Risk Factors

Fall Protection is the #1 OSHA Workplace Violation for 2011

Fall Protection is the #1 OSHA Workplace Violation for 2011

OSHA announced it's "Top 10 OSHA violations for 2011," at the National Safety Council's annual conference. Jumping into first place this year is Fall Protection bumping off scaffolding, which has held this spot for the last several years. According to OSHA, there were 7,139 Fall Protection violations for 2011.

The standard outlines the types of fall protection systems, which systems are appropriate, proper construction and installation of safety systems, as well as proper training and supervision of employees to prevent falls.

Top 5 cited areas:

• 1926.501 (b)(1) - Failure to use a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest system
• 1926.501 (b)(13) - Failure to provide protection - residential construction
• 1926.501 (b)(10) - Failure to provide protection - low slope roofs
• 1926.501 (b)(11) - Failure to provide protection - steep roofs
• 1926.501 (b)(14) - Failure to provide protection - wall openings 

Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501) and the OSHA fall protection index are good resources to refer to when reviewing your existing fall protection program. 

Common problem areas OSHA discovered include:

• Poor railing system design
• Broken or missing railing sections
• Inadequate employee training
• Failure to inspect fall protection equipment prior to each use

All of these issues are easy to correct with employee training and inspection checklists.  Each employee should inspect fall protection equipment prior to use, and any item showing damaged, missing tags or damaged identification labels should be removed from service. 

Many companies are now placing a service life on fall protection equipment to prevent issues with hidden damage that comes from frequent use or exposures to chemicals and sunlight. Harnesses and lanyards should be retired from service after three to five years. 

OSHA has specific requirements for hand railing designs. Make sure your employees who fabricate these units know these requirements before building new or temporary railings. Most OSHA Inspectors will cite your company if the dimensions are off by more than two inches in height for top and mid-rails.

Remember, OSHA can spot damaged or missing railings from outside the construction fence. It is in your best interest to fabricate them correctly the first time! Train your workers to promptly close or replace railing sections that are moved so materials can be off loaded to that work area. Many different sliding or swinging designs can be fabricated or purchased to fulfill this need. 

If your employees understand, utilize and are held accountable for the fall protection standards, your exposures to these safety hazards will be reduced. The payoff for your company is to dramatically reduce exposures from employee injuries or OSHA citations.

The Hidden Costs of Accidents: Why Safety Goes Beyond Premiums

Commercial insurance covers the financial costs of a loss or an accident to insulate a business from the ugly surprises of injury, theft, fire, litigation, or any other number of innumerable hazards facing today’s job creators.  Insurance is the vehicle that helps your organization stay financially viable to compete the day after a loss.  However, there are many other impacts of an accident that insurance cannot fix and for which safety programs, policies, and procedures can prevent.  

The best way to explain this is the Iceberg theory.  The tip of the iceberg is the financial impact that insurance will help recover; the hidden costs are everything that’s under the water that you can’t immediately see, but still exist.  These hidden parts of the iceberg are what sunk the Titanic.

 Hidden Costs of Accidents:

• Lost productivity
• Deductibles
• Personnel loss and replacement time (HR fees, training, and knowledge base)
• Loss of reputation (imagine your accident on the cover of a newspaper!)
• Loss of customers due to delivery delays
• Inability to attract quality workers if you have an unsafe reputation
• Time to replace damaged equipment
• Loss of market share as competitors take advantage of your down time
• Loss of opportunity (some companies won’t do business without a strong safety plan)

Some reports show that these hidden costs can actually add up to 70% of the perceived claim cost as reported to insurance.  Some managers chalk this up to “business as usual,” but a savvy company knows that these costs are lost dollars and that investing in safety makes financial sense.  70% of a $100,000 claim is $70,000 – just how much revenue would your organization have to take in to cover that loss? 

There are many a sad story of companies shuttering their doors or good people losing their jobs due to a careless accident that was covered, but that could have been prevented.  At the end of the day, safety isn’t about insurance – it’s the only way to run a smart business.    

The Leadership Series: Leader Characteristics

This is the first of a series of seven blogs on Leadership - leadership ideas, techniques, skills and methods as conservation-starters for you and your supervisory personnel.

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Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.                                                            — Harold S. Geneen

Charisma - a characteristic that most successful leaders embody!  As a leader, you have to manage your team – give orders as well as take orders.  How well do you do this?  Do you know your leadership style?  Do you know how to relate to your employees?

I suspect the majority of us have worked with a leader, or employee with whom we did not see eye to eye.  Some may not have experienced this type of distraction, but most of us have at one time or another.  I use the word “distraction” because the lack of cohesion between the leader and the employee is a distraction when working as a team towards the end goal.

Often times egos get in the way of the true issue at hand and nothing gets reloved.  I dealt with this in a previous work environment, and it was palpable.  I now understand that I made the choice to blame the situation instead of holding myself accountable for improving the relationship, understanding the person and working together as a team.  I failed to exhibit the characteristics I want in a leader.

Recently, I performed a short survey with my peers to see what characteristics they want in a leader.  My purpose was to reach out to different departments to get a feel for what type of leader is effective.  Four characteristics led the pack, and I have added some comments provided in the survey:

• Integrity – Tell me like it is – be honest!  Don’t cover it up or sugar coat it.
• Approachability – Willingness to listen to different ways to accomplish the same goal.
• Fairness – Trust that my leader treats me fairly and equally, and my co-workers as well.
• Clear Communication – I want to meet face-to-face to assure a comfort level in both directions of communication.  I want clear expectations.  {Taking notes is a great way to refresh on past conversations to ensure all are on the same page.}

I must say these were certainly in my top 10.  I believe we want our leaders to set an example – treat us the way we want to be treated. 

Have you had a similar experience?  Are you getting what you need from your direct leader?  What have you done to bridge the gap?  What example are you setting as a leader? 

 

Leader Tip

Approachability can be difficult for leaders as they may have been very successful reaching their specific goals, and may have no experience as a leader over direct reports.  As a person promoted to a leadership, the leader expects direct reports to be successful as well and achieve specific goals in the same style/approach he/she did.  When work styles differ, this approach can lead to resentment towards the leader and a direct report that does not feel empowered. 

How do you overcome this challenge as a leader?  Focus on the end goal with your direct report versus the approach or style they use to achieve it.  Allow the direct report to use their approach and their style that they are comfortable with to achieve the end goal.  They will feel empowered, be more supportive and ultimately accomplish the end goal you wanted to achieve.  Your objective as leader, of course, is to ensure that they follow company policy with their approach and style, but beyond that, leave it up to the direct report to achieve the end goal.   

Jay DePasquale

Middle Market Leader

 

Additional Resources

Improving Your Leadership Skills

Seven Ways the Best Leaders Set an Example by Going First

Today’s To-Do List:  Fire Someone

Photo courtesy of Leadershipvibe.net

Suzanne Coleman is a senior risk control representative out of the Nashville office of Westfield Insurance.  She has worked in the insurance industry for 20 years.

Defensive Driving Tips - Keep Aware During Winter Weather

Winter is upon us.  Somehow that means that everyone forgets how to drive in snow (even though it happens every winter) and panics while driving as slow as a snail.  Conversely, it means that all 4-Wheel drive automobiles think that they can speed on sheets of ice ... did you ever notice that it's the biggest 4-Wheel drive vehicles that end up in the ditch?  (Safety Note:  4-Wheel Drive DOES NOT WORK on ice; all vehicles can and will slip on solid ice). 

The bottom line is that in inclement weather, it is common for all the vehicles on the road to be going much slower or faster than you are traveling.  It is a perfect season to brush up on defensive driver skills.  Recognizing potential hazards, deciding on an appropriate response, and carrying out that response are all keys to defensive driving.

Winter weather really highlights the fact that not everyone is a good and safe driver.  To remain safe on the road, a good driver will have vigilance and awareness at all times, in any weather situation.  The following are some good tips to keep you alert and cautious during any type of road conditions. 

• Trust no one. Never assume that another driver is choosing a safe action, presume they don’t know how to drive, and stay sharp and defensive.
• Yield anyway. Slow down, get over, swallow your pride.  Even if you feel “right,” yield anyway.
• Don't speed. Just don’t do it – 5 miles over the limit is still going too fast.
• Don't drive tired. Being tired is almost like being drunk.  Pull over and rest. 
• Always signal. Other drivers cannot read your mind or your intentions.  
• Yellow = Stop. Never assume you can make the yellow light; assume yellow always means STOP.  
• Create space. Keep a good distance between yourself and others – always have an “out.” 
• Just say "no" to distracted driving. No texting, no cell phones, no electronics – eyes on the road always.  
• Never drive impaired. This includes prescription medications as well as alcohol and other drugs.   

For more defensive driving tips, check out this great article by Road Trip America for 70 Rules of Defensive Driving.  This is a great post for business drivers and personal drivers.  In fact, it is a must-read for anyone with a 16 year-old, new driver. 

Kirsten Hedden is a Risk Control Representative out of our Peoria, IL Service Office. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and Business from Bradley University in Peoria. Upon graduating, Kirsten entered an intensive insurance training program with a global carrier for 14 months and obtained experience in all insurance disciplines including claims, underwriting, and loss control.  Kirsten has 5+ years experience providing loss control consultative services for a variety of industry exposures; specialties include hospitality, food and beverage manufacturing, religious institutions, and country clubs/golf courses.

 

Fair Warning: NFPA 70E Changes Coming Your Way

The 2012 edition of the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplaces, otherwise known as NFPA 70E, will soon be available as the updates were approved at the end of August. 

NFPA 70E was published by the National Fire Protection Association in 1979 and was written to protect electrical workers in every industry around any type of device capable of generating an arc flash. NPFA 70E is a “consensus standard” referenced by the National Electric Code for safety requirements. While it is currently voluntary, each year more states, departments and organizations are adopting NFPA 70E.  While some of the elements of NPFA 70E have been integrated into OSHA electrical standards, NPFA 70E is not an OSHA standard.  However, OSHA can cite companies under the General Duty Clause as it relates to the recognition and abatement or control of electrical hazards.

How does this affect you?  According to Workrite.com, virtually any facility housing electrical equipment falls under NFPA 70E guidelines, especially in enterprises dependent upon heavy machinery operations.  This includes manufacturing operations of any kind, food processors, hospitals, and petroleum companies to name a few.

What do you need to know about NFPA 70E?  A simplistic and brief response is as follows: 

1.)  Any personnel working near or on electrical equipment should not only be trained in Lockout/Tagout, but should also be trained in recognizing electrical hazards such as the potential for arc flashes and blasts.  Training regarding the NFPA 70E standard will be required to occur every 3 years.

2.)  A shock and flash hazard assessment must be performed to determine the flash protection boundary, and the appropriate level or category of personal protective equipment required.

3.)  Appropriate apparel should be selected, and employees trained on the appropriate use and care of this apparel.  Flame-resistant (FR) clothing is required in many instances, and is designed to protect from two different exposures:  flash fire and electric arc flash.  The new NFPA 70E standard will delineate between arc-rated clothing (which is always flame-resistant) and flame-resistant clothing (which is not always arc-rated). 

What level of exposure does your operation include, and how have you protected your employees?

For more information on the NFPA 70E standard updates, go to this National Safety Council publication:  Safety+Health December 2011 issue Stay Current article  

For more information on the NFPA 70E standard, go to   “Why FR Clothing?” 

Additional Resources:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/08/01/fr-garment-program-development.aspx?sc_lang=en

http://www.workrite.com/whatsnew/industrynews.htm

http://www.aramark-flameresistant.com/NFPA-70E.html

 

NTSB Proposes Ban on Cell Phone Use for ALL Drivers

Today the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) unanimously voted to ban the use of all portable electronic devices (including cell phones and hands free devices) for all drivers.  Exceptions would be made for emergency situations and for devices, such as GPS units that are designed to support the driving task. 

The ruling was made following an investigation into the August 5, 2010 vehicle accident involving a school bus, a bobtail and a passenger vehicle in Gray Summit, MO.  Click here to access the report.

Recently, bans have been proposed for commercial truckers but this proposal reaches ALL drivers.  Many states have already adopted laws that require drivers to use hands free devices but this new proposed ban from the NTSB will no longer permit the use of hands free devices.  

What are your thoughts on this new proposed ban?  Good? Bad? Indifferent?  We'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

Lisa Mundt is a Senior Risk Control Representative for Westfield Insurance based out of our Atlanta, Ga service office. Lisa has over 9 years of risk management experience servicing a wide variety of customers, such as small business, traditional mid market, technology as well as the construction industry. 

What's in Your Emergency Car Kit for Winter?

We’ve heard it before, from scouting groups, government agencies and even the media: Be Prepared – which is good advice, yet so easy to ignore … until it’s too late and you are stranded on the highway with a flat tire in the dead of night.

As winter approaches, some employees at the Westfield Insurance home office are remembering a night last year where a nearby interstate became a parking lot. Many people were stuck in their cars for more than eight hours that evening. The question for the rest of us is, “Had you been in that position, would you have been prepared?”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests these simple steps to be prepared for emergencies:

• Put together an emergency supply kit.
• Develop a family communications plan.
• Stay informed about the risks and emergencies in your community.

Do you keep an auto preparedness kit? Even if you already have a kit, remember to check and update your supplies and tools – it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, be familiar with their use before you need them.

In bad weather season, never let your car’s gas tank get under half full, and don’t forget to give it a quick walk-around when you are leaving work to check for flat tires or other problems. As always, in the event of an emergency, call 911. It’s also a good idea to have emergency numbers programmed into your phone.

Things you might put in your own emergency car kit:

• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Jumper cables
• Basic tool set
• Spare tire, jack and lug wrench
• First aid kit
• Blanket
• Cell phone charger or extra battery
• Duct tape
• Extra windshield fluid
• Paper towels
• Bottled water


What items do you have in your emergency car kit?  Have you ever needed to use them?  Share your experience with us in the comments below.

 

Tips to Protect Your Restaurant from Fire

Our sister blog, "At Your Service", has recently posted a great blog addressing restaurant fires.  Given that many of our customers are restaurants or have a cooking exposure (hotels, country clubs, etc.)  I thought it would be beneficial to share this article on our blog.  Should you have any further questions or concerns regarding restaurant fires and ways to prevent a fire please feel free to reach out to us or your local Risk Control Representative.  Thanks Kris!

- Lisa Mundt 

Tips to Protect Your Restaurant from Fire

The United States Fire Administration reports that between 2007 and 2009, an estimated 5,900 restaurant building fires occurred in the U.S. causing 75 injuries and $172 million in property loss.  The good news is that there were no fire-related deaths, although the potential exists.  The National Fire Incident Reporting System categorizes building fires into two severity classes 1) confined fires, which are confined to certain objects or types of equipment and 2) nonconfined.

Confined fires account for about 57% of restaurant fires with nonconfined fires accounting for the remaining 43% of restaurant fires. 

When do restaurant fires occur?  The highest frequency is during the late morning hours, between 10 and 11 a.m. 

What’s the primary cause of restaurant fires?  This won’t surprise you, cooking, is the leading cause of restaurant fires.  The vast majority (91%) of these fires are small confined fires a small amount of damage.  Electrical malfunctions and heating systems are the next highest cause of restaurant fires, both at 8%.  The risk with electrical fires is that they spread and are typically large, nonconfined fires.  Beyond electrical fires, the other common causes of fire are carelessness or other unintentional actions and equipment mis-operations and failures.

Where do nonconfined fires start?  Primarily in cooking areas and kitchens (41%) and less frequently on the roof (6%) and in walls (6%). 

How do nonconfined fires start?   Heat from powered equipment is the leading cause of these types of fires, which includes electrical arcing and radiated or conducted heat from running equipment.  The most common equipment to ignite fires are deep fryers (9%), ranges (7%) and other kitchen cooking equipment (5%). 

What are the contributing factors to igniting a nonconfined fire?  The top three factors are:

•            Misuse of product or material (28%)
•            Electrical Failure, malfunction (27%)
•            Operational deficiency (23%)

 What can be done to reduce fire risk?

• Staff training and awareness to keep combustible materials away from heat sources.
• Fire extinguishers strategically located and staff trained to use them.
• Install alert or suppression systems to monitor heat and smoke to notify as soon as possible.  Automatic extinguishment systems, such as sprinklers and hood systems.
• Safe storage practices – store away from heat sources/ductwork, keep exits clear.

Click here to review Westfield Insurance’s Fire Prevention Checklist for Restaurants to see how you stack up on preventing fires at your restaurant.  

Kris Hawk is the business development leader for corporate hospitality at Westfield Insurance. She develops and implements marketing plans for Westfield Country Club, Blair Conference Center, corporate dining and Westfield Inn.          

Top 10 OSHA Violations: Need Help? Ask Risk Control

OSHA released the Top 10 OSHA Violations for 2011 at the National Safety Council's annual conference.  Taking first place this year is Fall Protection, replacing the scaffolding as the number one violation for the past several years. Here is the list...

1. Fall Protection (Construction); 7,139 violations
2. Scaffolding (Construction); 7,069 violations
3. Hazard Communication; 6,538 violations
4. Respiratory Protection; 3,944 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout; 3,639 violations
6. Electrical (Wiring); 3,584 violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks; 3,432 violations
8. Ladders (Construction); 3,244 violations
9. Electrical; 2,863 violations
10. Machine Guarding; 2,556 violations

Insurance will cover your business after a loss and bring you back to where you were financially at the time of a loss, that’s why we buy insurance – peace of mind.  However, in addition to preventing insurance claims, investing in safety is a direct tie in to your bottom line not only in premium dollars, but in prevention of potential OSHA fines. 

In a recent OSHA inspection, one company was charged with over 26 life threatening safety violations, racking up fines in excess of $750,000.  What sort of new equipment could you purchase with that kind of money?  How many new employees or new products could you develop?  How many years of insurance might that buy your company?

The OSHA safety rules and regulations developed are life-saving, profit-saving standards to which we must adhere.  You may not be aware of potential violations if you haven’t had a consultation with a safety professional.  At Westfield, we provide our customers with risk assessment consultations, develop recommendations targeted at improvement opportunities, and assist our customers in finding the resources to develop and implement OSHA required programs and training. 

As you review the Top 10 list above, consider taking the time to update your safety manual and training requirements.  Contact your local Westfield Loss Control representative for service or request access to our Westfield Safety Library to find resources tailored to preventing the Top 10 OSHA violations. 

The good news is that your partner in insurance is also your partner in profit.  Westfield supports your success and is committed to "Sharing Knowledge and Building Trust." Stay tuned to the Risk Factors Blog for more specific information on how we can tackle and prevent specific violations. 

Question about the Top 10 list?  Post your comment below.

Kirsten Hedden is a Risk Control Representative out of the Westfield Insurance Peoria, IL Service Office. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and Business from Bradley University in Peoria. Upon graduating, Kirsten entered an intensive insurance training program with a global carrier for 14 months and obtained experience in all insurance disciplines including claims, underwriting, and loss control.  Kirsten has 5+ years experience providing loss control consultative services for a variety of industry exposures; specialties include hospitality, food and beverage manufacturing, religious institutions, and country clubs/golf courses.

The DOT Website, Facebook, and Your Business

The world of 2011 is more than ever an information age – and the information is easily available to anybody with a wifi connection or a smart phone.

That’s why a business has a website and why more and more are using social media like Facebook and Twitter.  What better way to get the word out about “who we are and what we do”? 

On the flip side, I’ll bet you’ve heard a story about the guy who posted an unflattering picture of himself on Facebook and didn’t get a job because of it?  He got the word out too . . . “who he is and what he does”.

It isn’t just what we choose to put on the Internet either.  Governmental agencies like the Department of Transportation have websites that give the public all kinds of information about us and our businesses.

We shake our heads.  The guy with the picture should have seen that coming.  And the trucking company should have seen it coming that their driver’s citation for “being in possession of drugs or alcohol” during a DOT roadside inspection is listed for anyone to see at www.safersys.org when you type in the DOT number.

The Internet and the information on it can work for us or against us.  Just as an employer might learn about a job applicant by using Facebook, an attorney might learn about a trucking company’s drivers and vehicle maintenance by searching Google for the word "Safer". 

In fact, they would probably be foolish not to. 

How has your company prepared for the good and bad impacts of the online world? Share your comments below.

Tim Wilson is a Risk Control Consultant with Westfield Insurance, a regional insurance company based in northeast Ohio and operating in 18 states. Tim is currently based in our Jacksonville Florida  Service Office.