The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited Wegmans Food Markets Inc. for alleged repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards at the company's corporate bakery and distribution center in Rochester, N.Y.
According to a report from OSHA, the retail grocery chain faces a total of $195,200 in proposed fines, chiefly for inadequate safeguards, to prevent the unintended startup of machinery during maintenance. (WCxKit)
OSHA's hazardous energy control, or lockout/tagout, standard mandates that machines be shut down and the power sources locked out before workers perform maintenance. The standard also requires proper procedures, training and equipment to ensure that machines cannot be unintentionally activated and seriously injure workers performing maintenance on machines.
Inspections by OSHA's Buffalo area office found that Wegmans failed to develop, utilize and follow lockout/tagout procedures and to adequately train workers on hazards and procedures related to lockout/tagout hazards at this facility. OSHA had cited Wegmans in 2007 and 2010 for similar hazards at Wegmans locations in Rochester, so these recurring hazards resulted in citations for four repeat violations with $140,000 in proposed fines. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. (WCxKit)
OSHA also identified electrical, machine guarding, mechanical and ventilation hazards related to ovens in the bakery, and a fall hazard in the distribution center. These conditions resulted in citations for nine serious violations with $55,200 in fines. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
Sony announced it is recalling 1.6 million Bravia televisions worldwide after a series of reports claim the sets were emitting smoke and even melting in some instances. According to Sony, eight of its Bravia range of LCD television sets are subject to the recall. Product liability and product safety are important concepts slightly diverging from workers compensation; however, we thought this might be of interest to some readers as we are talking about several other safety concepts today.
The problems affect flat-panel Bravia sets which have been sold since 2007. Eleven separate incidents of overheating have been reported in Japan since 2008; however Yuki Shima, a spokesperson for Sony, said that no consumers have suffered injuries. (WCxKit)
Even though no issues or problems have been reported outside of Japan, the majority of the impacted television sets were sold in either Europe or the US. The model numbers are: KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, KDL-40D3660, KDL-40V3000, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40X3000 and KDL-40X3500.
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If you own one of the products mentioned above and if you notice any abnormality (e.g. unusual noise, unusual smell or smoking), please turn it off immediately, unplug the power cable, stop using the TV, and contact us," according to a Sony statement. "We have confirmed that this symptom does not occur when power is switched off. In the unlikely event that you are affected by the issues above, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
Whether your business is in a high rise building or one that is at ground level, there will always be a need to make any hard surface floor safe to walk on when either wet or dry. Floor Safety is truly paramount. Every business owner should be aware that there is true danger for staff and for customers, as well, when coming in contact with a wet, slippery floor. Remember, it is the NCCI modifier with regard to staff and the legal defense team with regard to civil litigation!
Often times, even when a floor is mopped and left to dry, the residue left behind on the floor from the soap just adds to the danger once the floor becomes wet again. Diligence in rinsing a floor thoroughly is imperative in order to be sure there is no soapy residue left behind to again "mix" with an accidental spill or rain water that is tracked in. Using the "correct" PH neutral everyday cleaner and then adequately rinsing is essential.
Entry walk off mats are everywhere. The intended purpose is good, but when flipped up as a result of catching on someone's heel, or saturated with water (from the rain carried in) entry mats can become a serious detriment to walkway safety.
Cords strung across a floor, loose or torn carpeting, level changes-carpet to tile, improper lighting, ladders, planters, mop buckets, and debris blown in from outside also elevate the risk of slip, trips and falls. Think. Common sense prevails.
Solutions do exist for business owners in helping to prevent slip and fall accidents. Claims of injury due to slips, trips and falls can be mitigated if just a few simple steps are followed. According to Zurich's claim data, slip, trip and fall losses account for about 14% of overall losses. Mitigate these and you will impact yours or the client's bottom line.
Enhance the floors' co-efficient of friction with an anti-slip floor treatment product. There are treatments available that are easy to apply and will increase the co-efficient of friction on virtually all types of mineral based flooring; quarry tile, ceramic, marble, granite, porcelain, concrete, etc. Be careful in your selection however, as most of these types of treatments contain hazardous chemicals that are not environmentally friendly. One excellent, safe, economical product available in today's market that can increase your COF well above OSHA's required 0.5 or even ADA's 0.6. *(See reference below) is Safe Environmental Product’s Anti-Slip. It is easy to apply too– simply clean the treatable mineral based floor with a ph neutral every day cleaner, apply SEP anti-slip, leave on for 15-30 minutes making sure the treated area stays wet with the product, then rinse thoroughly. The floor is ready to walk on immediately with invisible traction and the COF raised to a safe level for non-slip wet floors.
*"The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the American Disability Act (ADA) also have requirements for walking surfaces and surface slip resistance. OSHA recommends that walking surfaces have a 0.5 static coefficient of friction. ADA recommends a static coefficient of friction of 0.6 for accessible routes and 0.8 for ramps."-according to Zurich's "A Risk Management Guide to Slips, Trips and Falls."
Wayne Maynard is Manager of Technical Services and Product Development for Liberty Mutual's Loss Control Advisory Services. Mr. Maynard was asked to comment on the Institute's field investigation of slips and falls among restaurant workers and how its findings impact safety practice: "Which findings were the most surprising or intriguing to you?" His answer, "Without a doubt, the most intriguing finding was that incremental increases in a floor's coefficient of friction, or COF, can make a real difference in lowering slipping rates. We learned that for every 0.1 increase in a kitchen floor's mean COF, there was a corresponding 21 percent decrease in slips reported by workers. That is much greater than what might have been expected. This finding tells us that any efforts to improve COF-keeping the floor clean and dry, applying floor surface treatments, or selecting slip-resistant floorings-can enhance worker safety and produce savings by reducing the rate of slipping."-Excerpt from Liberty Mutual Research for Safety, Scientific Update 2011 Volume 14, No. 1.
Steve Brown, CPCU, CIC, ARM: 20 + years in the insurance industry, 15 years in the PEO industry, Co-Founding officer of Safe Environmental Products . Steve can be reached at
800-530-6950 Ext. 101 www.sepusa.net
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
If you ask most employers whether or not they work toward maintaining a safe work environment, the answer will likely be, “yes.” And statistics show that over the past several years, employers are doing a better job at keeping workers safe.
In fact, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of nonfatal, work related injuries and illnesses in 2010 totaled around three million. This continues a downward trend from 4.3 million in 2003*. Cases that involved lost workdays also fell from 2003 yet still exceeded 900,000, a significant loss of productivity.
It is clear that creating a safe work environment pays off , so it should be a top priority for every employer. Not only can a culture of safety lead to reduced injuries and workers compensation claims; but it can improve morale and increase productivity, as well. With a safe work environment, everybody wins, but it is up to management to create the framework and maintain a culture of safety.
A safe work environment can happen when you follow certain best practices that work, starting with assessing the workplace.
Assessing the Workplace for Safety
A safe work environment starts at the top. So the first step in assessment is to determine how management views safety. Questions, which may vary according to business size and industry, might include the list below.
- Does management clearly communicate its belief and safety expectations to employees?
- Is safety as important as production, sales, quality, technology and equipment?
- Are safety performance objectives and guidelines established?
- What are the rewards or consequences regarding these guidelines?
- Who is responsible for safety measures and how is ownership communicated throughout the organization?
A fully engaged management team is the foundation for creating a safe work environment. Next, it is time to eliminate hazards.
Increase Safety by First Focusing on the Basics
To perform the jobs, workers need to move, see, hear and breathe without risking injury or illness. During the work environment assessment, check each area for cleanliness, proper lighting and obstruction-free pathways. Look for leaking pipes, and cracked walls, floors and ceilings. Determine whether airborne chemicals, exhaust or smoke are entering the workspace. Identify the steps required to mitigate any hazards, and assign tasks to appropriate departments.
The Benefits of Job Planning to Increase Safety
Properly planning a job means fewer safety incidents. When expectations, time schedules, and equipment lists are clearly communicated, each team member knows what is required to complete a project safely and on time. Every job planning exercise should include identifying potential safety hazards, so they can be avoided. Remember that “rush” jobs often lead to worker shortcuts, lack of or improper use of safety equipment, and accidents and injuries.
Look Back to Improve Future Workplace Safety Performance
During an assessment, it is important to gather data for review. Many organizations seeking to improve workplace safety assign personnel to observe projects and tasks to identify safety hazards – both planned-for and unexpected. Examples of hazards might include
- Missing or inoperable safety equipment.
- Damaged tools or machinery.
- Workers failing to follow safety procedures.
- Poor maintenance practices.
Review the data with a goal of identifying problems, needed repairs, equipment upgrades and training opportunities; then develop an improvement plan for each area.
Aim for Continuous Safety Improvement
To continue the downward trend of workplace injuries and illnesses and control workers compensation claims, employers must make workplace safety an integral part of an organization’s culture. Here are a few tips for developing a safety culture.
Create awareness by putting safety front and center, to ensure everyone knows its importance to the organization. Hold meetings, hang signs and banners, place stickers on equipment and create contests. Include safety tips in company messages, newsletters, videos and other means of communication.
Take a team approach by involving employees and promoting a sense of shared responsibility. Solicit each employee’s help and ideas. Make sure managers are as well versed in safety as they are in production, sales and quality.
Be proactive: When hiring, evaluate a candidate’s safety awareness. Create a workforce that is familiar and comfortable with safety procedures.
Offer training: Whether employees are new or long-term, each should undergo safety training. Ongoing refresher training is also necessary to improve performance and maintain awareness.
Incentivize employees: Rewarding employees for safety, as well as for productivity, demonstrates a real commitment to workplace safety.
Put it in writing: Regularly update all employee manuals and safety for policy changes, new equipment, procedure revisions and regulations.
Be patient: Creating a safety culture takes time and continued effort. It may be a few years before your organization’s new safety-oriented culture takes hold. But the results will be worth it! (WCxKit)
A Safe Work Environment Works for Everyone
Reducing workplace illness and injuries makes good business sense. Increasing productivity and reducing resources spent on workers compensation claims means a stronger bottom line no matter what the business.
Even more important is the satisfaction and quality of life that employees can enjoy when safety becomes part of your organizational culture. Performing their jobs safely, and knowing their employer cares enough about them to take it seriously, can really boost morale. When every employee leaves work as healthy as when they arrived, then management has achieved an important goal.
This post was provided by Erin Palmer on behalf of Villanova University’s online human resources programs. Villanova offers a
Masters degree in HR, as well as HR training certificate programs. Erin can be reached on Twitter
@Erin_E_Palmer.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
When an adjuster is faced with a new and severe claim, it requires immediate attention. The injured worker may have a life-altering injury at work requiring emergency surgery, before the adjuster even sees the claim. These injuries are crush injuries, severe fractures, spinal injuries, or closed-head injuries.
First the adjuster needs to gather medical records to determine the patient’s prognosis. Questions the adjuster may ask are: Does the injured worker require an extended hospital stay? Does the patient have adequate in-home medical care or is an outside vendor recommended? Will the patient require more surgery? These are questions that must be answered, and if the adjuster is unavailable for whatever reason, a field nurse case manager (FNCM) can be very useful in helping to answer these questions. (WCxKit)
1. The FNCM can help ease the transition from hospital to home and beyond.
Sometimes in the insurance world, injuries are thought of only in a financial view with short-term glasses rather than total loss costs (less expensive in the long run; greater value.) It is easily forgotten workers sustain serious trauma affecting virtually every aspect of life. These injuries often cause major concern like how does compensation work now? How long will I be off of work? Am I going to be ok? How will I be able to provide for my family?
These answers are addressed by the field nurse case manager. FNCM workers go to the hospital to visit and talk with the patient and the patient’s family. Or the FNCM meets at the family’s home after a patient is discharged from the hospital. This eases the fear the family may have about the future. The FNCM will have the carrier and adjuster’s contact information as well as other simple, yet comforting information, for the family. The family’s questions are often medical questions about the loved one’s injury rather than other aspects.
2. The FNCM can secure medical records faster than the adjuster.
An adjuster calls to request medical records, but the request is sent directly to the records department and onto a stack of other requests. However, FNCM are typically registered nurses with advanced medical knowledge and know the paperwork required by the adjuster. This paperwork can include admission papers, doctor’s dictation and transcription, prognosis, diagnosis, diagnostic testing reports, and discharge plans.
By having someone on-site, the records reach the adjuster quicker. Nurses know how to talk to other nurses. The FCNM knows where to go in the hospital, and who to talk to in order to get this much needed info. Adjusters rely on the ability to get medical records quickly, and the FNCM can accomplish this task.
3. A FNCM can help make a discharge from hospital to home easier.
If a worker sustains a severe injury, discharge to home can be one of the most complicated aspects. Who is going to care for the injured worker? How will the worker be transported to therapy? Is someone going to help with medication or resuming daily activities? Will wheelchairs, crutches, shower rails, or a raised toilet seat be needed?
The FNCM arrives with a vendor in mind to handle these durable medical equipment (DME) requests. Chances are the adjuster has already authorized the FNCM to select DME the patient needs at home. The injured worker is going to spend a lot of time at home recovering, so proper care is crucial. Several vendors offer various home assistance including but not limited to assistance with meals, food preparation, medication pick-ups, and housecleaning. If an injured worker has no family available to assist, this will ease the fears of being alone. This is the best approach in a life-altering situation.
4. A FNCM will stay on the case until the injured worker is stabilized.
The FNCM assists not only with the patient’s initial needs of moving from the hospital to home, but also with ongoing issues and care. If the patient is unable to reach the doctor, the FNCM can address medical questions or meet the patient at the doctor’s office for appointments. Again, it is about being an available resource to the injured worker in the first stages of injury recovery.
If the injured workers has chronic pain issues or mental health issues, special FNCM will recognize these issues and assemble a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, adjusters pain management specialist, and others at a roundtable to develop action plans with goals and timetables to resolve these problems.
Psychologically, it can help the worker focus on healing and not on worrying about all the other daily tasks such as picking up medications. Whatever the need may be, the FNCM can make it easier on the injured party by providing resources and assistance.
5.The FNCM provides the injured worker resources of care.
A traumatic serious injury has many questions from all parties involved. The primary concern of the injured worker is to have needs met by the carrier and employer. By setting the claimant up with assistance from a FNCM, it resolves many fears. The goal is to get the worker back on track and focus on healing. The injured worker must not feel neglected in the hospital or at home. By assigning a FNCM, the claimant recognizes the employer is trying to provide the best care possible. The FNCM provides answers to questions, DME assistance, arranges in-home medical care, and seeks to improve the claimant’s daily life especially for injured workers with little family support. (WCxKit)
Summary
FNCM workers have a special job coming to a severely injured worker needing help . They provide assistance in many areas, not only to the injured party but also to the family. The FNCM help the carrier by obtaining much needed information about the injury. They help the employer by providing updates on the injured worker and what to expect medically in the future. Most importantly, the FNCM helps the worker focus on healing by providing quality service that only a nurse can provide.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing, publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited PJ Trailers Manufacturing Co. Inc. and Delco Trailers Co. Inc., a similar company owned by PJ Trailers, for seven willful, 26 serious, nine repeat and four other-than-serious violations.
According to an agency report, OSHA inspectors found workers exposed to unguarded machinery, fall hazards and accumulations of potentially hazardous dust, among other violations. Proposed penalties total $949,800. (WCxKit)
"Employers have a responsibility to keep their workers safe and healthy. Willful and repeat citations, as well as significant penalties, reflect the fact that management knew workers were exposed to dangerous conditions yet failed to provide them with basic safety protections. That choice is unacceptable and needlessly placed these workers' health and safety at risk," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels.
PJ Trailers Manufacturing and Delco Trailers are commonly owned, with the same president and management. They share a work site, a human resources division and a safety and health manager, and they have interrelated and integrated operations. PJ Trailers and Delco Trailers previously had been cited by OSHA for many of the same hazards that the agency found during its most recent inspection. Although the company had certified abatement of the prior hazardous conditions, many of the fixes were later abandoned to accommodate production. Since 2008, at least 15 workers have suffered eye injuries requiring medical treatment and or days away from work.
OSHA's Dallas Area Office initiated a safety and health inspection at the company's facility at 1807 Farm to Market 2352 in Sumner following receipt of a complaint that employees were not adequately protected from being injured by rotating machinery parts, and employees were exposed to toxic welding fumes while fabricating trailers and noise levels above approved health standards.
The willful violations involve failing to provide fall protection for employees working on stacked trailers, provide adequate machine guarding to prevent "caught-in" or "caught-between injuries," provide employees with proper eye protection during cutting and welding operations, and establish and maintain an audiometric testing program. Audiometric testing is required when employees are exposed to high noise levels to determine if their hearing is being adversely affected. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
Repeat violations include failing to ensure that all spray booth areas were kept free from accumulated powder coating, guard several pieces of hazardous machinery, have all necessary lockout/tagout procedures, provide training on existing lockout/tagout procedures to protect employees from hazardous machinery starting up unexpectedly and ensure that medical evaluations were completed to determine employees' ability to use respirators. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. OSHA cited the company in September and October of 2006 and March 2010 for similar violations.
Serious violations include failing to provide required fall protection, provide training on electrical hazards and prevent exposure to welding fumes in excess of the average allowed during an 8-hour shift. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Other-than-serious violations include failing to enter recordable injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 300 log within seven calendar days and properly certify the OSHA 300A form or its equivalent. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. (WCxKit)
The workers compensation carrier insuring PJ Trailers and Delco Trailers is Farmington Casualty Co.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited Tenneco Automotive Operating Co. for 20 safety and health violations at its manufacturing plant in Hartwell. Several violations involved hexavalent chromium exposure, which can lead to nose, throat and lung damage. Proposed fines total $90,000, according to information from OSHA.
"There is ample information alerting employers to the hazards posed by hexavalent chromium. OSHA will not tolerate companies that expose employees to this and other well-known workplace hazards," said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. (WCxKit)
Seventeen serious safety and health violations were cited. Those related to hexavalent chromium include failing to prevent exposure beyond OSHA's authorized limits, not developing a plan to limit exposure, not providing a separate storage area or change area for personal protective equipment used by workers, failing to consult a physician about the chromium exposures, not maintaining an eyewash station, failing to provide clean work surfaces free from chromium accumulations and failing to dispose of waste using a sealed container.
The remaining serious violations include failing to evaluate and prevent workers entering confined spaces from doing so without required permits, train workers on lockout/tagout procedures, implement a lockout/tagout program for energy sources to prevent machines from accidentally starting up during servicing and maintenance, provide guards on machines and provide a cover to an electrical panel. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
Three other-than-serious violations involved mounting an outlet, switch box on a structural support column, blocking an electrical disconnect, and failing to require employees to practice entering confined spaces since 2009. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm. No monetary penalties were assessed. (WCxKit)
Tenneco Automotive Operating Co. is a division of Tenneco, a global transportation components manufacturer with more than 80 facilities on six continents with corporate offices in Lake Forest, Ill.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s Workers Compensation Fraud Unit filed charges recently against Raul Obed Orozco, 50, of Perry, and Zeina Khatib, 49, of Tulsa.
According to the AG’s office, Orozco was arrested after being charged with three counts of workers comp fraud and one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses. According to charges filed in Payne County District Court, Orozco filed a fraudulent workers comp claim for injuries allegedly sustained while working. (WCxKit)
The defendant sought medical treatment in Tulsa and Stillwater for two different work-related injuries. After receiving complaints, investigators found probable cause that crimes were committed.
Khatib was charged with one count of workers comp fraud. According to the charges filed in Tulsa County District Court, Khatib filed a workers compensation claim for injuries to her “right fingers, neck, head, knees, brain, left hand, wrist, arm and shoulder” when she tripped over a mat and fell while working. (WCxKit)
The defendant sought medical treatment in Tulsa for work-related injuries. In a deposition, the defendant stated she was not working and hadn’t worked since sustaining her injuries, however, investigators observed Khatib working on multiple occasions.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Public transit workers in Toronto will in the near future be subject to random drug and alcohol testing as the city's transit service was given permission to start testing employees in safety-sensitive positions, according to a report from the Canadian OH&S News.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was pushing for random testing to be added to the Fitness for Duty policy because the current policy, which came into effect in 2010, has been ineffective at deterring workplace intoxication, says Brad Ross, director of public communications for the TTC. (WCxKit)
The current policy allows for workers in safety-sensitive positions – operators, maintenance staff, supervisors and executives – to be tested for alcohol and marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and PCP, using breathalyzers and saliva swabs, when there is a reasonable cause or testing post-incident, post-violation, post-treatment and pre-employment.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents the majority of TTC workers, is already challenging the present policy, and random testing will be added to the grievance, commented Ian Fellows, the union's lawyer in the grievance litigation.
"It's an invasion of our members' privacy. It treats everybody as if they've done something wrong and it requires them to submit to an invasive procedure," says Fellows. "They've got to offer up a sample of their bodily fluid and their DNA. That's contrary to our agreement and we say the [Ontario] Human Rights Code and the Charter of Rights."
While specifics regarding how the program would run have not yet been worked out, Ross notes the TTC would work with a third party to develop a testing protocol and it would be at least a few months before a system would be ready to implement.
"We need to figure out what percentage of employees we'd need to test on an annual basis, but in theory the way it works is you show up for work and the system tells us it's your turn for random testing," he says.
The saliva swabs, as opposed to the traditional urinalysis when testing for drugs, only show whether a person was impaired when the swab was taken based on a pass/fail threshold, not if they had used drugs in the past. The swabs would be tested by an outside lab, Ross says. "We're interested in ensuring that when you report for work, you're fit for duty, not what you did two days ago or two weeks ago, for that matter."
This is not the first time the TTC has tried to introduce random drug and alcohol testing. When it first brought the Fitness for Duty policy to its board of directors in September of 2008, random testing was in the policy, but the board refused to give it the green light. However, the board has changed since the policy was first introduced.
Ross reports that TTC staff felt the random testing policy was needed and would revisit the proposal at a later date. Ross also dismissed a recent incident, where a TTC bus driver was found with marijuana in his possession after a fatal accident, as the reason for trying to reintroduce random testing.
"There have been a number of public incidents over the last couple of years that have been cause for great concern, and there have been incidents within the organization that have not been public but are a concern as well," he says.
The number of incidents involving drugs and alcohol has not decreased since the policy was introduced, Ross added.
Though the TTC has data comparing the number of incidents from 2006 to 2008 and 2008 to present, they are part of the grievance litigation and are not being released to the public. Hearings began in 2011 and are scheduled throughout 2012.
Random testing brings the TTC, with its 1.6-million riders a day, more in line with public transit services in the United States, where random testing of all workers in the transportation sector is the law. "We are the third largest transit agency in North America after New York and Mexico City, and we feel that this element of the policy is necessary," Ross noted. (WCxKit)
Windsor's public transit service is the only one in Canada that has implemented random testing, but only for employees who drive routes that cross into Michigan.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
One of the most common causes of workers compensation claims is the improper lifting of a heavy object by an employee. It is also one of the easiest workers compensation claims to avoid. When an employee injures a back, it is usually not the heavy weight, but the method of lifting the weight that was improper. These back injuries can be avoided. The teaching of proper lifting techniques, to any employee who may be called upon to physically move objects, is an essential part of any good safety program.
There are at least 6 common things that employees do that cause them to hurt their back. They are (this is not an all inclusive list)
1. Twisting while lifting
2. Holding the object too far away from the body
3. Lifting with the back bent
4. Contorting the body to lift in an unnatural way
5. Losing their balance while lifting
6. Not coordinating their lift with other co-worker(s)
1. Twisting while Lifting
When a heavy object needs to be moved from a floor or other level to a higher level, the employee will often be paralleled to the higher level when the object is picked up and will have to twist to set the object on the higher level (shelf, cart, conveyor belt, etc.). The employee should approach the object perpendicular to the higher level where the object is going to be placed, with the employee, the object and the higher level in a straight line. This puts the object in the middle between the employee and the higher level, allowing the employee to lift the object without twisting. It also allows the employee to have the head facing straight forward to keep all parts of the spine in a straight line. (WCxKit)
2. Holding the Object Too Far from the Body
Sometimes employees just do not want to get dirty. If the object is dirty, greasy, oily, etc., the employee may be inclined to try to lift the object while holding the object away from the body. This is difficult to do with light objects and a recipe for an injury with heavy objects. The further the object is from the body, the harder it is too lift and the more strain it places on the body. The employees need to be taught to hold the object they lift as close to the body as possible to avoid strain on the back.
3. Lifting with the Back Bent
When employees have not been taught the proper lifting techniques for heavy weights, they are often inclined to keep the legs straight and the back bent. This is backwards of the proper way to lift. The employee should be facing the object with the feet shoulder width apart. The employee should keep the back straight and bend the knees to lower the body closer to the object. This allows the employee to lift the object with the strength of the legs instead of placing tremendous strain on the back by trying lift with the back bent.
4. Contorting the Body to Lift in an Unnatural Way
Often the box of supplies, or bucket of parts or other heavy object is surrounded by other objects that are in the way of the employee trying to lift the object needed. When the employee contorts the body to lift a load in a cluttered area, the worker is inviting injury. While it takes a little longer, the employee should be taught to move other items out of the way (using proper lifting techniques) before trying to lift a heavy object. The employee should be sure the area around the object and the pathway from the object is clear prior to lifting it.
5. Losing Balance While Lifting
There are different ways the employee can lose his balance while lifting a load. Common mistakes include placing the feet too close together, picking up an irregularly shaped object where the load is uneven, trying to pick up a stack of two or more objects at the same time, or trying to pick up an object that is too heavy. The employees should be taught that the feet need to be at least shoulder width apart, or slightly wider. If the load is unevenly balanced, the employee should redistribute the weight of the load if more than one object, or to get someone to assist in lifting the object if the weight of the object is unevenly distributed.
6. Not Coordinating the Lift with Others
When two or more people are lifting a heavy object at one time, not only is there a strong probability of a back injury if done incorrectly, the employees may badly smash toes. When it takes more than one person to lift an object, and a forklift is not option, it is imperative that all the parties to the lift communicate where they are holding or grasping the object, where they are moving the object to, and when they will lift simultaneously. (WCxKit)
Proper lifting can easily be taught to all employees involved in any type of manual labor. The basic points each employee needs to know include
- Keep the back straight at all times
- Keep the load as close to the body as possible
- Keep the feet at least shoulder width apart with the toes turned slightly outward
- Bend the knees, not the back
- Keep the object to be lifted directly in front of you to avoid twisting
- Keep your head forward facing the object
- Breathe out as you lift
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing, publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
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