consistent staffing and messaging give more predictable insurance results. Regarding staffing, the average MTMIC staff member has been with the company for 18 years. In 2016 we have had NO employee turnover. In 2015 there was NO employee turnover; the same in 2014. In 2013 we had a new hire and it was me. Gary Wood retired and I was hired by the Board of Directors in August, 2013. I remain the shortest tenured employee of the MTMIC staff. I should note that the MTMIC staff remind me of this on a regular basis.

The MTMIC Loss Control staff includes three veteran technicians with varying backgrounds and experience. One is the daughter of a physician, who grew up with a medical and mechanical emphasis, and two come actually from insured members shops overseeing shop safety. They have worked and know shop operations very well. The second strength of our Loss Control department is the focus that the Board of Directors give to this function. After all, if we want to pay member dividends, controlling losses is an integral part of making that happen. In a standard Michigan insurance company, it would be normal for one Loss Control representative to have in the vicinity of 3,000 members to take care of. The MTMIC approach is significantly different. We have one field Loss Control Consultant for every 270 members. Or said another way, each MTMIC Loss Control Consultant could visit all of their assigned accounts by visiting one a day. At the beginning of every year we review loss trends for MTMIC, individual accounts and then determine how many visits we think would be helpful for each member.

Another difference with the large insurance company approach, is that loss control is most often done by webinars, mass mailings, and newsletters. We think that our small, mid-sized shops need more than that. They need someone who will give them the onsite advice and be a sounding board and resource for issues at their shop. Those issues could be the recent accident, employee concern or MISOHA issues. The MTMIC Loss Control Consultant does not think of themselves as an outside advisor but rather an important component to our members shop operation. Just as you do, our/your Loss Control Consultant take their individual shop member responsibilities very seriously. Before closing, any time you see an MTMIC Loss Control Consultant please know that they are three of the states finest. The Loss Control Manager is Ruth Kiefer, and our two Loss Control Consultants are Chris Demeter and Travis Halsted. Until next time, have a safe and productive spring.

More 2016 Dividend Recipients

By Donna Motley, Vice President of Claims

The basic premise of Workers’ Compensation is simple – if an employee sustains an injury at work, medical treatment and when applicable, wage loss benefits, are paid. In exchange for that benefit, the injured worker gives up the right to “sue” the employer. Following are some facts you may not know:

Michigan is a “no fault” state. Translated, that means it does not matter whether or not an employee followed proper procedures, took a short cut or made an unwise decision – they would still be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits. However, if an employee had been trained and did not follow proper procedures, or took it upon themselves to take a short cut and an injury resulted, disciplinary action should be taken by the employer. If the same employee is repeatedly injured in the same manner, even after being disciplined for the initial act, we would have a basis on which to deny the claim.

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By Ruth Kiefer, MSc, ARM Loss Control Manager

As the economy is slowly rebounding and we are adding newer equipment to our production floors, you must ensure that you are taking a closer look at the machine guarding prior to the production phase. During my recent MIOSHA Level 1 Training class, I learned a very important point with regards to guarding equipment; if you have two pieces of equipment that perform the same job, the old one must be guarded equal to or better than the new piece of equipment. If it is not, then the violation for machine guarding becomes a SERIOUS and WILLFUL offense.

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On March 7th the Finance Department at MTMIC printed up 604 member checks. The checks totaled $3.5 million. This was the amount that was declared at the February board meeting to be refunded to MTMIC members. Similar to last year, the member’s dividend is made up of two parts. The first part applies to all members that have a current policy with MTMIC, and also was covered with the company as of December 31, 2014. A second dividend was also included in the check calculation. This amount was $2.1 million, and is paid to members with an outstanding claim history. The claim history of members reviewed were from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013. With this dividend declaration of $3.5 million, the MTMIC board of directors has returned $6 million in the last two years to MTMIC members. This amount reflects 1outstanding loss control, claims handling, and risk selection of MTMIC members.

Attached to this article are pictures of some of my visits. As I have mentioned before, the best part of my job is showing up at MTMIC members and giving you a check. Between myself and staff, we have now delivered 75% of all of the member checks. We have another week or a week and a half of delivery in front of us. As president of the company, I want to thank the members, the staff, and the board of directors for managing the results of the company to allow this to happen. Nothing reinforces that we are a small member owned, member directed company, than returning profits to our member owners. As I said last year, let’s do this again. I will say the same thing now; let’s do this again next year.

In that vain, while we are very early in the year I can tell you that the January/February results show a continuation of the prior two year results. We still have a 10 months to go – lots can and will happen during this time period; however, we started the year strong and will continue to remain focused to do all we can to make sure this member benefit continues.Thank you again for your support and all the great visits that I/we have had with our members over the last two weeks. We will be doing more of these over the next week or two.

New Day of the Week:
October 19th (Wednesday)

11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Same Location:
The Inn at St. Johns,
Plymouth, MI

Watch for more information to follow.

We are pleased to announce that one of our featured speakers at our upcoming Annual Meeting in October will be:Joseph L. Petrelli, ACAS, MAAA, FCA , President of Demotech, Inc. Mr. Petrelli has more than forty years of progressively responsible property and casualty actuarial and financial analysis experience. He has extensive experience with loss and loss adjustment expense reserve evaluation, product development, and pricing for virtually all property and casualty and title insurance products as well as expertise with loss cost filings, Financial Stability Ratings®, and merger and acquisition valuations.Mr. Petrelli has been employed in the property and casualty insurance industry since 1969. He has been actively engaged in the title insurance industry since 1992. Prior to founding Demotech, Inc., he was employed by a large national property and casualty insurer, a regional property and casualty insurer, and the Insurance Services Office.Mr. Petrelli has the following designations and affiliations:

• Casualty Actuarial Society
• American Academy of Actuaries
• Conference of Consulting Actuaries Education and Training
• St. John’s University (The College of Insurance) – Bachelor of Science in Business (Actuarial Science)
• Ohio State University – Masters of Business Administration