Tom Cruise was told to “Show me the money” in the movie “Jerry McGuire”. And after some trials and tribulations, he is able to get his client to the very top of his career. I have not watched that movie in a number of years, but every time I talk to an employer about the benefits of a safety program, or the benefits of pursuing a solid ergonomic program, one of the first questions is typically “Show me what it saved the other guys and what it will save me.”
If the employer believes there is a safe workplace and a good loss run, then it can be a hard sell. But what that person does not know is there is always room for improvement. Also just because it is going ok now does not mean it will be in 3 years from now. The workers comp world is always changing and morphing into the unknown, as the stressors of personal life and work life mount. Until they finally show themselves by stealing attention for 4 seconds, and a hand goes into a worker’s machine. And at that point that worker’s life is changed forever. WCxKit
That is an extreme example, but injuries do happen! Here are 4 examples of companies benefiting from the installation of an ergonomic/safety program. (References to the examples below are listed at the end of the article.)
1. Hensel Phelps Construction
This company began to notice large spikes in musculoskeletal disorders among its employees. So to combat this problem, they hired and implemented a pilot program at one of the company’s larger construction sites that consisted mainly of a customized stretching and strengthening program for the workers based on the specific jobs they were performing at that site.
After implementing the program, Hensel Phelps employees logged over 104,000 hours at that pilot jobsite without any reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
104,000 hours! That is 2,600 40-hour workweeks. Hensel went from having a major outbreak of a specific type of injury, to almost wiping it out. It is hard to argue with that success.
2. Quad Graphics
In 1995, Quad Graphics instituted a comprehensive ergonomics program using employee-led management teams to identify ergonomic risk factors for workplace injuries and institute training and controls to reduce the risk drivers.
Within 4 years, Quad Graphics experiences a 25% reduction in the number of work related injuries, a 39% decrease in the number of back injuries, and an overall reduction in lost work time days of 25%.
The key here is that Quad uses “employee-led” teams. We often mention using your employees as a resource. They are the ones working those same workstations day after day. They have legit ideas, so tap into your best free resource and see what they tell you.
3. Rockwell Automation
Rockwell experienced an increase in injury rates at its Milwaukee facility in the early 1990’s as the worker population and seniority rates changed.
A comprehensive approach to injury prevention is developed focusing on ergonomic training, ergonomic retrofitting, and on-site stocking of frequently used ergonomic items such as hand tools, floor mats, foot rests, and anti-vibration gloves.
Rockwell reports a significant reduction in lost time and/or restricted workdays as a result of the program.
Again the key is taking a step back, identifying the risk factors, finding out what options are available to reduce the risk, and implementing them. All you have to do then is sit back and track the numbers over the course of 6 months or a year. The more you are working at full capacity, the better the production, the stronger the profit margin.
4. Tyson Foods in Monett, MO
Tyson discovered increased musculoskeletal disorders identified at this specific location. In order to combat these numbers, Tyson instituted an on-site medical management program in March 2002 to reduce the number and severity and these injuries.
The medical management team consists of an on-site physical therapist to assist with job placement and job analyses, as well as follow up on the doctor prescribed treatment of work-related injuries. The occupational health nurses, physicians, and therapists met together at least annually as a group to discuss the successes of the program as well as to recognize any areas of improvement.
This program is successful because it produces enhanced job placement, improved and personalized modification of job duties for injured employees, improved communications between the therapist, doctor, team member, and management team, as well as faster recovery times, and in some cases it leads to prevention of work-related injuries/illnesses. Again this is a fantastic success for a large manufacturing location such as this. WCxKit
Summary
There are no more excuses for not implementing a safety team or program after reviewing these 4 examples. Each of these stories is a great example of identifying a problem, establishing a program to correct it, and tracking the successes of your implementations. Your broker/carrier/TPA has resources to get you started in the right direction. The sooner the program is implemented, the sooner to start saving on claims.
References
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. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com.
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
Lincoln University in Great Britain has been fined for putting staff, students and contractors at risk of exposure to asbestos.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the failings came to light in February of 2010 when a lecturer became trapped in a room after a door lock broke. She enlisted the help of a colleague to release her and once freed, they noticed debris around the door handle. (WCxKit)
They notified the university's health and safety department which examined the door and others in the area, and discovered most were lined with asbestos insulating board (AIB), and that some were damaged.
The university notified HSE, which carried out its own investigation. It was found that a number of areas across the university's estate had been subject to asbestos surveys over a number of years and many areas were found to contain asbestos-containing materials or even asbestos debris, yet no remedial action had been taken.
Lincoln University Higher Education Corporation, of Brayford Pool, Lincoln, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 at Lincoln Magistrates Court. The university was fined $15,629 and ordered to pay $19,939.77 costs.
After the hearing at Lincoln Magistrates Court, HSE inspector Edward Walker noted, "Exposure to asbestos fibers is a well-known health hazard that results in approximately 4,000 deaths a year. (WCxKit)
"The university had an asbestos management plan but had failed to follow it and failed to take appropriate steps to manage the risks associated with asbestos over a number of years, putting staff, students and contractors at risk of potential exposure."
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
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Robinson Drilling of Texas Ltd. for eight serious, four repeat and 11 other-than-serious safety and health violations following the death of two workers at the company's work site near Lamesa at Truitt Woods Field, Well No. 1, Rig No. 3.
According to a report from OSHA's Lubbock District Office, the agency began its investigation of the incident on June 11. About five employees were performing drilling operations in the area when the kelly bushing, a device that when fitted into the master bushing transmits torque and simultaneously permits vertical movement to make a hole, came apart and fatally struck two employees working on the drill floor. (WCxKit)
One serious violation related to the incident was cited for failing to prevent "struck-by" injuries, which could have been prevented had the employer adhered to industry practices as enforced by OSHA under the general duty clause.
The remaining serious violations include failing to provide covers on floor holes to prevent trip hazards, ensure that self-contained breathing apparatus are fully charged, ensure that work surfaces are clean and dry, ensure that stacked materials are blocked to prevent materials from moving when placed on a rack and ensure that flexible cords are used properly. 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.
The repeat violations include failing to complete the OSHA 301 form; failing to establish a written respiratory protection program and failing to provide strain relief for flexible cords. 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 for similar violations in 2007 and 2011.
The other-than-serious violations involve failing to properly complete the OSHA 300 logs for recording injuries and illnesses. 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.
"Two workers lost their lives because Robinson Drilling allowed serious hazards to exist in the workplace," said Joann Figueroa, OSHA's area director in El Paso. "It is the employer's responsibility to follow OSHA standards and ensure that work environments free from all unnecessary hazards." (WCxKit)
Proposed penalties total $93,700. Big Spring, Texas-based Robinson Drilling, which employs about 500 workers nationwide, has 15 business days from receipt of these citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in El Paso or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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 rshafer@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
More than 600 inspections of residential construction sites in Alberta lead to close to 400 orders issued, according to a recent report from The Canadian Press.
Occupational Health and Safety did the inspections recently and issued 394 orders, including 83 stop-work orders.(WCxKit)
A lack of fall protection, or a fall protection plan, accounted for 131 orders, approximately one-third of all orders issued.
Dave Hancock, minister of Human Services, responsible for Occupational Health and Safety, noted the province needs to create a culture of workplace health and safety in all Albertans. He reports he wants to assess the impact of all three focused inspection campaigns the province conducted this year.
For the past several months, OHS has carried out a pilot program of evening and weekend inspections, including the recent residential construction campaign.
Hancock states the stepped-up schedule will continue on a regular basis.
''
There are many sectors of our province's workforce that don't clock in from nine to five,'' said Hancock.(WCxKit)
'Revising the working hours of our OHS officers to include weekends and evenings only makes sense. This, along with our ongoing educational efforts and continuing to work with industry and safety associations, will help improve compliance in the workplace,'' he added.
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.
A Welshpool, Australia manufacturing company has been fined $20,000 over an incident in which an employee sustained injuries to his left arm when part of a rope press shattered and struck him.
According to the Western Australian Department of Commerce, Jeminex Brands & Operations Pty Ltd (formerly Beaver Brands) pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court recently. (WCxKit)
Jeminex Brands is a manufacturer of wire rope slings and chain slings. Using a rope press, wire rope of a required length is fed through an aluminum collar known as a “ferrule” and the ferrule is then compressed between two dies until they touch to hold the rope together.
The pressure applied by the dies is able to be varied according to the diameter of the rope, with maximum pressures stipulated in a chart of pressures in megapascals of pressure. The process is known as “swaging”.
A Jeminex employee was engaged in swaging rope. He had already completed two ropes by visually determining when the dies touched. When he swaged the third rope, the dies came together and shattered, causing lacerations to his left arm. The amount of pressure on the dies can be pre-set, and once that maximum pressure is reached, the limit switch is activated and no further pressure can be applied. The maximum pressure stipulated for the diameter of rope being used by the employee was five megapascals. The wire rope press was set at a maximum pressure of 34 megapascals.
The court heard that the employee was not instructed to check or change the maximum pressure of the wire rope press before he began the task.
It was practicable for the employer to have trained its employee to either set the press to the maximum recommended pressure or to set the pressure at a low level and increase it in small increments until the dies touched.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said the case should serve as a reminder of the importance of training and instruction in the workplace.
“
Training of new and young workers is one of WorkSafe’s operational priority areas, and a large amount of time and resources are invested in ensuring that employers provide workers with suitable and adequate induction and training,” McCulloch said.
“
This worker had been with the employer for four months, and this incident made it apparent that he had not been provided with sufficient training and instruction to operate the machinery in a safe manner. (WCxKit)
“
Every employer has the responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace; to share information and to provide training and supervision – that is part of the employer’s basic duty of care.
Australian Tire Center, Director Fined After Worker Suffers Injuries
A Yamba tire center (New South Wales, Australia) and its director have been fined a total of $170,000 and ordered to pay WorkCover’s legal costs after an employee received serious injuries while fitting new tires to an earthmover, according to a report from the WorkCover Authority of NSW.
The Lower River Tyre Centre Pty Ltd (Lower River) sells tires, wheels and batteries as well as providing tire-fitting services for a range of private, commercial and industrial vehicles. (WCxKit)
A 47-year-old Lower River tire fitter was changing six spilt rim grader tires on an earth-moving grader when one of the six tires exploded while it was being inflated.
The tires on this large commercial earthmover were around 1.4m in diameter and approximately 40cm thick.
The employee sustained serious injuries to his face and upper-body, as well as complications during surgery which required months of rehabilitation.
A WorkCover investigation found that Lower River had no adequate safety protocols in place at the time of the accident.
There was no safety cage large enough to protect the worker, nor any devices in place limiting tire pressure on larger commercial tires, which both would have reduced the risk of injuries.
The company also did not have documented OHS systems in place; failed to carry out a proper risk assessment; did not conduct formal risk assessments; and did not provide adequate or documented
training.
Lower River and its director Anthony Paul Hardacre were charged with breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000. Both pleaded guilty to the charges. (WCxKit)
Lower River was convicted and fined $160,000. Anthony Hardacre was convicted and fined $10,000.
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. He is an editor and contributor to Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. 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.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Workers’ Compensation Costs Can Be Reduced by Implementing Operational Best Practices: Learn How With This New Guidebook.
A company that wants to implement a new workers compensation program or revamp an existing system will find this book helpful. Maybe your company has recently expanded and you realize the need to train a workers compensation manager or regional coordinators how to hold down compensation costs. Whatever your need, here is the answer:
Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs 20%-50%.
Used by more than 150 firms across the country, this is THE book to help every employer develop a more effective workers compensation program to reduce workers compensation costs. It is based on field research and decades of experience in workers compensation from all aspects of the business. Best practices are described in detail for each person in the injury process.
This easy-to-read manual has been updated for 2012. It now includes:
An index for quick topic look-up so you can view a term or a procedure and see all relevant references.
NEW – Workers Compensation Basics
Purpose of Workers Compensation
Who Pays for Workers Compensation?
Parties Involved in Workers Compensation
Benefits for the Employer
Independent Contractors
Benefits for the Employee
Injuries Covered
Types of Workers Compensation
How Losses are Categorized
How Losses are Reported
Calculating Your Premium
How Mod Effects Your Premium
Good/Bad Mod Example
Five Ways to Reduce Your Mod
NEW – Fundamentals of Cost Containment
Reasons Workers Compensation Costs are High
Who is in Charge?
Work Ability Form Properties
Who is Responsible for Managing Workers Compensation Claims?
Who is Responsible for Managing Workers Compensation Process?
Hidden (Indirect) Costs of Workers Compensation
Additional Costs
Calculating WC Costs
External Obstacles to Cost Control
Internal Obstacles to Cost Control
NEW – Working with Your Adjusters or TPA
Account Handling Instructions
MD Participation
NEW- Reporting a Claim
Critical Issues
Essential Intake Considerations
Nurse Triage
NEW- Directing Medical Care
Occupational Health Clinics
Remote Health Services
Directing Medical Care in California
NEW- Return to Work
What to Include in a Transitional Duty Policy
Non-Profit, Volunteer or Charitable Positions
Employees Who Never Return to Work
Coordinating WC with Federal and State Leave Statutes
NEW – Other Indemnity Cost Containment Services
Telephonic Disability Intervention
NEW – Medical Cost Containment
URAC Certification
Mental Health RNs
Chronic Pain Programs
An Aging Workforce
At Home Recovery Services
Medical Fee Schedules
Fee Schedule Coding
ICD-9 and CPT Codes
NEW- Physical Therapy and Physical Rehabilitation
Differences between Physical Rehabilitation Programs
Pharmacy Benefits Management Program
Authorized Drug Formulary
Toxicology Screening
NEW – Fighting Fraud and Abuse
Medical Terminology Used to Identify Malingering
Reviewing Investigation Reports and Videos
Avoid good Day/Bad Day Syndrome
NEW – Claims Resolution and Settlements
Conditional Payment and Final Demand
Pharmacy Component of MSA
California Settlement Process
A 183-page guide covering how to assess your workers compensation program, design program materials, roll out a program to the organization, and monitor and manage the program once implemented.
Written by a national expert on workers compensation cost containment with over 25 years experience helping companies reduce their losses 20% to 50%.
T. Ronca, a workers’ compensation defense attorney from Long Island, NY, said the
book is an invaluable desk reference. “It is one of the tools that should never be out of reach for a risk manager. Direct employer involvement with claims in the first weeks is the difference between success and failure. This manual will guide the conscientious employer through the pitfalls,” Ronca said.
What’s more, the book can be delivered with your company logo on the cover and a full-color ad for your company on the back cover.
Take it out to the field. Text tabs are available to put on each chapter and it is ready to go as your company training manual. All you will have to do is customize the Training Agenda that is in Part I of the book.
Included in the manual are topics such as: Return to work and transitional duty, claim reporting, employee communications, controlling fraud and abuse, directing medical care, medical cost containment solutions, post injury response procedures, reporting procedures, working with your carrier and third party administrator. There is information about physical therapy, pharmacy benefits management programs, training supervisors and gaining management commitment. It also contains concepts of claim settlement and resolution as well as safety and loss control. New areas are identified above.
There are 5 sample worksheets in the manual to help organize an efficient workers’ compensation program. These include: timetable for implementation, the injury coordinator job description, and several sample roll-out letters. We recently received a terrific phone call from a third-party administration firm saying how the manual provided an organized way to train clients at loss prevention and has helped their clients put "layers of better WC management" in place. Everyone benefited.
One large distribution firm wrote to us to say the chapter on safety and loss control led to a company-wide safety change that only cost a few hundred dollars but prevented a specific type of injury that had been draining its budget, says Rebecca Shafer, Esq., President of Amaxx Risk Solution, Inc. who authors the book. Shafer is a national expert on workers’ compensation cost containment with more than 25 years of industry experience helping many companies reduce their losses 20-50%.
When you order your copy of Manage your Workers’ Compensation Program from Advisen at
http://corner.advisen.com/wcbooks, the 183-page guidebook shows how to assess your program, design program materials, roll-out a program to the organization, and monitor and manage the program once implemented.
The workbook is also available with a customized front and back cover for bulk purchases. Discounted rates apply to bulk orders.
One company said, "After reading the manual, we took a look at past workers comp practices and saw that every department did things differently. Manage Your Workers’' Compensation Program 2012 gave us the guidance we needed to standardize our workers’ compensation programs across the country. It was like a pre-prepared lesson plan," according to the risk manager.
A regional hospital in North Dakota wrote that, "Our small company expanded rapidly and we actually didn’t have any official workers’ compensation program in place. This manual gave us step-by-step procedures from the first meetings with management to monitoring the final program. Buying and reading the book was almost like hiring another employee – one who was an expert in workers’ compensation."
Who Uses the Workers’ Compensation Book?
Risk Managers and Workers’ Comp Managers find it useful learning about the cost containment niche and use it for themselves and to bringing new team members up to speed very quickly. The book becomes a “lesson plan” tool.
Safety Directors use the book to train supervisors in workers’ compensation claims management. They learn more about their area of responsibility — post loss cost containment — adding to their overall knowledge. They also learn what to do after an injury and what steps are supposed to take place during the first 24 hours.
Brokers use it for prospects, as well as, to learn about specific aspects of cost containment, passing their knowledge on to their clients. For example, when discussing how to develop a return-to-work program and a client asks about, “off-site return-to-work programs,” the broker quickly finds the relevant section in the book, reviews it and passes the answer on to the client, along with a copy of the cost containment book with the broker’s logo.
Adjusters use the book to gain a better understanding of the employer’s perspective. Adjusters also want to learn more about cost containment to add to their overall workers’ compensation knowledge in order to grow their careers and stay abreast of new services.
Account Producers give the book to prospects during formal presentations to illustrate their company is on top of the workers’ compensation industry. The book makes an excellent client gift.
Vendors such as doctors, physical therapy networks, occupational clinics and medical management firms learn how their service might fit into the workers’ compensation marketplace, what is important to employers, and what they look for in medical services to enable the vendors to enter the workers’ compensation marketplace.
The manual is a cost-cutting tool to learn more about systematic and operational techniques for reducing workers compensation costs.
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 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. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. 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.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Posted in
Claim Audits & File Review,
Communication with Employees,
Coordinating Medical Care,
Federal Workers Compensation,
Fraud and Abuse,
Insurance Issues, Rates, Premiums,
Lowering Premiums & Experience Mod,
Management Commitment,
Medical Cost Containment & Managed Care,
Medicare Set Asides (MSAs),
Professional Development Issues,
Return to Work and Transitional Duty,
Risk Management,
Safety and Loss Control,
Settling WC Claims,
TPA and Claims Administration,
WC 101,
WC in Other Countries (International) |
A modular building company in Great Britain has been fined after a worker was left with permanent injuries when a lifting operation went wrong, according to a report from the Health and Safety Executive.
Banksman John Hughes, of Newark, was working in an outdoor yard of Caledonian Building Systems Ltd at Carlton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, on Feb. 20, 2009. (WCxKit)
He was helping a fork lift truck driver to raise an 11-tonne modular building unit off some blocks and a wheeled axle, on to a lorry, but the unstable load started to rock. Hughes put his right hand on to the wooden block, to move it out of the way, but one end of the unit came down on his fingers.
His index finger was crushed and had to be amputated at the knuckle, however 18 months later after continuing problems it was completely removed. His middle finger was also damaged. Hughes was off work for 12 weeks in total before returning to work.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found the lifting operation was disorganized and the employees involved were not provided with clear information or instructions. It was unclear who was supposed to participate in the operation, what their role was, which equipment would be used and whether the unit would be moved elsewhere or simply vertically lifted. (WCxKit)
Caledonian Building Systems Ltd., of Glendale Gryfe Road, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Lastly, Nottingham Magistrates fined the firm $23,000 (£15,000) and ordered it to pay costs of ($11,500) £7,328.
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.
It is never too late to start thinking about how to be more proactive when it comes to handling your insurance losses. You can implement a program or plan any time, provided you roll it out to the right people and your employees or workers understand the initiatives and reasons behind it.
Sometimes workers don’t understand how insurance works. Commercial insurance is a monster to address. It is hard to explain how an underwriter comes up with the numbers they do in order to assign a premium to your workplace. But the bottom line that should be communicated is that every dollar that goes out from the insurance company/TPA could affect the insurance cost. If you have higher costs, maybe you cannot give out higher bonuses. Or maybe increased costs result in certain workers not getting a pay raise. All workers will understand when you put it into a sense of how if affects them directly. So let’s go over some simple loss reduction techniques to refresh your mind for 2012:
1. Make a commitment to promoting safety
If you are going to do this, go all out. You need to establish the rules and procedures, and then you need to come up with a way to drill it into everyone’s mind. The perfect way is by having rules enforced, and violators punished. Not harsh, severe punishments, but more than a slap on the wrist. Make them park in the back of the lot. Make them wear a different color safety hat than everyone else, or a vest that claims they broke the safety rules. Have the punishment be something that is part tongue-in-cheek, but it gets the point across and leads to some good natured ribbing from other coworkers.
On the other side, reward safety achievements. Use gas cards or coupons for free food as gifts. Do raffles and hand out a few prizes to the person that was the most safety-oriented. Whatever you do, make the reward something more tangible than a pat on the back.
Also you can post safety rules and violations on signs and place them all over your work floor, in the bathrooms, in the break areas, etc. Make sure they are at eye-level where people can see them, and color them accordingly so they are hard to miss. Use diagrams and stick people to represent the injury that could occur if you stuck your hand into the saw blade with the machine on. If may seem elementary, but your workers will see those drawings everyday and probably laugh at them, but the more they look at them, the more they remember, and the safer they just might be.
2. Make safety paramount
When you have a safe work environment, you have more productive employees. This is due to the fact that your safe machines are running like they should. Nobody is worried about something breaking or someone getting injured by doing certain jobs. Safe workplaces have fewer workers comp claims.
Obviously there is a direct link between safety and work comp. The less safe you are, the more work comp injuries you will have. And that leads into higher premium exposure. If your claims skyrocket, the costs increase, and that could increase the cost of your premium for your work comp policy. So it all begins with safety. Safety is the key to keeping comp costs down. Which, in-turn, controls premium costs.
3. Have well-defined safety policies and the need to implement them
If workers are not following the safety rules, that is a problem. A rare violator that has to wear the vest of shame is one thing. But if you have a guy breaking the safety rules everyday, you have an issue. You have to investigate why the worker is not following the rules. Document your findings, and then follow through with safety training or re-education on the proper safety function for the particular machine or device they may be using. Maybe they were taught by another employee to use the machine incorrectly. Whatever the reason, investigate it, document it, then retrain and follow through until the person understands and is capable of safely operating the device or doing the work task within your defined safety rules and procedures.
4. Can the employer fire a worker that disobeyed a direct, known safety protocol?
Wow, is this a Pandora ’s Box of a question!!!!! There are numerous case law decisions within any jurisdiction that comment on this matter. I hear this question ALL THE TIME! The answer is "Yes, sometimes" and "No, at other times."
My advice is to always consult your counsel and adjuster before you do anything. Improper termination may open yourself to a world of fines and legal issues, and even though you think you may be doing the right thing that is not for you to decide. Consult your attorney before ever making such a decision. The choice will vary by accident, and no two will be the same.
5. Safety violations cost employers money!
If people are hurt, they cannot do their job, which decreases production, which in turn decreases profit. Jobs get completed late, others have to make up for the gap in work, etc. As mentioned earlier, safety violations in any form will always cost you money. The safer you are, the more productive, the more profitable.
Think Zero Accidents as your goal! People say, "Oh, that's impossible." But it's only impossible if you don't try.
6. High employee morale helps to reduce losses
Several studies show the link between morale and workers comp losses. Happy workers are happy because they have jobs they like; they have manageable workloads, safe working environments, etc. Disgruntled employees are overworked, underpaid, and under stress. They typically are working with potentially unsafe materials, in an unsafe shop, where there is a lot of risk for injury. Sooner or later they will stumble upon that risk, and injure themselves.
Actually the studies linking morale to work comp show they are linked up mostly in subjective injuries: back pain, muscle pain, headaches, etc. The more unhappy the workforce, the more subjective claims seem to surface.
7. Timely claim reporting saves money
And as always, and we say it time and time again, the sooner you get that work comp claim to your carrier to be assigned to an adjuster, the quicker they are on the case, the better the result will be. The more you delay in calling it in, the more it will cost you down the road. WCxKit
So, remember, it’s never too late to start thinking about safety, and how it impacts your bottom line. Think carefully about each job task and what risks your workers face. Solicit feedback from your employees. Involve them in this process, and hear what they have to say. The more they are involved, the more they will participate, and the more successful your program will be. Be safe!
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. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com.
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 Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced that federal inspectors issued 374 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 18 coal mines and two metal/nonmetal mines last month.
According to the agency’s report, the coal mines were issued 292 citations, 28 orders and one safeguard, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 52 citations and one order.(WCxKit)
Special impact inspections, which began in force in 2010 following the explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine, involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns, including high numbers of violations or closure orders; indications of operator tactics, such as advance notification of inspections that prevent inspectors from observing violations; frequent hazard complaints or hotline calls; plan compliance issues; inadequate workplace examinations; a high number of accidents, injuries or illnesses; fatalities; and adverse conditions, such as increased methane liberation, faulty roof conditions and inadequate ventilation.
As an example from recent inspections, an impact inspection was conducted during the second shift at D & C Mining Corp.'s underground coal mine in Harlan County, Ky. Inspectors arrived at the mine and immediately captured and monitored the mine phone to prevent advance notification of their presence. The inspection resulted in seven 104(d)(2) withdrawal orders, one 107(a) imminent danger order and 11 104(a) citations, of which 16 were designated significant and substantial.
The imminent danger order was issued when the inspection team found a cigarette lighter near the continuous mining machine, marking the second time this year that smoking articles were found underground at this mine. This condition provided an ignition source in the presence of combustible materials, loose coal and coal dust accumulations in an area with inadequate rock dust to prevent an explosion. The impact inspection was the sixth conducted at the mine since April 2010.
Inspectors wrote two of the withdrawal orders for inadequate roof and rib supports at the face area of the mine where miners normally work and travel during their shift. Violations included loose, unsupported draw rock, as well as wide roof and rib bolt spacing, all of which created the potential for roof and rib collapses.
Additionally, inspectors found inadequate rock dusting, use of a non-permissible cap lamp, accumulations of combustible material, an inadequate smoke search program, inadequate pre-shift examinations, improperly working parking brakes on mobile equipment, nonworking self-contained self-rescuer units, a poorly maintained roof drill dust collection system and inadequate illumination on the mine surface areas.
"The closure order is still one of the most effective tools inspectors have to bring about compliance, even during impact inspections," said Joseph Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "We will not hesitate to use this and other enforcement tools to protect the nation's miners."
As a second example, MSHA conducted an impact inspection Sept. 12 to 16 at Robinson Nevada Mining Co.'s Robinson Operation, a large surface copper mine located in White Pine County, Nev. MSHA issued 34 citations during the inspection, including 25 citations to the mine operator and nine to independent contractors working on mine property.
Among the hazards inspectors cited were inadequate testing of electrical grounding systems, and unattended pieces of mobile equipment that were left with engines running and parked on a grade without properly blocking the wheels. In addition, approximately 30 compressed gas cylinders were stored without caps to prevent injury to the valves which, if damaged, could pose an explosion risk. Inspectors also found an open excavation hole that was not supported to prevent material from falling onto workers.(WCxKit)
Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 347 impact inspections, which have resulted in 6,187 citations, 584 orders and 22 safeguards.
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
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports it cited American Railcar Industries. Inc., headquartered in Saint Charles, Mo., for 10 serious safety violations after an employee was electrocuted while performing repair work on a tanker-style railcar July 25 at the company's work site near Marmaduke, Ark.
"Exposing workers to electrocution hazards without proper safeguards and training is inexcusable," said Carlos Reynolds, the agency's area director in Little Rock. "It is the employer's responsibility to create a safe and healthful workplace where preventable hazards don't cost workers their lives."(WcxKitz)
Upon receiving a fatality report from the employer, OSHA's Little Rock Area Office initiated an investigation July 26 at the company's facility on Highway 34 East and found that workers were being exposed to electrical shocks from welding equipment.
The violations include failing to provide personal protection for employees conducting cutting and welding operations; properly mark the power supply and control boxes for voltage, current and wattage; use fixed wiring instead of flexible cords and protect the wiring from possible damage; remove defective electrical equipment from service; and inspect and mark web slings. 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. Proposed penalties total $61,400
American Railcar Industries, which employs about 260 workers at the Marmaduke facility and about 1,500 workers nationwide, designs and manufactures railcars.(WcxKitz)
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Little Rock or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Pennsylvania Employer Fined for Exposing Workers to Hazards
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited QG LLC for eight serious violations of the process safety management standards at its Atglen facility in response to an employee complaint. Proposed penalties total $54,000.
"Process safety management prevents the unexpected release of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals," said Albert D'Imperio, OSHA's area director in Philadelphia. "It's vital that QG ensure safeguards are in place to protect the safety of workers at this facility." (WCxKit)
The serious citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to provide information pertaining to the equipment being used, establish written operating procedures and safe work practices, conduct employee training, conduct a pre-start up safety review, implement written procedures for ongoing integrity, develop procedures for management of change, certify that compliance was evaluated at least every three years, and ensure that installations of equipment in hazardous locations were intrinsically safe or approved for the hazardous location.
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.
Headquartered in North Haven, Conn., QG LLC is a web offset printing company with approximately 240 employees at its Atglen site. (WCxKit)
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, ask for an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
