Safety Cornerstones: Fall 2010

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Cranes and Derricks Rule Protects Millions of Construction Workers — Learn the basics of the new regulations.
• OSHA Targets Indifference, Egregious Violations — OSHA is aggressively enforcing standards in certain cases
• OSHA Issues Interim Final Rules for Whistleblowers, Invites Comments — Rules will cover workers filing complaints about health, safety or security in the workplace.

Download Safety Cornerstones: Fall 2010.

Quit for Your Loved Ones

Secondhand smoke is hazardous for their health

You likely know that smoking is dangerous for your health, and can cause many diseases and serious health conditions, but did you know that you are putting your loved ones at risk as well?

Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke has two forms: the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker and the smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe. Anyone breathing in any type of smoke is taking in the same dangerous chemicals and toxins as the person who is smoking.

Do you smoke in your home, in your car or at work? If so, you are endangering your friends, co-workers, pets and family members.

Health Risks

Secondhand smoke can cause a variety of health conditions and diseases, including:

-    Heart disease

-    Lung cancer

-    Asthma

-    Middle ear infections in children

-    Chest discomfort, coughing and trouble breathing

-    Pneumonia and bronchitis, especially in children

-    Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Surgeon General Report

In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General conducted a report on the effects of secondhand smoke. Here are some of the key findings:

• Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke.
• Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for many respiratory conditions and ear problems.
• There is no safe exposure level to secondhand smoke.
• Secondhand smoke immediately affects heart and blood circulation in a harmful way.
• Despite the increasing limitations on smoking in public places, millions of Americans are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces.
• The only way to prevent secondhand smoke exposure is to prohibit all smoking in that building. Walls and ventilation systems do not prevent secondhand smoke exposure for nonsmokers.

Why Quit?

If you’re looking for motivation to quit for good, do it for your loved ones. You can improve and protect their health along with your own.

HIRED AND NON-OWNED AUTOMOBILES

By Allan Gardner

Type of loss:

Bodily injury cases in excess of $1,000,000

Line of Coverage(s) involved in loss:

Hired and Non-Owned Automobile Liability (HNO) coverage

Description and narrative of the loss:

Four losses involving personal vehicles operated on company business:

• Organization incurred a $1.3M auto liability loss resulting from over-loading a 15-passenger van with luggage. An employee of the organization was driving the top-heavy van when it rolled, fatally injuring one passenger and severely injuring the other twelve.

• An employee of a company was operating his personal vehicle running a company errand, struck a middle-aged pedestrian moving in a crosswalk. Liability loss exposed the organization to a lawsuit and damages of $1.1M.

• Rental vehicle, operated by a company employee, struck a motorcyclist while attempting to execute a left-hand turn. Motorcyclist died and the organization was sued; damages were in excess of $1M.

• Another motorcyclist was struck by an employee driving to a company business meeting. The driver executed an improper U-turn killing the cyclist. Lawsuit resulted in a loss excess of $1M.

What controls were missing that would have prevented or lessened the loss?

Organizations often miss or under risk manage exposures related to the use of personal or “non-owned” vehicles for organization or company business. Whether you have an associate or volunteer “running an errand” to pick up office supplies or staffer transporting a customer or others in their personal vehicle, the organization is ultimately responsible for the consequences of their driving. Be certain that individuals assigned to the task are screened, trained and have adequate insurance coverage. Errands and rental situations are a part of today’s business world. Let’s look at some of the basic elements of sound loss control aimed at mitigating non-owned auto loss.

Written Procedures

• Screening procedures were limited during new hire and subsequent to; motor vehicle records (MVR) checks were not conducted annually; MVR indications revealed driving infractions on one driver.

• Company Policy was missing in all of the above cases by not outlining the use of personal vehicles and what was expected of the employee regarding personal car insurance “liability limits”. This lack of planning resulted in the organization’s coverage to pick up “as excess” where personal auto policy limits were exhausted.

• There was more than one instance where personal vehicle coverage’s were basic having well less than the desired limits but while still meeting minimum statutory requirements.

• Pre-trip inspections were not completed in one case. Tires on the van that rolled over were under-inflated. There was no pre-trip vehicle inspection that day. A homemade roof rack loaded down with 1,800 pounds of luggage and gear quite possibly lead to greater instability due to the much higher center of gravity of the van and the roof mounted load.

LESSONS LEARNED

Training

• There was some instruction but mostly geared towards on the road procedures, what to do in case of an accident, distraction policies, etc. Training typically was geared towards drivers of company vehicles.

• Weak documented efforts in defensive driver training or demonstration of such trained techniques during a road evaluation.

What recommendations apply?

DRIVER SCREENING & QUALIFICATION – Screen all drivers. Screen those that drive organization vehicles as well as those employees who may on occasion or regularly operate personally owned vehicles. Obtain (MVR) data at least annually.

PERSONAL INSURANCE – Develop and establish a policy requiring employees and volunteers to maintain adequate liability limits on their personal auto policies. The preferred limits should be at least $300,000 unless the person is transporting clients, in which case the limit should be $1,000,000.

DRIVER TRAINING – Provide all drivers with a course in defensive driver training to review fundamental techniques of collision avoidance by recognizing road hazards, understanding defensive measures and having the skill and time to act.

ROAD EVALUATION – Develop and maintain a road evaluation process. This process involves drivers taking the defensive driver course and demonstration of those learned skills in an “on the road environment”.

VEHICLE INSPECTION – Develop policies of regular and documented vehicle inspection. Inspect vehicles before and after every trip. Follow through on vehicle condition reports and repair or replace defects as needed.

Other tips:

• Restrict and limit personal auto use where possible! Strive to provide and make use of company vehicles for medical appointments, deliveries or pickups or anytime a customer transport is required.

• Review all employees and volunteers using their personal vehicles for company business. Treat them just like any staff member using an company vehicle would be screened. Verify backgrounds, including driving records for the past five years, even if the worker lived in a state different from where employed.

• Develop policies where all drivers follow company’s standard policies and procedures when using personal vehicles; (i.e., driver eligibility, use of seatbelts, etc).

• Employees and volunteers using a personal vehicle should provide proof of insurance, confirmation that there are no exclusion regarding vehicle use, proof of inspection and the company should determine appropriateness of personal vehicle (i.e.,condition, type, etc).

• Implement periodic checks on employees’ and volunteers’ personal insurance and require copies of their declaration showing limit of liability carried.

BCBS of KC Flu Vaccines Paid at 100%

This year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) will again pay 100 percent of the allowable charge for the seasonal flu vaccine and its administration for all members of our insured groups when received from an in-network provider.

Blue KC will not count these vaccines and administration costs toward the routine calendar year maximum when provided by an in-network provider. Coverage for the vaccine and administration provided by out-of-network providers are subject to the out-of-network benefit level and other terms, limits, and conditions of the contract.

For more information, download the flyer for your size group:

2-99, 100+ Insured , 100+ “Cost Plus” Employer.

Ancillary Benefits Survey 2010

Ancillary benefits have become an increasingly popular benefit category for all employers.

By Brandon Scarborough

As both large and small employers struggle to offer competitive benefits packages and medical costs continue to rise, these additional offerings bring value and convenience to employees.

This survey has taken into consideration the primary plans offered, including dental, life, accidental death & dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability and voluntary benefits. A total of 1291 respondents participated in this survey.

Download the 2010 Ancillary Benefits Survey.

Children’s Safety: Playgrounds

Teach them how to play safely

One of the best things about nice weather is that children can head to the playground. But whether it’s a public playground or a home jungle gym, it is necessary to take certain safety precautions.

Surface Safety

One of the most important features of a play area is something children likely take for granted – the playing surface. What the ground is covered in is just as important as the equipment itself. It should be soft enough to cushion a child’s fall.

• Concrete, asphalt, blacktop, grass, soil and packed earth are all unsafe.
• Loosely packed materials such as wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, surface mats and shredded rubber are the safest.
• If a child is in a wheelchair, wood chips or rubber mats will allow the easiest access.

Other Things to Look For

Playgrounds are ultimately safest when equipment is separated into three distinct groups: for children under age 2, for 2- to 5-year-olds, and for 5- to 12-year-olds. It is important for children to play on age-appropriate gear so that they do not injure themselves on improperly sized equipment. In addition:

• Items with moving parts (such as seesaws and swings) should be located in a separate area.
• Look for any spaces that could trap a child’s head, arms or legs. All openings (such as the rungs on a ladder) should be either less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
• Wooden equipment should not be cracked or splintered.
• Metal equipment should not be rusting.
• If the playground has a sandbox, make sure it’s inspected before use. It should be covered every night to prevent animal contamination.

Supervise, Supervise, Supervise!

Of course it’s impossible to prevent every injury, but playgrounds are a lot safer when adults are around to watch. Younger children will not always have the best judgment and many older kids like to push the boundaries of safety. Also, in the worst case scenario, adults can offer assistance with an injury.

Source: www.KidsHealth.org

KidsHealth^® and KidsHealth.org are registered trademarks of the Nemours Foundation.