Month: February 2013

Insurance is NOT Risk Management

risk-management-161Risk management includes the following five processes:

  1. Identification: The process of identifying exposures (whether financial, social, physical, juridical, political, or otherwise) that face the organization.
  2. Analysis: Determine how these exposures impact or could impact the organization.
  3. Control: Determine how to control these exposures by eliminating them or reducing their effect.
  4. Finance: The step where it is determined how will these exposures be dealt with as they arrive? Through insurance premiums paid in advance, or through internal funds, etc.
  5. Administration: The final step in the process is to put all the above work together into practice, and ultimately to start over.

Risk Management is a process that builds on each step. Insurance falls into Step 4 Finance…it’s critical to implement the first 3 steps to be rewarded in Step 4 with lower costs.

Keeping Your Family Safer with Fire Extinguishers

Fire-ExtinguisherIn addition to working smoke detectors, every family should have UL certified fire extinguishers strategically placed in rooms such as the kitchen, garage or workshop. Fire extinguishers are your second line of defense behind a smoke detector and can be the difference between a small inconvenience and a life-changing event.

via Keeping Your Family Safer with Fire Extinguishers | Safety at Home.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention

qabloodWhat are bloodborne pathogens?

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries may expose workers to bloodborne pathogens. Workers in many occupations, including first aid team members, housekeeping personnel in some industries, nurses and other healthcare personnel may be at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

via Safety and Health Topics | Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention.

Succession Planning – Protecting the Family Business

Family-Business88% of current family business owners believe the same family or families will control their business in five years, but succession statistics undermine this belief. Only about 30% of family and businesses survive into the second generation, 12% are still viable into the third generation, and only about 3% of all family businesses operate into the fourth generation or beyond. The statistics reveal a disconnect between the optimistic belief of today’s family business owners and the reality of the massive failure of family companies to survive through the generations. Research indicates that family business failures can essentially be traced to one factor: an unfortunate lack of family business succession planning.

via Succession Planning.

Why Get an Annual Physical?

Dr. David RiceEven though you may be feeling healthy, it’s important to get regular physical exams to help ensure that you stay that way.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says regular physicals will allow your doctor to:

  • Check regularly for signs of disease. Early detection often helps improve the chances of recovery.
  • Determine your risk of future health problems, and possibly, to prevent them.
  • Talk with you about your lifestyle, and to recommend changes.
  • Give you any needed vaccinations.
  • Get to know your history, in the event that you become seriously ill.

via Health Tip: Why Get an Annual Physical? – Drugs.com MedNews.

2013 – the year of disease prevention and health promotion!

health-promotion-industryThe New Year holds much promise for Total Worker Health™. In fact, 2013 may well become the year of disease prevention and health promotion! This abundance of opportunity can be credited to the Affordable Care Act and its provisions related to wellness programs.

The provision that focuses on employer wellness programs has the most potential to directly affect the Total Worker Health™ community. This proposed rule will expand the ability of employers to reward workers who achieve health improvement goals. Beginning in 2014, the health care law will allow employers to increase incentives for participation in programs that require an employee to achieve an agreed-upon wellness goal (health-contingent wellness programs). Specifically, employers will be able to increase incentives from the currently allowable 20% to as much as 30% of an employee’s insurance costs, and in some cases as much as 50%. Examples of health-contingent wellness programs include: programs that provide a reward to those who do not use, or decrease their use of, tobacco; programs that provide a reward to those who achieve a specified cholesterol level or weight. To protect employees from unfair practices, the proposed regulations will require health-contingent wellness programs to follow rules designed for employees who need wellness-related accommodations. Employers may continue to support “participatory wellness programs” which generally are available without regard to an individual’s health status. These include, for example, programs that reimburse for the cost of membership in a fitness center; that provide a reward to employees for attending a monthly, no-cost health education seminar; or that provides a reward to employees who complete a health risk assessment without requiring them to take further action.

via CDC – NIOSH – Total Worker Health™ in Action – January 2013.

Leading Cause of Emphysema is Smoking

EmphysemaEmphysema occurs when the air sacs in your lungs are gradually destroyed, making you progressively more short of breath. Emphysema is one of several diseases known collectively as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema.

As it worsens, emphysema turns the spherical air sacs — clustered like bunches of grapes — into large, irregular pockets with gaping holes in their inner walls. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.

Emphysema also slowly destroys the elastic fibers that hold open the small airways leading to the air sacs. This allows these airways to collapse when you breathe out, so the air in your lungs can’t escape. Treatment may slow the progression of emphysema, but it can’t reverse the damage.

via Emphysema – MayoClinic.com.

Human Capital Importance in an Organization

human-capital-211Capital is defined as resource or the input into a business. Human capital can therefore be defined as an input in employees, the ability to perform a task with the aim of producing economic value.  Human skills are needed to implement a business idea. Hence human capital importance is non-ignorable in a business. The ability to perform a task is gained by an individual through learning and experience.

via Human Capital Importance in an Organization.

What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?

????????????????????????????????????????There’s a common misconception that people with high blood pressure, also called hypertension, will experience symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing. The truth is that HBP is largely a symptomless condition. If you ignore your blood pressure because you think symptoms will alert you to the problem, you are taking a dangerous chance with your life. Everybody needs to know their blood pressure numbers, and everyone needs to prevent high blood pressure from developing.

via What are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?.