Risk-Sharing News

TRACIE EVERSON | SAFETY BENEFITS, INC.

Taking Action

Requirement, recommendation, or just a really good idea?

Safety inspections and hazard assessments are an important part of a workplace safety program. Unfortunately, it can be easy to leave that attitude behind when heading out to conduct work in the field. In other words, even though performing daily or weekly safety inspections is an established practice at the city garage, highway shop, city or county office, etc. - this important task might not be consistently applied in the field.

For some of the work of local government, there are requirements dictating the manner in which it must be done. But for many activities with which local government employees are tasked there are no requirements, only recommendations.

Safety Benefits, Inc. (SBI) conducts safety and risk management services for Members of the SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund (SDML WCF) and the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance (SDPAA). But SBI is not an enforcement agency. Our role is one of guidance and support, rather than enforcement. This means that the improvement recommendations provided by SBI following a loss control survey are just that – recommendations.

This sometimes takes Members by surprise. If these aren’t requirements, why devote time and effort to taking these actions? The primary reason is because following these recommendations is proven over time to keep employees safer and reduce the potential for civil liability

Ideas transform communities

Sioux Falls 605.977.7740 Rapid City 605.791.6100

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claims. An added bonus is that Members completing the SBI improvement recommendations also earn loss control credits which reduce the amount of premium to be paid.

Following is a review of some other areas where recommendations have been developed. SBI encourages Members to consider these recommendations when carrying out various activities.

WORKPLACE SAFETY

Occupational Safety and Health Act/Administration (OSHA) OSHA works to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. South Dakota is under federal OSHA jurisdiction which covers most private sector workers within the state. State and local government workers are not covered by federal OSHA.

Not covered by OSHA. Then why is it important to know and understand those OSHA standards that are relevant to what we do in the workplace? Because adhering to OSHA standards and following OSHA programs saves workers’ lives.

In addition, OSHA standards are widely considered to be the recommended guide for safety in the workplace. If a work practice (or lack thereof) were to be challenged in a court of law – it is very likely that any Member’s safety program and procedures would be compared to OSHA standards. If your employees do any of the following tasks, SBI recommends becoming familiar with the applicable OSHA standards: • Enter Confined Spaces • Conduct Trenching and Excavation • Use Chemicals (hazard communication/safety data sheets) • Operate Power Tools • Wear Personal Protective Equipment

RISK-SHARING NEWS (CONT) PLAYGROUNDS

Consumer Product Safety Commission - Handbook for Public Playground Safety According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), every year more than 200,000 children go to the emergency room because of injuries associated with playground equipment. More than 20,000 of these children are treated for a traumatic brain injury, including concussion. Nearly 80% of playground injuries are caused by falls.

To assist entities in identifying and eliminating hazards at public playgrounds, the CPSC developed the Handbook for Public Playground Safety. It is this document that SBI references for all Members that have public playgrounds. The information in the Handbook is recommended, not required. However, the fact that following these recommendations has been proven to save the lives of children should be suffi cient reason to adhere to them.

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What sort of hazards does SBI look for when inspecting a public park? The most common are below: Improper Ground Surfaces • Overcrowded Play Areas • Unprotected Elevated Areas • Head Entrapment Spaces • Strangulation Hazards • Sharp Points and Edges

WORK ON ROADWAYS

Manual on Uniform Traffi c Control Devices (MUTCD) The MUTCD defi nes standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffi c control devices on public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. It is published and administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The State of South Dakota adopted the MUTCD as a requirement for SD Department of Transportation (DOT) road projects. SBI suggests that local government also follow the recommendations in the MUTCD. Following these recommendations results in safer, more effi cient travel on our roads. Signage, road markings and traffi c signals are a key method of communicating directly with travelers.

The MUTCD also provides guidance for temporary traffi c control in work zones on public roads. Following these recommendations allows local government to be confi dent that there is adequate notice of an upcoming road/condition change, traffi c speeds are controlled, changes in the work zone are clearly marked, and the end of a temporary work zone is clearly defi ned. This raises awareness and helps ensure safety for both road users and employees in the work zone.

WORKPLACE INJURY OR INCIDENT

Investigation to Determine Root Cause There are some requirements in place to guide employees and employers when an injury occurs on the job. The employee is required to notify the employer of an injury. Upon receipt of such notice the employer must work with the employee to complete a First Report of Injury form and submit that information to the entity’s workers' compensation insurer.

While reporting the injury is required, conducting a thorough investigation following the injury is a recommendation. Some employers don’t realize that not only should circumstances surrounding employee injuries be investigated, “near misses” in which a worker