Transportation, Agriculture Are Oregon's Most Fatal Industries

The transportation and warehousing industry was the most dangerous industry in 2009 in Oregon, according to the state Department of Business and Consumer Services, Information Management Division.

According to DCBS' recent report on compensable fatalities by industry, transportation and warehousing, which includes truck transportation, recorded 11 work-related compensable fatalities in 2009. Compensable fatalities are claims accepted by insurers that arise from a fatal occupational injury or disease that entitles workers and/or their survivors to compensation.

The second-most fatal industry in 2009 was agriculture, forestry, fishing and logging, which recorded 9 work-related compensable fatalities. That was followed by the construction industry, that had six fatalities.

The industries that did not have any fatalities in 2009 included: mining; retail trade; information; finance and insurance; real estate, rental and leasing; management of companies; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment and recreation; and other services.

DCBS said its data excluded deaths of workers not subject to Oregon workers' comp coverage, such as workers who were self-employed, worked in Oregon for out-of-state employers, city of Portland police and fire employees, or federal employees. The Department also noted its data is preliminary until the final count for 2009 fatalities is released in late spring of this year.

Audit: Oregon Data Security Still Needs Fixing

An audit by the Oregon Secretary of State's office says there has been little progress in fixing serious gaps in the state's data security systems.

Auditors wrote in the report that the weaknesses could jeopardize the security of residents' personal information, such as tax returns, Social Security numbers, drivers license information and confidential medical records.

"Many security weaknesses continued to exist simply because nobody was given the authority or responsibility to resolve them," auditors wrote. "Others languished because State Data Center management had not developed an adequate security plan with associated standards and procedures to provide appropriate security expectations or requirements."

Audits Division Director Gary Blackmer told the Statesman Journal newspaper in Salem that the center's systems were compared with industry best practices.

"A determined hacker has a better chance in a weaker system,'" Blackmer said. "The likelihood of it is hard to predict but the consequences would be great."

The Legislature created the center in 2005 by consolidating 12 data centers operated by individual state agencies.

Since then, the Audits Division has released reports critical of the center's security in September 2006, July 2008 and February 2009. The state also hired the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to assess the vulnerability of the center. Its October 2008 report confirmed the security concerns.

Auditors wrote last April to Oregon's Department of Administrative Services management about security weaknesses in the Statewide Financial Management Application and the Oregon State Payroll Application.

In their latest report, auditors focused on why long-standing weaknesses that could easily be fixed were not.

They said managers should eliminate a "shared governance structure" they called "a maze of boards, committees and subcommittees ... that has delayed improvements."

In a response published with the audit, DAS Director Scott Harra disagreed with that recommendation.

Department spokesman Lonn Hoklin said individual state agencies need to be involved in security decisions because they end up paying for them, and because they change the way they do business.

"Oregon's information assets are safe," Hoklin said. "They're resting behind a very sophisticated security system that offers multiple levels of security."

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said he was surprised by the report.

"Usually when an audit comes out people work hard to improve," Courtney told the Statesman Journal. "That's not happening here, and when I hear it's because of bureaucracy, that will send me right out the window."

Harra said some audit recommendations already have been adopted, such as hiring an expert last October to lead the center's security program.

Anna Richter Taylor, spokeswoman for Gov. Ted Kulongoski, said he believes the data is secure and is pleased with the progress the data center is making on strengthening protections.

"Obviously there are always recommendations in an audit for ways to strengthen what we do," she said.

The Audits Division plans another report on the issue in a year.

LIG Marine Managers Opens New Division in San Francisco

LIG Marine Managers has opened a new division, LIG West, and branch office located in the Financial District of San Francisco. LIG West will operate in the 11 western states.

"This new division will provide LIG West Coast agents with access to the full portfolio of LIG Marine Managers and LIG Program Managers products", said Karen Tischler, marketing director of LIG who will be based out of the San Francisco office.

LIG President Ian Greenway added, "The opening of this office on the West Coast brings us to the position of being the National Commercial Marine and Longshore MGA with local presence on the East Coast, West Coast, Gulf and London, providing agents and brokers immediate access to local offices."

LIG Marine Managers is a provider of commercial marine and longshore insurance solutions to independent agencies throughout the United States.

Mountain West Agency Services Names Kasper General Manager

Phoenix-based Mountain West Agency Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SCF Premier Insurance Co., named Donald L. Kasper general manager and Jim McErlean as marketing specialist.

Kasper has worked in the insurance industry since 1971, and has a proven record in startup, turnaround and business growth settings. Kasper has served in nearly every capacity, from underwriter to vice president, in companies in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. He is a licensed surplus lines broker in Arizona and a member of the Western States Surplus Lines Association and the Surplus Lines Association of Arizona.

McErlean has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, starting in the underwriting ranks. He has spent his career opening up branch and regional offices for workers' compensation companies and programs, overseeing the operations of loss control, claims, underwriting and premium audit. His experiences encompass the western United States and crosses over into general liability, excess/umbrella coverage and surplus lines.