Salt Lake City, Utah – The Buckner Company is pleased to announce the hiring of Russell Trujillo in their Employee Benefits department.  Trujillo will join Buckner’s team of experts, where he will work with employers to help them find the best possible benefits packages for their employees.

The Buckner Company has placed much emphasis on expanding their Employee Benefits division during recent years.  With changes in healthcare reform, the firm believes that individuals and businesses have more need than ever before to have access to an informed healthcare insurance agent who can help them in making health insurance coverage decisions.

“We are extremely pleased to have Russ join our firm.  He has previously worked on the insurance carrier side of the equation—and we excited for all that he brings to the table as far as his wide scope of knowledge and experience.  We welcome Russ and know that he will do well in his future endeavors with us,” said Terry Buckner, President and CEO of The Buckner Company.

Trujillo spent more than a decade working for two of the largest Utah health insurance carriers.  “I am very happy to be working with such a reputable group as The Buckner Company.  Selling benefits packages and servicing accounts in the consultant role is a new adventure for me, however, I look forward to this challenge,” said Trujillo.

Founded in Ogden in 1936, The Buckner Company has been serving the insurance needs of Utah and the surrounding states with honesty, integrity, and superior service for 75 years. Today, as one of the most prominent insurance brokerages in the West, The Buckner Company stands out from their competition in their expertise and knowledge of the construction and commercial businesses they service. In addition to providing their expertise in these fields, The Buckner Company also offers specialty niche market services, personal insurance, employee benefits, and surety bonding. Visit www.buckner.com for more information or follow their blog at http://blog.buckner.com.

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Written by Bob Hollingsworth of The Buckner Company

Workers’ Compensation laws vary from state to state.  The goal is to help your employee return to work at full productively if possible.  If returning to work at full productivity is not an option, the second goal is  to help the employee get to what is known as maximum medical improvement (MMI).  The Workers’ Compensation system obligates the employer to be responsible for all medical costs for work-related injuries.  This can include: doctor visits, surgical care, hospital care, nursing services, medicine, and durable medical equipment.  The only limit is that these costs be reasonable and necessary.

As the responsible party, the employer has the right to question whether something is reasonable and necessary, but few employers take advantage of this right.

You, the employer, should question these areas.  Remember, it is your money:

1. Diagnostic Testing: Watch out for duplicate testing.  Sometimes a repeat MRI is unnecessary, because if the MRI is for a different part of the body than what was injured, you might be paying for something unrelated to a workers’ compensation injury.
2. Yoga, Massage and Aqua Therapy: These sound more like spa treatments than medically necessary procedures.  I would strongly advise that you request a second opinion regarding these treatments.
3. Special Devices: When employees suffer serious injury they often need specialized equipment, when a wheelchair is needed there are huge cost  variables such as motorized vs non-motorized. If the employee is permanently confined to the chair, motorized might be reasonable. These situations should be reviewed on a case by case basis.
4. Home Improvements: When ramps are put in because of a wheelchair we can understand this.  But when a doctor is prescribing a new pillow top mattress, a hot tub, or home gym equipment . . . you should express some concern to the adjuster and insurance company. Physical therapy should be offered at a reputable physical therapy facility.
5. Attendant Care at Home: Sometimes a seriously injured employee needs assistance at home.  The nurse case manager needs to work closely with the primary medical care provider to establish what is needed in the way of home assistance.  When the injured employee needs bandage changes or toilet assistance this may be done by a non-medical person approved by the work comp adjuster.  Cooking and laundry, etc. may not be medically necessary.

The key to remember is workers’ compensation dollars are your dollars, you ultimately are the one paying the claims.  Your premiums are a reflection of the cost of your claims.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH— The Buckner Company was recently ranked as the 16^th fastest-growing privately held insurance agency in the nation, according to Hales and Company’s 2011 annual report.  As the third largest Utah-based agency, The Buckner Company has seen rapid growth and continued success in recent years.

What began as a modest one-man agency in Ogden, Utah in 1936, has gone on to become one of the largest and fastest-growing insurance brokerage firms in the United States.  Terry Buckner, the grandson of the founder, E.R. Buckner, is currently the President and CEO.  Under his watch, the firm has more than quadrupled its employee count and opened a second and third location.

And this is just the beginning.  Buckner has plans up his sleeve to continue opening satellite offices throughout the Intermountain West.  Recent growth in the Idaho market has proven more successful than anticipated.  Further expansion in Idaho is in the works.

As The Buckner Company nears its 75th anniversary, Buckner, reminisces on his grandfather’s work ethic.  “I don’t think my Grandpa had a clue that his humble business of selling insurance would grow to become what it is today.  He’d be astounded to see that two generations later, this business is thriving.  I have no doubt that our success has been a direct result of the values of integrity and hard work that he practiced as the foundation of this business was built.  These are values that we continue to embrace today.”

Buckner has a knack for finding talented insurance specialists who think outside the box.  The Buckner Company has gained a solid reputation as a brokerage that offers its clients excellent customer service and customized insurance policies that meet the needs of their businesses and families.

The Buckner Company has been serving the insurance needs of the West with honesty, integrity, and superior service for 75 years. Today, The Buckner Company stands out from their competition in their expertise and knowledge of the construction, agriculture and commercial businesses they service. In addition to providing their expertise in these fields, The Buckner Company also offers specialty niche market services, including personal homeowner and auto insurance, employee benefits, trucking and transportation insurance and surety bonding. Visit www.buckner.com for more information or follow their blog at http://blog.buckner.com.

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For Immediate Release: 31 October 2011

Contact: Randah Griffiths Urbina

Director of Corporate Marketing

6550 S. Millrock Drive, Ste 300

Salt Lake City, UT 84121

Phone: 801.937.6700

E-mail: rurbina@buckner.com

Web: www.buckner.com

Written by:

Bob Hollingsworth of The Buckner Company

1. Know Your Experience Modification Factor.

The experience modification factor is one of the critical factors in determining the cost of your workers’ compensation premium.  Understanding how it works and how it is affected by your losses is vital.  There are some big changes coming in how the experience modification is calculated starting in 2012.  Check with your agent/broker regarding these changes.

2. The Safety Manager is Your New Best Friend. 

Great safety translates into fewer accidents.  Fewer accidents mean fewer workers’ compensation claims.  Ask the safety manager what can be done to eliminate the most common accidents and injuries in your industry.

3. Know Your Insurance Agent/Broker.

Your broker needs to be your best friend.  A mistake many employers make is thinking the broker’s main job is to keep you (the client) happy.  The broker should be a knowledgeable business person who works for you as an advisor on:

• How best to submit claims.
• How to cost effectively manage claims.
• How to read & use the loss runs
• How to affect change regarding your experience modification factor.
• Be a proactive part of your workers’ compensation program.

Discuss with the broker what benefits are provided.  Hold the broker to this, and your job will get easier.  Expect more than simply an annual stewardship report. 

4. Know the Return-to-Work Program.

The better the company’s transitional duty program (also known as modified duty or light duty) the quicker and faster the workers’ compensation claims will come to an end. The company is going to be paying the cost of the indemnity benefits through higher workers’ compensation premiums. To reduce the cost of those benefits, return the employee to modified duty. While the injured employee may not be as productive as an uninjured employee, all the productivity of the injured employee on light duty is benefiting the company to some extent while reducing the cost of the claim.

5. Know Your Insurance Company.

What services do they offer as part of your program to help you lower your cost? Ask them to explain ALL of their services, not just those they pre-select. Your agent or broker should be very helpful here.  Are they a behemoth insurance company who writes workers’ compensation, or are they a smaller, regional, or local company that specializes in workers’ compensation?

6. Sometimes it is Time to Babysit.

Employees do get injured.  Employees need to know the company still cares about them even though they temporally are not working. This is the critical role of supervisors; they will affect when employees return to work.  The best procedure is to contact the injured employee after each medical appointment to learn about  any issues with their medical treatment, their return to work status and any concerns they have about their job or their workers’ compensation claim. By showing the injured employees that you, the employer, cares, it will have an overall effect of lowering cost of workers’ compensation.

7. Know the Adjuster.

The adjuster needs to be a best friend. Often adjusters are given too many claims to manage on a proactive basis.   The better the working relationship with the adjuster, the fewer snags encountered on workers’ compensation claims.  A competent adjuster who does the job well will make the WC manager’s job easier.

8. Learn How to Read Your Loss Runs. 

Loss runs can provide a massive amount of useful information on the nature and the extent of the injuries.  Learn about the types of injuries that occur most often and discuss with the Safety Manager what can be done to curb or even eliminate some claims. This is the place that shows you how much money is being spent on medical and indemnity benefits.  Ask your agent or broker about the most helpful stats they review on loss runs.

Halloween Health and Safety Tips

For many people, autumn events like Halloween and Harvest Day are fun times to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, attend parties, and eat yummy treats. These events are also opportunities to provide nutritious snacks, get physical activity, and focus on safety.

Below are tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and party guests.

Going trick-or-treating?

	Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
	Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
	Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
	Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
	Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.
	Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
	Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
	Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
	Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
	Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
	Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
	Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
	Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests?

• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.
• Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
• Keep candle-lit jack-o’lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone!

Content Source: CDC Office of Women’s Health

http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

On Sunday, November 6th, clocks will be set back an hour, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time. But, that one hour difference can present some unique driving challenges.

Night Moves

The fall time change means that more motorists will be traveling America’s roadways during peak traffic times without the benefit of daylight. Darkness makes it more difficult to distinguish objects, spot pedestrians and judge distances and speeds of other vehicles. Color recognition and peripheral vision are compromised, and glare can temporarily blind you. Drivers must instead rely on artificial light sources, and some individuals have a hard time seeing clearly.

Time to “Fall Back” Not Asleep

Turning back the clock and the earlier onset of darkness also throws off our internal clocks, making drivers drowsier than usual. In fact, sleep experts warn that you can feel sluggish for at least a week or so after the time change. While most people are aware of the hazards of drinking and driving, many don’t realize that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous.

How to Minimize the Dangers

With the time change right around the corner, we remind you of the following safety tips:

• Prepare your vehicle. Keep headlights, taillights, signals and auxiliary lights clean and in good working condition. Clean the windshield and replace wipers regularly. Make sure headlights are properly aligned and mirrors are adjusted for optimal visibility.
• See and be seen. With the shorter daylight hours and the ever-changing weather that is common this time of year, motorists need to be aware of the need to drive with their lights on. Utilize high beams whenever possible to increase sight distance. However, keep headlights on low beams when following another vehicle or when encountering oncoming traffic to avoid blinding other drivers.
• Don’t “overdrive” your headlights. Most speed limits are set for driving during the day in dry, clear conditions, not for driving at night. You should be able to stop within the distance illuminated by your headlights. Visually scan the entire length of your headlight beam, watching out for possible hazards.
• Avoid glare. When faced with headlight glare from oncoming vehicles, decrease your speed and watch the right edge of the road to minimize blindness. Adjust your rearview mirror or use the mirror’s “day/night” feature to reduce glare from vehicles behind you.
• Reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Carefully manage speed and space to make it easier to spot potential problems and give yourself more time
  to respond in any weather, road, traffic conditions or vehicle.
• Watch for impaired drivers. Avoid vehicles that are having difficulty completing normal roadway maneuvers, drifting or otherwise moving erratically as the driver may be drunk or chemically impaired.
• Take steps to combat fatigue. Be aware of how your body adjusts to the time change in the first few weeks after the clocks are reset. Eat well, stay fit and get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel. Ensure good ventilation inside the vehicle and take regular breaks for light snacks and exercise.

This article was provided to The Buckner Company by Lancer Insurance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report last week indicating a dramatic decline in the number of drunk driving incidents, the lowest number since the CDC began its annual survey in 1993. The study estimated a 30% drop in drunken driving incidents in 2010, down to 112 million from 161 million in the peak year of 2006. The “self-reported” CDC statistics were based on a national telephone survey of about 210,000 U.S. adults. Nearly 1 in 50 said they had driven drunk at least once in the previous month, which equates to about 4 million citizens driving drunk in 2010. Young men ages 21 to 34 were the largest group, accounting for 32% of the drunk driving incidents. While there was no definitive reason given for the decline, the CDC research suggests that a likely cause is the current state of the U.S. economy. CDC director Thomas Frieden said that “One possibility is that people are drinking at home more and therefore driving less after drinking,” because it’s cheaper than going out to bars, night clubs and restaurants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also noted the recent decline in drunk driving, but the agency released a statement to remind people that impaired driving “continues to be one of the leading causes of death and injury on America’s roads, claiming a life every 48 minutes.” Go to http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/DrinkingAndDriving/index.html for more information.

This information was provided to The Buckner Company by Lancer Insurance.

According to a recent study conducted by the Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, texting while driving doubles a driver’s reaction time, making the driver less able to respond to sudden roadway dangers. The controlled study involved 42 drivers between the ages of 16 and 54, driving on an 11-mile test track course with both an open section and a section lined by construction barrels. The drivers were instructed to send and/or receive text messages while driving the course and then repeat the exercise focusing completely on the road. The drivers’ reaction time to a periodic flashing light was recorded for both driving behaviors, as well as their ability to maintain proper lane position and a constant speed. Reaction times with no texting activity were typically between one and two seconds. Reaction times while texting were at least three to four seconds, and drivers were more than 11 times more likely to miss the flashing light altogether when they were texting. The study concluded that since the testing was performed in an actual driving environment rather than through the use of a simulator, texting impairment is an even greater danger than many experts believed. The full study is available on the Texas A&M University website at http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/476660-00024-1.pdf.

This information was provided to The Buckner Company by Lancer Insurance.

At The Buckner Company, we’re always delighted to find new talent.  We’ve recently hired two new producers to join our insurance sales team.  We are excited to work with Jason Wiggins and Jason Nielson and know they will be a great asset to our company and to our clients.  For more information about our agency, please visit us at www.Buckner.com.

Jason Wiggins joined The Buckner Company in October 2011. His focus is working with Trucking and Transportation clients. Jason’s experience in the insurance industry spans more than ten years. He spent many years working in title insurance as an Escrow Officer. He also worked for several years in the Life Insurance field selling annuities. Prior to working in the insurance industry, Jason was in banking and worked as an Investment Specialist and a Loan Officer.

Jason graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree in international studies. He continues to attend continuing education classes to keep up-to-date with his insurance expertise.

Born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley, Jason is an avid Utah Utes fan. He and his wife, Erin, enjoy spending time as a family. They are parents to two children–one boy and one girl. Jason enjoys running, mountain biking, playing basketball, boating, and traveling.

Jason Nielson joined The Buckner team in August 2011. An insurance vetran, Jason has worked in the industry since 1980. Early in his career, Jason and his brother owned an agency together. This agency was later sold to a larger company. Jason spent many years working for Archibald Insurance Center. Jason’s expertise is in farm, crop, and commercial insurance.

He enjoys working with the farming community of Southeast Idaho. Jason holds a CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) designation and regularly attends continuing education classes to keep current on his insurance knowledge.

In his spare time, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife, Nan, and their five children and four grandchildren. Golfing is a favorite pastime of Jason.

TruxFax

A Safety and Operations Bulletin for Motor Transportation Companies

WHO IS DRIVING YOUR VEHICLES?
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a major state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) investigation last month that has led to the arrest of 51 commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers who had fraudulently obtained multiple commercial licenses. The arrests are also significant in that the DMV used facial recognition technology to examine the driving records of 600,000 CMV license holders. Since February of 2010, over 800 people have been arrested for having two or more licenses under different names, all identified with facial recognition technology. Numerous state agencies and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency worked together to stop this illegal and dangerous practice. Other states are expected to utilize the technology going forward. Go to: www.governor.ny.gov/press/08182011MultipleLicenses to read the Governor’s press release.

NTSB SEEKS TO BAN ALL CELL PHONE USE BY COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended last week a comprehensive ban on the use of cell phones by all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The proposed ban would apply to the use of hand-held and hands-free communication devices, and while NTSB cannot require that state and federal agencies impose such a ban, the proposal has been sent to all levels of government throughout the nation. The appeal for a ban came out of a horrific March 2010 crash caused when a commercial driver’s vehicle veered across a Kentucky interstate median and slammed into an oncoming passenger van, killing 11 people. Immediately before the crash, the CMV driver had been on the phone. According to NTSB, the proposed ban would affect 3.7 million drivers. The complete NTSB press release is available by going to: www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/110913.html#.Tm-el6SBcu4.twitter.

HOUSE APPROVES EXTENSION OF TRANSPORTATION SPENDING AUTHORITY
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved an extension of spending authority for the surface transportation system through March 31, 2012. The Senate still has to pass this bill before it is final, but the majority leader has indicated that it will move through quickly. A previous extension of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) is set to expire on September 30th, and if the extension is not granted, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) would lose the authority to collect the federal gas tax, preventing revenue coming into the Highway Trust Fund and halting spending on highway and transit projects around the country. Go to: www.transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1391 for the full press release.

Thanks to Lancer Insurance, one of our carrier companies, for sending us this great information.  Our trucking clients will be appreciative.