Winter 2009
NEWSLETTER
Controlling Your Worker’s Comp Costs
State Fund works hard to keep claims costs down for its policyholders. But businesses can directly impact their workers’ compensation insurance costs by focusing on injury prevention and claims management as follows:
Match workers’ skills and abilities to their job.
Careful hiring practices can reduce the chance and subsequent cost of injury.
Make safety a job priority.
It’s less expensive to prevent an accident than to pay for one. State Fund’s loss control staff can help you with safety programs relevant to your business.
Fix dangerous conditions.
When you become aware of a hazard, take corrective measures. Failure to do so could result in a “Serious and Willful Misconduct” suit against you and severe penalties you must pay.
Train supervisors.
Workers’ comp law includes supervisors in its definition of “employer.” Make sure supervisors and managers know their responsibilities.
Report employee injuries.
As soon as you’re aware of an injury, notify State Fund’s 24-hour Claims Reporting Center at (888) 222-3211 to complete the Employer’s Report of Occupational Injury or Illness (form 3067).
Provide claim forms.
You must provide your employee with a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form (form 3301/DWC1)within one working day of learning of an injury.When the employee returns the completed formto you to sign and date, immediately forward the original to State Fund. NOTE: Signing the Employer’s Report and the Claim Form does not constitute acceptance of a claim.
Exercise medical control.
Refer your injured worker to a State Fund Medical Provider Network (MPN) physician at www.scif.com, “MEDfinder.” And, post the name, address, and phone number of your medical provider so employees know where to go in case of an injury. If an employee has previously notified you in writing of his/her personal physician, the employee has the right to be seen by that physician.
Communicate with employees.
Show workers you care about their well-being and stay in touch with injured workers throughout their recuperation period.
Consider a Return-To-Work program.
A Return-To-Work (RTW) program can help bring injured employees safely back to work as early as possible. State Fund’s RTW consultants can help you develop a program for your business.
Maintain your records.
Finally, maintain records. Personnel files can be of great assistance in handling some cases, especially when fighting disputed claims.
Driving in FOG
Driving safely on today’s roads demands more skill and better judgment than ever before, especially under hostile weather conditions. Here we concentrate on the challenge of fog. This dangerous meteorological condition emerges most often in spring and autumn. As always, the familiar plea from auto clubs, experts, and law enforcement organizations not to drive too fast or too close must be heeded.
Driving in heavy fog is like driving with a blindfold on. Statistically it’s the most dangerous driving hazard in existence. No matter how important the trip is, it’s not worth gambling your life. By far the safest thing to do if you run into fog is to move well off the road and wait for the fog to lift. However, the simple and safe solution is not always the most practical, so read on to find out what driving procedures should be followed in fog.
When driving in fog, reduce your speed and turn on your headlights. Think about how far they can see and how long it will take you to stop. Keep an eye on your speedometer. Studies show that some drivers acclimate themselves to foggy conditions and unconsciously increase their speed over time. Make sure that you can be seen. Turn on your fog lights, and make sure your high beams aren’t turned on by accident. High beams direct light up into the fog, making it difficult for you to see. Low beams direct light down onto the road and help other drivers to see you. Most European cars have a switch that turns on extra-bright auxiliary rear fog lamps. American and Asian vehicles lack this important safety feature. Don’t rely on your parking lights alone: they do little to increase your visibility in daytime fog. Don’t use your emergency flasher. Studies have shown that drivers are attracted to flashing lights and tend to drive into them inadvertently.
Whatever you do, don’t turn off your headlights in heavy fog, even if they interfere with your forward visibility a little. Headlights are the only part of your vehicle that oncoming drivers can see at a distance. Don’t stop in the middle of a roadway either -- that guarantees you’ll be rear-ended. If you can’t continue, pull well onto the shoulder, getting your vehicle completely off the road.
Use the right edge of the road (aka fog line) as a guide rather than the center line, to avoid running into oncoming traffic or becoming distracted by their headlights. Think about what other drivers see when they’re behind you. If you drive with your emergency flashers on or keep tapping your brake pedal, you’ll make them nervous and they may try and pass you, a procedure that places both your lives in danger. Always use your defroster and windscreen wipers in foggy conditions and remember that the problems of fog driving become greater at night.
• Keep your minimum safety gap to three seconds in ideal conditions; with the decreased visibility fog causes, this interval should be increased substantially.
• Slow down. Most fog-related traffic fatalities occur because someone was driving too fast and couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision.
• Make sure that you can be seen. Turn on your fog lights, and use low beams. High beams direct light up into the fog making it difficult for you to see. Low beams direct light down onto the road and help other drivers to see you.
• If you leave the road, be sure to pull off completely. Turn off your driving lights and turn on your flashers so others know you’re there but won’t think you are driving on the road.
• Always use your defroster and windscreen wipers in foggy conditions to keep the windows clear.
• Keep an eye on your speedometer and maintain a slow, constant speed.
• Remember that other drivers have a limited sight distance and that fog can leave roadways slick. Signal early, and when you use your brakes, don’t stomp on them.
Industrial Hygienist
Meet David Krack
Mr. David Krack is our consulting industrial hygienist and will be performing occupational health and safety services for us in the coming year. Industrial hygienists are scientists and engineers committed to protecting the health and safety of people in the workplace. They play a vital part in ensuring that federal, state, and local laws and regulations are followed in the work environment.
The California Injury and Illness Prevention Program require employers to proactively identify, evaluate and control work place hazards; and that includes chronic exposures to ergonomic hazards, noise and airborne chemical contaminants such as solvents, dusts and gases. David will perform work evaluations at your job site for these potentially hazardous conditions. Once the hazards have been identified and evaluated, control measures, including worker training and personal protective equipment, will be recommended to bring working conditions into compliance with Cal/OSHA standards.
His company, Occupational Health Performance, Inc. (OHP), was selected by the association to provide industrial hygiene services to our membership due to his extensive experience and training in occupational health management. His consulting practice clientele includes companies in automobile manufacturing, e-waste recycling, medical device manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, bio-diesel processing, and electronics and governmental municipalities.
Prior to the start-up of OHP, David was the Manager of Safety and Industrial Hygiene at New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., (NUMMI), the GM and Toyota Joint Venture in Fremont, California. He also lectures in the College of Engineering at San Jose State University in Safety and Occupational Health for Engineers. David holds a master of science in environmental and occupational health and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene; and also a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professions.
Visit the OHP web page at http://www.ohp-inc.com to learn more about Mr. Krack (pronounced ‘croc’) and the services provided by OHP.
Drug Testing with AADT
As a non-profit organization with strong ties to the transportation industry, we specialize in providing employers and owner-operators convenient, cost effective support to facilitate drug and alcohol testing programs since 1995.
We offer consortium/third party administration (C/TPA) services to help you implement quality substance abuse prevention and testing programs that will meet federal, state and industry standards for companies of all sizes. Whether it is managing the testing program of an intrastate owner-operator motor carrier or managing the testing program of a large and diverse interstate DOT/FMCSA regulated Transportation Company, AADT is a committed partner.
We are associated and/or allied members with many various commercial transportation and construction associations to stay involved with many types of regulatory issues as well as retain the services of legal counsel and a legislative advocate with extensive knowledge of the transportation industry. We have established a strong rapport with both state and federal enforcement agencies to insure the intent and clarification of controlled substance testing regulations.
Other Services That AADT Offers That May or May Not be the Basic Services Offered By Other C/TPA’s
:• Full Administration Services
• No Additional Fees for the Initial Drug and Alcohol Random Selections
• 24-hour Turnaround Time on Most Specimen Collection Results
• A Designated Client Representative with Broad Training
• Bi-literate Spanish Customer Service Staffing
• Utilization of Any of Our Conveniently Located Authorized Nationwide Collection Sites
• Chain-of-Custody Forms and Supplies Stored at the Collection Sites
• Sample Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy and IIPP Safety Programs
• Supervisor Training• Statistical Reporting
• SAMHSA/NIDA Certified Laboratory Testing
• Certified MRO With Multiple Choice of Reporting Methods
• Email Invoicing
• Quality Employee Assistance Program Information and Referral
• General Random Testing Pools or Custom Individual Company Pools For information please contact: AADT@ 1(800)820-9314 or Visit www.aadrugtesting.com
