Wisconsin PHC Contractor Winter 2018

Industry
NEWS
CHANGES TO WISCONSIN WORKER’S COMPENSATION PROGRAM
There were two relatively recent changes made to the Wisconsin Worker’s
Compensation program that might affect your business. One change deals with
drug and alcohol testing and the other with apprentices.
Circular Letter 3166 of the Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau describes
a Wisconsin Apprenticeship Credit Program that provides up to a 2 percent
premium credit for employers participating in a work-based learning program
through the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards up to a maximum
credit of $2,500. Insurance carriers can opt out of the program and it is the
employer’s responsibility to notify their carrier that they are eligible and submit
evidence of participation in the work-based training program for a minimum of
six months.
With regard to drug and alcohol testing, if your company has a policy and
an injured employee has been shown to violate that policy, typically through a
post-accident drug and alcohol test, the employee may be deemed ineligible for
indemnity benefits (though medical benefits are still payable). What this means is
that employees are more likely to be denied benefits based on post-accident test
results. It will likely take one or more court decisions to provide better guidelines
regarding the clarity of the language of drug and alcohol policies and whether
there is a need to show that the drugs or alcohol were the cause of the accident.
iStockphoto.com/elenabs
MILWAUKEE TOOL JOINS THE PHCC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOARD OF
GOVERNORS
Milwaukee Tool has been named to
the PHCC Educational Foundation’s Board
of Governors. This group of leading
contractors, manufacturers and other
industry partners who are major donors
to the Foundation, is responsible for guiding
the development of industry education
and training programs for contractors and
their employees.
Many PHCC chapter-run apprenticeship
programs feature tool walls donated by
Milwaukee Tool, allowing apprentices to
get valuable hands-on experience in the
classroom before hitting the jobsite.
Milwaukee Tool also made a major
contribution to the Plumbing Apprentice
Contest by donating 20 of their M18 Force
Logic Press Tools and jaw kits, with a retail
value exceeding $60,000.
“Milwaukee Tool is the ideal manufacturer
supporter for the Foundation,” said
Foundation Chair Craig Lewis. “It takes more
than just contractors working to improve
our industry. We rely on manufacturers
who share our desire to find, train, and
equip apprentices and technicians with
the knowledge and tools they need to
be successful. I am very happy to have
Milwaukee Tool as the newest member of
the Foundation Board of Governors.”
Ronald Shanaver, national account
manager plumbing/National User
Group at Milwaukee Tool with
PHCC Educational Foundation
Chairman Craig Lewis.
DISTILLERY BENEFITS FROM NEW BOILER SYSTEM
AMS Steam Products of Milwaukee,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hot
Water Products Inc., was a key player
in boiler replacement at Dancing
Goat Distillery, Cambridge. Two
Miura LX-50 SG boilers were chosen
for the quality of the steam as well
as the consistency of steam pressure.
One of their many advantages was
on-demand steam capabilities –
steam in less than five minutes.
Michael Reiber, COO of the
Dancing Goat Distillery noted that
environmental impact also is
important to the distillery. Miura
boilers have a worldwide reputation
for protecting the environment with
low emission and innovative efficient
boiler designs.
AMS has been a great partner
in this project,” Reiber said. “Having
worked with them at another
distillery, I was very confident that
they could provide just what I was
looking for at Dancing Goat Distillery.”
Michael Reiber, left and Jim Manthei, technical
sales, AMS Steam Products, check out digital
controls of the new boiler system.
40 The Wisconsin PHC Contractor WINTER 2018