It’s Your Call – December 2023

HIPAA: What are prevalent healthcare scams during the holiday season?

1. Email Phishing: Perpetrators adopt the personas of festive figures or reputable entities (e.g., charities) to entice recipients into clicking malicious links in emails. This tactic compromises personal data, including login credentials and credit card details. It is advised to verify authenticity by contacting the sender or IT support before interacting with any links.
2. Impersonation Scams: Typically delivered via text messages, these scams mimic trusted sources, urging recipients to buy gift cards and disclose the card numbers. Scammers may manipulate the sender’s information to appear legitimate. To validate the request, it’s crucial to communicate directly with the sender.
3. Counterfeit Websites: Scammers frequently establish fraudulent online stores during the holiday season, offering substantial discounts. Signs of suspicion include poor website quality, such as spelling errors or missing essential details like contact information and return policies. For enhanced security and protection of personal data, it is recommended to solely transact on reputable websites with ‘HTTPS’ in the URL.

OSHA: Our office has several stacked boxes in the storage room. Are there any OSHA rules about this?

OSHA has cited under the following regulations when stacked boxes have obstructed the means of egress, created a potential fire hazard, and posed a danger to employees.

• 1910.176  Secure storage. Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse. Housekeeping. Storage areas shall be kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion, or pest harborage.
• 1910.37  Danger to employees must be minimized. Exit routes must be free of explosives and highly flammable furnishings and decorations. Exit routes must be free and unobstructed.

Employers must assess the potential hazards and protect their workers appropriately.