Spring 2008

NEWSLETTER

Driving Alert and Aware

If your job requires you to spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a vehicle, you might find drowsiness and fatigue to be a problem, putting you and others at risk. You should know what to do to optimize your physical and mental well being so that you remain alert and aware whenever you’re in your vehicle.

Before you get into your vehicle, make sure you’ve had adequate rest and/or sleep. Eat a light meal; heavy meals can make you drowsy. Since dehydration increases the effect of fatigue, make sure you drink plenty of liquids. Keep nutritional drinks and snack handy.

Maximize your comfort in your vehicle by adjusting the mirrors, your seat, and the steering wheel to a comfortable position. While you’re driving, it’s easy to be lulled to sleep by the hum of the engine, the warmth of the heater or staring at the continuous road ahead; make sure you give yourself plenty of fresh air. Ask your doctor if any medications you are taking will interfere with your ability to drive; many cold and allergy remedies cause drowsiness.

Watch for early signs of drowsiness. When you find you’re not paying attention, that you don’t remember that last ten-mile stretch of road, it’s time for a break. Take short breaks, about one every two hours during an eight-hour shift behind the wheel or whenever you feel sleepy. When you get out of your vehicle, stretch, walk around, take deep breaths, drink some water or get a snack or light meal before getting back to the drive.

Driving in high altitudes can cause dizziness and fatigue. If you feel a headache, weakness or any unusual sensations, open the window or circulate some air. If you’re really tired, pull off the road to a safe rest stop and get some sleep. Sleeplessness can affect reaction time, manual dexterity, and alertness.

Know what’s going on ahead, along side and behind you. Keep yourself alert to the situation around you by scanning the road, signs, cars, or pedestrians around you. Periodically check your rear and side windows, and your own instrument panels. Make driving a conscious, safe activity by staying alert and aware of yourself and others when you’re behind the wheel.

Cal/OSHA Injury Summary - Log 300

Simplifying OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 Including Posting Requirement of OSHA's Form 300A: "Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses"

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 requires certain employers to prepare and maintain records of work related injuries and illnesses. In fulfillment of this requirement, OSHA developed a series of specific record keeping forms: OSHA's Form 300, 300A, and 301. The OSHA 300 series forms are written in plain language and are intended to simplify work-related injury and illness record keeping and enhance company safety and health programs. The resulting data collected by these forms will be used to track and compile statistics on work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths so that employers and Cal/OSHA can develop a picture of the extent and severity of work-related incidents. They will also help Cal/OSHA identify the scope of employer-assistance needs.

Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

During each year, OSHA's Form 300, the "Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses", must be used to classify work-related injuries and illnesses and to note the extend and severity of each case. When an incident occurs, employers must use the Log to record specific details about what happened. On this form, employers must record information about every work-related death and about every work-related injury or illness that involves loss of consciousness, restricted work activity or job transfer, days away from work, or medical treatment beyond first aid. They must also report significant work-related injuries and illnesses diagnosed by a physician or licensed health-care professional. Employers must also record work-related injuries and illnesses that meet any of the specific recording criteria listed in 29 CFR Part 1904.8 through 1904.12.

Injury and Illness Incident Report

OSHA's Form 301, the "Injury and illness Incident Report", is one of the first forms employers must fill out when a recordable work-related injury or illness occurs. This form, or its equivalent, must be filled in within 7 calendar days after receiving information that a recordable work-related injury or illness has occurred. The form must be kept on file for 5 years following the year to which it pertains.

Employees, former employees, and their representatives have the right to review the OSHA Form 300 in its entirety. They also have limited access to the OSHA Form 301 or its equivalent. (See 29 CFR Part 1904.35, in OSHA's recordkeeping rule, for further details on the access provisions for these forms.)

Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

At the end of the year, all establishments covered in 29 CFR Part 1904 must complete OSHA's Form 300A, the "Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses", even if no work-related injuries or illnesses occurred during the year. After careful review of the "Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses" to verify that entries are complete and accurate, the total number of incidents in each category listed on OSHA's Form 300 must be transferred to the Form 300A. California law requires employers to post the "Summary" page from February 1 to April 30 of the year following the year covered by the "Summary". It must be displayed in a conspicuous location where notices to employees are customarily posted. A copy of the "Summary" must also be made available to employees who move from worksite to worksite and employees who do not report to any fixed establishment on a regular basis. At the end of the three-month period, the "Summary" should be taken down and kept on file for a period of five years following the year to which it pertains.

For copies of OSHA's Form 300, 300A, and 301 or further information clarifying mandatory recordkeeping, including which employers are exempt or no longer exempt, visit Cal/OSHA's Web site, or the federal OSHA Web site. For employers without Internet access or for questions not addressed on these Web sites, call your local Cal/OSHA consultation office.

Credit Extension Offered to State Fund Policyholders Impacted by Devastating Wind and Rainstorms

January 10, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO – State Compensation Insurance Fund announced today that it will extend credit to policyholders who have suffered a financial loss or business disruption caused by recent wind and rainstorms that struck the counties of Butte, Glenn, Kings, Marin, Placer, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. The series of three storms began on January 3, 2008, causing extensive flooding, property damage, and electrical outages.

“State Fund policyholders in the many areas affected by the storms range in size from large manufacturing businesses to small retail shops and have been in business for years,” said State Fund President Janet Frank. “The storms caused a significant disruption of business and hardship for some of our policyholders. Our offer of credit relief is one way to help them and their businesses return to normal operations.”

PG&E reported that approximately 2 million of its customers had lost power in the storms. Many in outlying areas still lacked power several days after the rough weather had passed.

State Fund will work with employers who are unable to report December 2007 payroll figures or submit payments as a result of the emergency. Dedicated customer service lines have been set up to provide assistance to policyholders whose operations were impacted. Policyholders are encouraged to contact State Fund’s Customer Service Center at 800-388-0902 to make arrangements for payroll reports and payments. This program will be offered to employers through a series of newspaper announcements and mailings to all State Fund policyholders in the affected areas.

Vehicle Backing

The most common vehicle accident is a backing accident. Due to limited vision out of the back windows or around long truck beds and equipment bodies, drivers may not see other vehicles, obstacles, coworkers, or pedestrians when they’re driving their vehicles backward. However, there are some actions that may prevent backing accidents.

Before getting into your vehicle, walk around it to check for obstructions and other dangerous situations. Once inside the vehicle, turn your head to the left and right to look directly out the sides and back of the vehicle. Use your side and rear-view mirrors to look in all directions to the rear of the vehicle. Backup cameras and sensors are good tools that can help you keep watch around your vehicle. When you’re ready to back your vehicle, do so slowly.

If your vehicle is equipped with a backup alarm, make sure that it’s working properly. If you don’t have a backup alarm but feel that it’s necessary to alert others that you’re backing, put on your flashers and honk the horn as you back. Make sure that the area behind you is clear of obstacles before you move. If you see pedestrians or vehicles approaching, judge their speed and distance before backing.

A “spotter” can help you with backing by sharing the responsibility for watching the rear of the vehicle. If the spotter is outside the vehicle, make sure that you can see each other in the side-view mirror at all times. Don’t proceed with backing if you lose sight of the spotter. Two-way radios and/or hand signals can be used to help communicate.

If you’re acting as a spotter or work near backing vehicles, listen for the backup alarms and watch vehicle movement. Never assume that the driver sees you and knows where you’re going. Don’t walk alongside or ride a backing vehicle. Wear highly visible clothing if you’re going to be working on foot around backing vehicles. With care and caution, you can safely back your vehicle.

Moving Ergonomically

Lifting, packing and moving boxes is not something the average worker does everyday, but if you happen to find yourself in the middle of a move, these activities may be part of your day. Prevent injuries with your next move by following the guidelines below.

•  Clean it out! Get rid of unnecessary stuff, so you only pack what you really need.

•  Start early, so that you don’t try to rush and pack everything at the last minute.

•  Warm-up and stretch. Packing boxes is generally not what we normally do each day.

•  Doing work that you are unaccustomed to is a sure fire way to get some aches and pains. Stretch, pack, then stretch some more. Pace yourself.

•  Reduce bending. Place empty boxes on a desk or a chair, not the floor, to pack them so you are not bending forward constantly.

•  Change your posture frequently.

•  Don’t over-pack a box. Even if you don’t have to lift it, the movers do. A box full of paper or books can be heavy so spread out the loads in multiple boxes.

•  Lift as little as possible but if you have to lift…

- Plan the lift and test the load.

- Get help. Use a buddy or material handling equipment.

- Keep the load close.

- Tighten your stomach muscles as you lift.

- Lift with your legs and keep your back straight.

- Lower the load the same way.

•  Never catch a falling box. Some back injuries occur as reactions to sudden shifts in the box or its contents. You might instinctively reach out to prevent breakage and end up injuring your back.

•  Use a CART! If you have to move boxes or material, use a cart or a hand truck. Make sure the path is clear and that the cart is in good working order.

•  Use good boxes with handholds. Handholds can make moving much easier and safer and encourage proper lifting techniques. Awkward grips can cause the box to slip.

Be realistic with your personal abilities. If you need help, ask for it. Sometimes, you can get caught up in the chaos and speed of the move and try to lift or do more than you really should. Realizing when you have met your match can help prevent back injuries.

Required Employer Responsibilities

California law requires that:

“Every employer…shall post and keep posted in a conspicuous location frequented by employees and where (it) may be easily read by employees during the hours of the workday, a notice which shall state the name of (the) current compensation insurance carrier…”

The notice must also contain information regarding employee rights and responsibilities and must”…be posted in both English and Spanish where there are Spanish-speaking employees.”

Additionally, the law requires employers to provide a form on which employees may indicate the name of their personal physician or personal chiropractor. The form must be provided to new hires either at the time the employee is hired or by the end of the first pay period.

If you would like free copies, in English or Spanish, of the required posting notice, the brochure explaining an employee’s workers’ compensation rights or the physician predesignation form, call State Fund’s toll-free customer service number at 1-877-405-4545.

Reporting Work-Related Injuries

State Fund’s Claims Reporting Center (1-888-222-3211) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for policyholders to report injuries as soon as they occur. Agents will do the necessary paperwork to get the claim started and refer the injured to the designated physician or provider.

Within 8 hours of any serious illness or injury (requiring hospitalization over 24 hours, other than for medical observation or where there is permanent employee disfiguration) or death occurring in the workplace or in connection with employment, employers must report the incident to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

* Some or all articles were reprinted by permission from State Compensation Insurance Fund.