Risk Management 365 – Page 41 – Risk Profile Improvement

Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Kids

The following New Year tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Preschoolers

I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.
I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I need help or am scared.

Kids, 5 to 12 years old

I will drink reduced-fat milk and water every day, and drink soda and fruit drinks only at special times.
I will put on sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright, sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
I will always wear a helmet when riding a bike .
I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends or who may have a hard time making friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school.
I’ll never give out private information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without asking my parent if it is okay .
I will try to talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I have a problem or feel stressed.

Kids, 13 years old and older

I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only at special times .
I will take care of my body through physical activity and eating the right types and amounts of foods .
I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.
I will help out in my community – through giving some of my time to help others , working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find helpful ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or talking about my problem with a parent or friend.
When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
When I notice my friends are struggling or making risky choices , I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without forcing them to do something or using violence. I will expect to be treated the same way in return.
I will resist peer pressure to try tobaccoe-cigarettes, drugs or alcohol.
I agree not to use a cellphone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

via Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Kids.

Benefits of Health & Safety Programs at Work

Here is an overview of potential benefits of workplace health programs for employers and employees.

For Employers:

Lower health care and disability costs
Enhanced employee productivity
Reduced employee absenteeism
Decreased rates of illness and injuries
Enhanced corporate image
Improved employee morale
Improved employee recruitment and retention
Increased organizational commitment and creation of a culture of health

For Employees:

Increased well-being, self-image, and self-esteem
Improved coping skills with stress or other factors affecting health
Improved health status
Lower costs for acute health issues
Lower out of pocket costs for health care services (e.g., reduced premiums; deductibles; co-payments)
Increased access to health promotion resources and social support
Improved job satisfaction
Safer and more supportive work environment

via CDC – Workplace Health – Business Case – Benefits of Health Program.

Safety Tips: New Year’s Eve

If you are hosting a New Year’s Eve party, following a few simple rules could prevent a tragedy:

Plan ahead by naming a “designated driver.” Make this your responsibility as the host.
Contact a local cab company to provide rides for your guests.
Serve non-alcoholic beverages as an option to your guests.
Stop serving alcohol to your guests several hours before the party ends.
Provide your guests with a place to stay overnight in your home.

If you are attending New Year’s Eve parties and celebrations:

If you drink, don’t drive.
Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before the party or celebration begins.
If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or get a sober friend or family member to come pick you up.
Or, stay where you are until you are sober.
Take the keys from someone if you think he/she is too impaired to drive.

via USA.gov:Safety Tips: New Year’s Eve.

How to Recognize Workers’ Comp Fraud

Workers’ Comp Claimant fraud–when an employee deliberately falsifies facts about an illness or injury to collect benefits–is the most commonly discussed form of workers’ comp fraud. Here are a few examples of how to recognize this type of fraud:

An employee becomes injured or sick and claims that it was caused by work-related circumstances when, in reality, it was not.
An employee experiences a minor accident and exaggerates the extent of the resulting injury.
An employee who has an injury claim collects benefits while secretly continuing to work or consciously participates in activities that otherwise would not be possible based on the extent of the reported injury and medical limitations.
A claimant with a legitimate injury or illness, who is capable of transitional work or modified duty, malingers and makes no effort to return to any work activity, all the while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

via Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation.

Keeping Kids Safe Online

There’s a wide range of dangers that can affect kids online:

Contact with undesirable people, including:

Being approached by pedophiles – for example, in Internet chat rooms
Being targeted by online bullies
Being tricked into disclosing personal information – about your child or about you

Inappropriate content, such as:

Sexually explicit content
Downloads of pirated materials – including music or video files

Computer security issues:

Drive-by downloads – whereby simply visiting a website can result in malicious programs being automatically installed on your child’s computer
Malware infections from peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing programs – can give other people access to your child’s computer
Unwanted advertising, pop-ups, and adware programs – that are often automatically installed when freeware or shareware programs are downloaded

via Keeping Kids Safe Online | Internet Security Information | Kaspersky Lab US.

Importance of Safety Training

Routine work can dull alertness and a relaxed attitude can replace the caution that existed when the job was new and interesting. In many jobs the same route is traveled daily over the same roads or the same tasks are repeated with little conscious thought. Without some periodic reawakening to the ever-present hazards, lethargy deepens and the odds of an accident occurring can increase.

Workers may not always recognize the importance of safety training or think of it as unnecessary because they’ve “been doing it for years.” But an important benefit of periodic safety training is the reminder that a danger can exist and the no one is immune to accidents. Therefore, it is important for workers to understand the purpose of the training session, why it will be useful to them, and what can result from not following safety rules and procedures.

via Importance of Safety Training.

When to Use Home Fire Extinguishers

When is a fire at a point where it might still be controlled by a fire extinguisher?

Portable fire extinguishers are valuable for immediate use on small fires. They contain a limited amount of extinguishing material and need to be properly used so that this material is not wasted. For example, when a pan initially catches fire, it may be safe to turn off the burner, place a lid on the pan, and use an extinguisher. By the time the fire has spread, however, these actions will not be adequate. Only trained firefighters can safely extinguish such fires.

Use a fire extinguisher only if:

You have alerted other occupants and someone has called the fire department;
The fire is small and contained to a single object, such as a wastebasket;
You are safe from the toxic smoke produced by the fire;
You have a means of escape identified and the fire is not between you and the escape route; and
Your instincts tell you that it is safe to use an extinguisher.

If all of these conditions are not present, you should NOT try to use a fire extinguisher. Alert other occupants, leave the building following your home escape plan, go to the agreed upon meeting place, and call the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbor’s home.

via Home Fire Safety | Use and Maintenance of Home Fire Extinguishers.

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.

Power Outage – Dangers of Portable Generators

Portable generators are also used at home and the workplace to power essential equipment during power outages. Improper installation and use can endanger occupants of the building, utility workers and others.

When using a portable generator, follow these precautions:

Choose the correct generator for the job. Do not exceed the load rating recommended by the manufacturer.
Carefully follow all manufacturer’s advice, including instructions about grounding.
Connect the appliance you want to use directly to the generator.
Do not connect the generator directly to the building wiring system. This can cause electricity to backfeed into the utility electrical system, endangering utility workers and other users.
Run the generator only in a well-ventilated area to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide from burning fuel. This odorless, invisible gas can kill if it accumulates indoors. Place the generator outside in a dry location away from air intakes.
Use caution when handling and storing fuel. Turn off the generator for refueling because gasoline vapors can catch fire and explode if ignited by a spark.
Use the correct size of extension cords and keep them free of damage and moisture. You must use three-prong cords for safe grounding. Do not allow cords to become tripping hazards and don’t run them under rugs where they can overheat and start a fire.

via Staying Safe During a Power Outage | SafetyXChange.