Safety In the Workplace. Andrew Scott Director of Risk Management

Transcription

1 Safety In the Workplace Andrew Scott Director of Risk Management

2 Andrew Scott - Director of Risk Mgmt Over 20 years of experience in Risk Management and Workers Compensation Compensation claims. Started his career as a claims adjuster in in 1988 handling workers compensation compensation claims. Worked in various capacities in Risk Management, including positions with several large construction contractors. contractors. Extensive experience designing and implementing risk risk management processes designed to reduce costs. costs. Joined G&A Partners as Director of Risk Management in Management in 2005.

3 Risk Management: The process of identifying, measuring and assessing risks in an organization and then developing strategies to manage that risk.

4 What We Will Cover Pre-loss activities: policies and procedures procedures designed to reduce the risk of risk of loss. Hiring practices New employee orientation Employee training Written safety plans Worksite/facility safety inspections Drug-free workplace programs Pre-designated medical facilities Securing proper insurance

5 What We Will Cover Post-Loss activities: policies and procedures procedures designed to control costs once a once a work-related injury has occurred. occurred. Accident reporting Accident investigation Post-accident drug testing Claims management Modified or light duty programs

6 Safe hiring practices are often overlooked, overlooked, but one of the most important important aspects to controlling workers workers compensation costs. Detailed job descriptions helps ensure you hire you hire qualified employees. Pre-employment drug testing: Immediately screens out those individuals who are who are more likely to cause or incur injuries in the in the workplace. Must be conducted after a conditional offer of of employment has been made.

7 Safe hiring practices continued Background checks Motor vehicle records (MVRs). Criminal record. Personality & competency testing Physical abilities testing Does the position you are offering require strenuous strenuous physical activity? Must be conducted following a conditional offer of offer of employment.

8 Safe hiring practices continued Pay scale If your company is not paying a competitive wage, wage, you attract less desirable candidates. Employee training Who is responsible for the hiring process in your your company? What training is provided to these employees to employees to ensure they ask the right questions to questions to properly screen candidates.

9 New employee orientation 40% of all accidents occur to employees with with less than one year of experience. Why? Lack of experience. Employers assume new employees know more than more than they really do. New employees are afraid to ask too many questions. The workplace environment is new to them. The company does not send a clear message that that safety is a high priority.

10 New employee orientation continued continued Involves training in all aspects of a company s policies policies and procedures, but should include a section on section on employee safety. Safety should be referenced throughout. Creates a lasting impression on new employees and and establishes a positive corporate safety culture. culture. Required by OSHA for all written programs.

11 Keys elements in new employee orientation orientation Safety rules and regulations Workers compensation accident reporting reporting Modified work availability Emergency plans Safety committees First aid Worksite tour Specific job safety practices Signed acknowledgements

12 Written safety plans Accident prevention plans apply to office office environments and are more general in general in nature. Master safety plans (also referred to as a health health & safety plan) apply to blue collar type type businesses and involve more detailed detailed information that addresses the specific specific job hazards related to that business. business.

13 Accident prevention plans generally include: include: Policy statement Employee orientation process Accident reporting procedures Reporting of unsafe conditions General safety items such as: Back safety Fire prevention First aid

14 Master safety plans The same basic elements of an accident prevention plan. Also include elements of a safety program program specific to a companies operations operations such as: Hazardous communication, fall protection, lock lock out/tag out, scaffolding, respiratory protection, protection, welding, etc. Per OSHA requirements, employees must be be trained on all written programs.

15 Employee safety training Who should receive training? All employees Supervisors more frequently. How often should the training be conducted? conducted? Depends on your company s risk exposure. Different forms of training Employee meetings Supervisor meetings Videos/DVDs Toolbox talks

16 Worksite inspections Office environments Approximately 40,000 office workers suffer disabling disabling injuries each year. Should be conducted monthly or quarterly. Ergonomic reviews should also be conducted periodically to avoid repetitive trauma type injuries. injuries.

17 Things to look for in office environments environments Aisles and doorways are free from obstruction. File drawers open one at a time and not in walkways Phone lines, electrical and extension cords, where they cross they cross walkways, are covered by runners. Heavy items are moved to lower shelves. Floors are kept clean, dry and free of debris, especially by especially by refrigerators, sinks or water dispensers. Stools/stepladders are provided and used by employees. employees. First aid kit is available and stocked. Persons certified in First Aid/CPR are available. Fire extinguishers are inspected monthly.

18 Worksite inspections Construction/manufacturing facilities Should be conducted daily/weekly. Required by OSHA. Focus on identified exposures and employee behavior.

19 OSHA most frequently cited standards standards Scaffolding Fall protection construction Hazard communication Control of hazardous energy (lock out/tag out) out/tag out) Respiratory protection Powered industrial trucks (forklifts) Electrical wiring methods Ladders Machine guarding

20 Drug-free workplace programs An effective drug-free workplace program: program: Sends a clear message that use of alcohol and drugs drugs in the workplace is prohibited and will not be not be tolerated. Protects the health and safety of all employees, employees, customers and the public. Safeguards employer s assets from theft and destruction. Helps maintain product quality and company integrity integrity and reputation.

21 Drug-free workplace programs continued continued Of the 16.6 million illicit drug users aged 18 or 18 or older in 2002, 12.4 million (74.6%) were were employed either full or part time. According to results of a NIDA-sponsored survey, drug-using employees are: 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a workplace workplace accident. 5 times more likely to file a workers compensation compensation claim.

22 Types of drug testing Pre-employment Immediately screens out candidates likely to be to be the cause of workplace accidents. Must be conducted after a conditional offer of offer of employment has been extended to the to the employee. Random Most effective type of testing. Does not need to be extensive or costly. Must truly be random.

23 Types of drug testing continued Post-accident Should be mandatory in all instances. In most states, positive outcomes could result in denied or denied or reduced workers compensation benefits. benefits. Always send injured employee to a pre-designated medical medical facility capable of conducting post-accident drug accident drug testing. For cause Based on observed behaviors not consistent with the the employees normal demeanor. Requires supervisor training. All instances should be documented by at least two company company employees, preferably the supervisor and another another management level employee.

24 Pre-designated medical facilities Ensures appropriate appropriate care is given to your employees. Make certain the facility meets all of your needs (i.e., postpost-accident drug testing) Should introduce yourself and your company to company to the facility staff. Familiarize the clinic with your light duty program. program.

25 Obtaining proper insurance Protects the companies assets against loss. loss. Standard coverages: Workers compensation Provides financial assistance to injured employees in in exchange for Exclusive Remedy protection. Allows employers to better estimate workers compensation compensation costs. Auto liability Non-owned or hired coverage. Employee using personal cars on company business

26 Obtaining proper insurance continued continued General liability Provides protection against claims made against a against a company by third parties. Umbrella Provides excess coverage. Usually over your auto and general liability policies. policies. Trucking exposures.

27 Post-Loss Activities

28 Post-Loss Activities Accident reporting Important to report all all accidents timely. Allows early involvement involvement in the claim claim process. Statistics show the later a later a claim is reported reported the higher the the average cost of the the claim. Communicate this to employees.

29 Post-Loss Activities Accident reporting Train employees to report all accidents, even even near misses, immediately. Accident reports should be completed by a by a supervisor or member of management, not management, not the injured employee. If an employee refuses treatment, have them them sign a form stating they are waiving waiving treatment. If you suspect a injury is fraudulent, let your your workers compensation carrier know. know.

30 Post-Loss Activities Accident investigations investigations Investigate all accidents accidents including near near miss accidents. Who should conduct investigations? Supervisors. Safety managers. Safety committee members. members. Not the injured employee. employee.

31 Post-Loss Activities Tips for conducting accident investigations investigations Conduct investigations immediately after after incident. Interview witnesses separately and as soon as soon as possible after the accident. Have the employee involved submit his/her own his/her own statement. Be as thorough and detailed as possible and and focus on corrective actions to address the address the cause of the accident.

32 Post-Loss Activities Claims management Know what is going on with your claims. Obtain monthly loss runs. Look for claims that may not be yours. Question significant reserve changes. Conduct periodic claim reviews with your your insurance carrier. Best if conducted in person, but the phone works too. works too. Usually conducted quarterly. Obtain status reports ahead of time and ask questions.

33 Post-Loss Activities Return to work programs Help reduce insurance costs significantly. Way for a recovering employee to make a a productive contribution. Help weed out fraudulent claimants. If light duty positions are not accepted by the by the injured employee, indemnity benefits can benefits can be denied.

34 Post-Loss Activities Return to work programs Develop detailed job descriptions, including the physical requirements, prior to prior to the employee s injury. injury. Provide light duty job descriptions to your designated designated medical facility ahead of time. Assignments should be temporary in nature. Work should be meaningful, but not involve tasks that risk that risk further injury. Monitor employees to ensure they stay within the physical physical limits of the job.

35 Conclusion Sometimes it is difficult to appreciate risk appreciate risk management until something bad happens and a company company faces a significant loss. Take this opportunity to look at what your your company is doing now to address your address your risks so you don t find yourself yourself wishing you had done something something before a significant loss occurs. occurs.

36 Q&A Free Safety Assessment: Andrew Scott