(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
Loading ...Does your employee handbook have a hands-free cell phone policy yet?
By July 1, 2008 it should, becuase motorist will no longer be permitted to drive while talking on their handheld cellular phones. The new law going into effect will fine drivers $20 for their first infraction and $50 there after. Drivers 18 and over are permitted to use a hands-free device or BLUETOOTH device as long as both ears are not covered. Click here for DMV website and link to video
$20 bucks? Who cares right? I'm a sales guy, so I know that if I am talking to a prospective client on my company cell phone that the risk of getting pulled over and shelling out $20 is relatively low and the reward/commission for making the sale far out weighs the penalty right?
Wrong!
This is where is real problem starts. Here is some food for thought:
- What happens if I am talking on a work related phone call and fatally drive into another vehicle? Who's responsible? Me or my Company?
- What happens if your company needs employees to be available in their cars via mobile phone, such as with salespeople? Should employees be supplied with a hands-free device?
- What if an employee uses a cell phone for personal use while driving to work and gets injured? Is the employer liable for workers’ compensation benefits?
The answer to these qeuestions can vary based on the details of each situation so the best advise is to always consult with expert legal council.
Employers take action!
- Adopt a policy in your employee handbook that clearly prohibits use of cell phones while driving a vehicle.
- Train supervisors and managers to communicate to their staff about the company’s policy prohibiting the use of mobile phones while driving.
- Discipline employees who violate the policy.
Posted June 25th, 2008 by Vincent - Posted in Human Resources, Safety, Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Some like it HOT!
Every change in season seems to bring on new "wars" in the office. The AC War. For the most part, we can laugh at it. But these constant changing of the temperatures in the office could be adding to an influx of colds and other ailments. You know you have seen it. One employee is "freezing" in their office and bumps the control up to warm it up. Two offices down the hall all the sudden wonders why they are sweating and gets up to adjust the thermostat down to "his" comfort level….and the war begins.
Some offices will lock a box around the control box to keep this from happening. That is fine, but what about the person sitting in the office that happens to have poor circulation? You're wondering if I mean the vents or the blood flow of the employee. Well, I mean both. Are companies obligated to purchase heaters and fans to keep their employees happy? What about the "warmer" employee falling asleep on the job, being lathargic from the heat? Or the "freezing" employee with the sniffles, sneezing all day. How does this affect productivity? Should we be worried?
Really, I am just wondering. Just wondering while I am typing away with my frozen fingers.
Posted February 8th, 2008 by Camille - Posted in Customer Service, Health, Human Resources, Productivity, Safety, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp | | 1 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...HazCom…a Hazard in Itself!
Hazard Communication…it always shows up on OSHA's "Top 10" list of violations. Gee, I wonder why! Do you know of any company who has an MSDS sheet for every single chemical in their building or on their jobsite? Okay…raise your hand if your company has the MSDS for white out! (Guilty as charged!) Or how about that fancy 8-pack of colored highlighters that your co-worker has on his/her desk? Well, how about one for the emissions from the truck that backs up to your loading dock? (I didn't think so!) All are chemicals that have some sort of inherent danger if ingested accidentally or used in some other moronic way! Is anyone EVER fully compliant with this OSHA standard?
So what is the appropriate attitude and action a company should take? It is obvious that "letter of the law" will not happen, even by companies with the best intentions. I say, "Major on the majors!" Do your best to be compliant with the OSHA regulation, but put the focus on chemicals that are most likely to cause harm. Take a walk around your facility. Do you see commonly used items such as paint thinner, amonia, or other chemicals that could easily come in contact with skin or be accidentally ingested? Also, keep in mind that chemicals come in more than liquid form. The exhaust from a vehicle truly does pose a potential hazard when it contaminates the air you breathe! Commit to obtain MSDS for these chemicals. (There are various places - such as this one - you can get MSDS, but perhaps the best resource is the manufacturer of the product. They are required by law to develop an MSDS for their products.)
Finally, the easiest way to manage MSDS is to implement a procedure within your shipping/receiving department whereby someone is responsible for checking to see that MSDS sheets are supplied with every product containing chemicals that is received. If not, that person should contact the manufacturer immediately for a copy of the MSDS (before that product leaves the shipping/receiving area).
Hazard Communication…it's enough to give anyone a headache! Just thinking about it is hazardous!
Posted January 3rd, 2008 by Kym - Posted in Health, Safety | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...You Make Me Sick!
It's the season for sharing! Around our office I see it each year…some poor soul catches the cold or flu then proceeds to share generously (though not intentionally) with others! Now, I'm no "health nut," but it seems to me there are some common sense things to prevent the spread of your own virus, and to combat catching one from co-workers. Kudos to the writer of this article for providing ideas for both, and even revealing where germs hide out in your office. Is it too much to expect grown adults to take responsibility for themselves and others?
Now, if you'll excuse me…I feel a sneeze coming on and I'm really in the mood for sharing!
Posted December 20th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Health, Safety | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Are Employees Really a Company’s Greatest Asset?
Employers often say, "Our employees are our greatest asset!" But is that really true? How many of us would run into a burning home to save our cherished photos, computers or other "valuable" possessions. Yet, when we see an unsafe work condition or practice, we fail to implement any administrative or engineering control to insure that workers are not injured as a result of that unsafe condition or practice. We'll risk our lives for possessions, yet tell the world that employees are our greatest asset!?!
The proof is in the action! Make an effort today to create a safer work environment for one of your employees or a co-worker! 
Posted December 6th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Safety | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...My Neck…My Back! My Neck and My Back!
This title comes to me in a moment of sheer genius and was taken from an except of an movie some of you may or may not know. In this movie, a customer fakes an injury in the local corner store to try and sue the owner of the business. It didn't work for the guy in the movie and it didn't work for the employee you're about to read about.
According to this article, "a former prison guard was convicted of 14 counts of fraud Monday after a Sacramento County jury agreed with prosecutors that she faked injuries to qualify for workers' compensation and a state disability pension." Back in 1999 she fell 16 ft from a watch tower and had to have surgery on her shoulder and jaw. She complained of ongoing back pain which meant she could no longer do some of the things she loved to do such as ride a personal watercraft or more importantly work.
Call me Paul Harvey because it's time for the rest of the story…
She was placed under surveillance one month after her surgery and seen on video at a local lake. Two years later she was video taped going down water slides and even operating a personal watercraft on choppy waters. So much for giving up the things she loves in life…one thing she definitely gave up was the idea of ever working again.
In 2002, she was awarded, a tax free $2,400 per month for her permanent disability pension from the state and the total loss of her claim has peaked over the 300K mark.
Kudos to the investigation team and exposing this fraud. She is facing somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 years of prison time. Now this former prison guard faces the harsh reality of sitting behind the bars that she once guarded.
Posted December 5th, 2007 by Vincent - Posted in Human Resources, Insurance Fraud, Safety, Workers' Comp, pensions | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Oh…My Aching Back!
Business owners beware! OSHA has just mandated that employers are responsible for providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees! According to Business and Legal Reports, "This final rule will clarify who is responsible for paying for PPE, which OSHA anticipates will lead to greater compliance and potential avoidance of thousands of workplace injuries each year."
In the world of loss control, we can agree that proper PPE reduces injuries and severity, and is a good cost control measure. But does crying out "Oh, my aching back," entitle such employee to the latest and greatest in back support apparel?
There is no clear cut answer to that question. However, if an employee is crying out, "Oh, my aching back," you can count on this: you will likely "buy" a work comp claim for that person eventually! Will back support prevent such a claim? If so, the cost of providing it may not be so bad after all! If not, do you really want to keep that worker assigned to that task?
Posted November 29th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Safety, Workers' Comp | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...The Ladder Safety Mistake
Some workers are just asking for it! Sixty feet in the air…top of a ladder held up by sticks…in the bed of a truck! Duh! A safety manager can talk until they are blue in the face, but until someone comes up with a way to remove the “idiot factor,” we can expect stupid injuries. Check out the guy on the ladder!
At least he’s wearing his hard hat!
Posted November 8th, 2007 by Kym - Posted in Safety | | 1 Comments
