Risk Management – Page 10 – Risk Management 365

Santa Claus hires Christmas Risk Officer CRO

Santa Claus has announced the appointment of a Christmas Risk Officer CRO as part of a coordinated plan to maintain resilience at Grotto SE, the North Pole based toy manufacturing plant, as well as Claus’ flying sledge-based global distribution facility.

Mrs Santa Claus is believed to be unhappy about the appointment of the new CRO but accepts that someone has to do it if clients’ confidence in Christmas is to be retained. Sources say that, in line with other big company CEOs, Santa Claus is increasingly concerned about linked risks to do with brand and reputation, as well data security.

via Santa Claus CRO strengthens Lloyd’s links – Market News – Lloyds.

Best Practices for Monitoring Workers’ Comp Claims

When adopting best practices in Workers’ Compensation (WC) claims management, even simply identifying where to start can be intimidating for employers if they rely solely on their claims administrator. To achieve best outcomes, employers should take an active role in developing internal best practices and align them with a claims administrator who supports the same philosophy.

The key elements to a successful WC claims-management program will have both pre- and post-injury components. It’s said that “the best WC claim is the one that never happens,” therefore, the first step is avoiding claims through safety and health programs. The second is mitigating costs once a claim occurs.

With medical expenses accounting for more than 60 percent of a WC claim, injury strategies must address this cost driver through programs that keep employees healthy.

via Analysis: Best Practices for Monitoring Property, Casualty and WC Claims | PropertyCasualty360.

Three ways to control workers’ compensation loss costs

Cost control and injury management are the basic yet most important management programs that can impact workers’ compensation loss costs. Focusing efforts on prompt claim reporting, controlling medical costs and having a plan to get injured employees back to work as quickly as possible can have an impact on controlling your workers’ compensation claim costs.

Report claims promptly – The prompt reporting of employee injury claims can be one of the most effective tools in controlling worker’s compensation costs.
Utilize network medical providers – According to current NCCI data, medical costs represent 58% of workers’ compensation claim 120% costs. Utilizing network providers is a critical step in controlling your medical costs.
Plan for return-to-work with a well-engineered process – An important tool for controlling claim costs is an effective return-to-work process. Lost time or indemnity cases have the highest percentage of uninsured indirect costs.

Top Four Construction Hazards

The top four causes of construction fatalities are: Falls, Struck-By, Caught-In/Between and Electrocutions.

Prevent Falls

Wear and use personal fall arrest equipment.
Install and maintain perimeter protection.
Cover and secure floor openings and label floor opening covers.
Use ladders and scaffolds safely.

Prevent Struck-By

Never position yourself between moving and fixed objects.
Wear high-visibility clothes near equipment/vehicles.

Prevent Caught-In/Between

Never enter an unprotected trench or excavation 5 feet or deeper without an adequate protective system in place; some trenches under 5 feet deep may also need such a system.
Make sure the trench or excavation is protected either by sloping, shoring, benching or trench shield systems.

Prevent Electrocutions

Locate and identify utilities before starting work.
Look for overhead power lines when operating any equipment.
Maintain a safe distance away from power lines; learn the safe distance requirements.
Do not operate portable electric tools unless they are grounded or double insulated.
Use ground-fault circuit interrupters for protection.
Be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders, scaffolds or other platforms.

via Top Four Construction Hazards.

Investigate Accidents with Prevention in Mind

Thousands of accidents occur throughout the United States every day. The failure of people, equipment, supplies, or surroundings to behave or react as expected causes most of them. Accident investigations determine how and why these failures occur. By using the information gained through an investigation, a similar, or perhaps more disastrous, accident may be prevented. It is important to conduct accident investigations with prevention in mind.

via Safety and Health Topics | Accident Investigation.

What is a safety culture – how will it impact my company?

Safety cultures consist of shared beliefs, practices, and attitudes that exist at an establishment. Culture is the atmosphere created by those beliefs, attitudes, etc., which shape our behavior. An organizations safety culture is the result of a number of factors such as:

Management and employee norms, assumptions and beliefs;
Management and employee attitudes;
Values, myths, stories;
Policies and procedures;
Supervisor priorities, responsibilities and accountability;
Production and bottom line pressures vs. quality issues;
Actions or lack of action to correct unsafe behaviors;
Employee training and motivation; and
Employee involvement or “buy-in.”

via Safety and Health Management Systems eTool | Module 4: Creating Change – Safety and Health Program Management: Fact Sheets: Creating a Safety Culture.

Reporting Accidents Immediately Key to Lower Work Comp Costs

Employees must know before they get hurt who they should talk to when they suffer an injury. Immediate injury reporting is a key to keeping injury costs as low as possible. Studies have shown that the costs of an injury go up when there is a delay in reporting. Make it your policy that any employee injury is reported before the end of the shift.

via IWCP: Institute of WorkComp Professionals.

Alcoa Safety: Zero Is Possible

Zero work-related injuries and illnesses have been long-standing goals for Alcoa. But when zero first became the target, it seemed unreachable. “Accidents are inevitable” was often the response.

It’s not. They felt they could attain zero. That it is possible, and, in many locations, it is already there, thanks to dedicated effort and a firm commitment to their core values, one of which is to work safely, promote wellness, and protect the environment.

via Alcoa: Worldwide: Sustainability: Enhancing Our Workplace: Safety.

Back Injuries

Your back is made of bones, muscles, and other tissues extending from your neck to your pelvis. Back injuries can result from sports injuries, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident. The lower back is the most common site of back injuries and back pain. Common back injuries include:

Sprains and strains
Herniated disks
Fractured vertebrae

These injuries can cause pain and limit your movement. Treatments vary but might include medicines, icing, bed rest, physical therapy, or surgery. You might be able to prevent some back injuries by maintaining a healthy weight, lifting objects with your legs, and using lower-back support when you sit.

via Back Injuries: MedlinePlus.

Winter Weather: Avoid Slip and Fall Injuries

Outdoor surfaces, such as parking lots, sidewalks, and walkways, are one of the leading areas for slip and fall injuries. Snow, ice, and rain often make these areas slippery and dangerous. Winter conditions factor heavily into outdoor slip and fall injuries. Keep icy walkways clear.

via Managing Slip and Fall Injuries | Culture of Safety.