State of the States September 12, 2025

National – The National Safety Council (NSC) announced the keynote presentations for its 2025 Safety Congress & Expo taking place September 15-17 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The event will feature sessions focused on psychological safety, serious injury and fatality prevention, and the future of workplace safety. Keynote speakers include industry leaders and experts who will address current challenges and emerging trends in occupational safety and health.  

The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) released a Data Bulletin analyzing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among construction workers. The report shows that construction workers face a higher risk of MSDs than the general workforce due to physically demanding tasks and work environments. More than 33,000 cases resulted in days away from work in 2021–2022. The bulletin also highlights a strong association between MSDs and prescription opioid use, especially among part-time, overtime, and self-employed workers.

OSHA renewed its alliance with the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) for another three years. The partnership will focus on addressing safety issues in the waste and recycling industry, including transportation hazards like slips, trips, falls, needlestick injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and risks related to lithium batteries.  

The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) released two reports of interest:

• The Medicare Fee Schedules and Workers’ Compensation in 2025- this report examines the 2025 Medicare fee schedule updates and their implications for workers’ compensation medical costs. Overall, the updates are not expected to impact workers’ compensation medical costs in 2025. 
• The NCCI September 2025 Labor Market Insights Report - a monthly analysis that examines U.S. labor market trends and their implications for the workers' compensation industry. According to the latest report, employment growth has slowed. While key sectors like health care and hospitality showed gains, construction and manufacturing continued to decline. Despite these trends, NCCI economists caution against interpreting the data as signs of a recession. 

Florida – The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) recommended a 6.9% average reduction in workers' compensation rates for Florida, effective January 1. The proposed cut is primarily driven by improved loss experience from policy years 2022 to 2024, attributed to a continued decline in claim frequency, particularly in 2024, which saw a sharper-than-average drop. Despite this, average medical and indemnity claim severity rose, with inflation contributing to higher medical costs. Interested in learning more, check out this Florida Phoenix article.  

The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) will host a free 45-minute webinar on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET. The session will highlight key findings from the latest CompScope® Benchmarks for Florida. Topics may include cost drivers and trends in Florida’s workers’ compensation system, comparisons with other states on medical payments, income benefits, and delivery efficiency, as well as insights into the medical workforce and comorbid conditions. Click here to register. 

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