Acting New York Insurance Superintendent Gregory V. Serio today proposed the most comprehensive overhaul of auto insurance in New York State in almost 30 years to combat fraud and reduce auto insurance premiums.

The sweeping legislative and regulatory package includes an Executive Order issued by Governor George E. Pataki naming the Attorney General as Special Prosecutor to coordinate investigatory and prosecutorial efforts at the State level to combat auto insurance fraud. By marshaling the State's resources and coordinating the State's efforts to combat auto insurance fraud, the Special Prosecutor will complement the efforts of local district attorneys to reduce fraud.

Source: State of New York

Pursuant to ORS 183.545 and 183.550, the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS), Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA), is reviewing and analyzing its administrative rules in OAR 437, Division 2, General Occupational Safety and Health Rules. You are invited to make written comment concerning:

1. The continued need for the rules;
2. The nature of complaints or comments received concerning the rule from the public;
3. The complexity of the rules;
4. The extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates or conflicts with other state rules, federal regulations and, to the extent feasible, local government regulations;
5. The degree to which technology, economic conditions or other factors have changed in the subject area affected by the rules; and
6. The statutory citation or legal basis for each rule.

The rules being reviewed at this time are:

• Division 002 General Occupational Safety and Health Rules

OR-OSHA is particularly interested in your input on the issue of group lockout and possibly adopting the federal standard which allows group lockout.

Source: Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration

TALLAHASSEE - A Miami Beach doctor working for Fort Lauderdale-based Mutual Benefits Corporation, one of the country's largest viatical settlement providers, has been charged with fraud for allegedly lying about conferring with the personal physicians of terminally ill policyholders before assessing their life expectancies, a key component in the viatical investment business. As a result, two dozen elderly investors may have been misled in their decisions to invest a total of $350,000.

Source: State of Florida

American Society of Safety Engineers

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS FOUNDATION SEEKS INNOVATIVE IDEAS AIMED AT PREVENTING WORKPLACE INJURIES DES PLAINES, IL (May 9, 2001)

In an effort to promote occupational safety research aimed at generating innovative and results-oriented ideas, the American Society of Safety Engineers Foundation (ASSEF) announced today a new 'Cash Awards Competition.

Source: American Society of Safety Engineers

The State of Minnesota has issued a document, "How to Protect Yourself When Cleaning Up After a Flood", which provides information about infectious agents and chemical hazards associated with flooding and subsequent cleanup. The document details the types of personal protective equipment should be worn in addition to the physical hazards presented with flood cleanup.

Source: State of Minnesota

Fleeting Trucking - Trailers

All Trailers Must Meet Conspicuity Retrofit Guidelines by June 1. The Department of Transportation deadline for trailers to be outfitted with reflective tape or reflectors is June 1, and is unlikely to be extended. This requirement applies to all trailers except: pole trailers; trailers used solely as offices or dwellings; or trailers in a driveaway/tow away operation (for example: trailers that are being transported as cargo, that are being towed for repair, or are being driven to or towed from a location where they are to be used solely as storage trailers.

Source: Department of Transportation

The NSC issued a position statement addressing multitasking. The NSC recognizes the usefulness of cellular phones. However it is their position that "….a driver's first responsibility is the safe operation of the vehicle and that best practice is to not use electronic devices including cell phones while driving. When on the road, drivers shall concentrate on safe and defensive driving and not on making or receiving phone calls, delivery of faxes, using computers, navigation systems, or other distracting influences. When a driver decides that it is safe to use such a device while driving, it should be with the understanding that negligent drivers be held accountable when distracted driving results in the injury or death of others." The report goes on to discourage the non-emergency use of electronic devices by teenagers "during their graduated licensing period"

Source: National Safety Council

Legislation Would Place Nationwide Ban on Hand Held Cell-Phone Use While Driving (5-29-01) U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) have announced the introduction of the first-ever legislation in the House and the Senate to ban the use of cell phones while driving.

Ackerman's Bill would allow, drivers to use their cell phones provided that their vehicles are equipped with devices like an earpiece or a speaker phone, leaving the driver's hands free. Calls would have to be placed or answered by voice activation or while the driver was stopped. Corzine's bill would leave this decision up the states if they determine that such use does not pose a threat to public safety. Differences between the two bills would be worked out in conference committee.

Both bills also allow each state to impose their own system of penalties, whether they be fines and or points on the drivers' license. States that fail to implement the ban would lose a portion of their federal highway funds.

National report finds most states are mired in mediocrity on critical public health measure: Seat Belt Use - Thousands Die as a Result

NATIONAL REPORT FINDS MOST STATES MIRED IN MEDIOCRITY ON CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE: SEAT BELT USE - THOUSANDS DIE AS A RESULT State Rankings Coincide with Largest-Ever Crackdown to Enforce Seat Belt Laws and Save Lives; Many States Improving Programs

The report indicates that over the last 5 years seatbelt use has increased from 58 - 71 percent. However traffic fatalities are still the number one killer of children and a leading cause of death for adults and teenagers.

California, New Mexico, and Washington D.C. scored the best while Idaho, Mississippi and South Dakota rounded out the bottom three states scoring an overall "F"

Source: National Safety Council

AIHA Supports Goal of New Senate Ergonomics Bill

FAIRFAX, VA (April 16, 2001) - The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has announced its support for the goal of S. 598, an ergonomics bill introduced by Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) The bill calls for the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to finalize a new ergonomics standard within two years.

Source: American Industrial Hygiene Association