A Look Back and a Look Ahead
A new year means new horizons and new goals. It means a
fresh start in making the most of a brand new year. A new year also brings the opportunity to look back over the previous year and assess triumphs, victories, successes and failures. At CBR we set and assess goals every year, with the purposeful intent to serve our clients with excellence. So, how have we done?
Let’s take a look back at 2007, and a look ahead to 2008. Help me evaluate how successful the CBR Risk Team has met your needs, and how we can work together more efficiently to meet your needs in the coming year.
2007 in Review
- Cumulative and Client Loss Ratios. CBR routinely sets aggressive goals regarding cumulative loss ratios and injury rates, and we trust that our clients are as adamant about safety as we are. As a whole, we did not fare as well in 2007 as we did in 2006, when our cumulative loss ratio (unmodified premium vs. claims cost) was a very respectable 16.86%. However, 2007’s loss ratio (25.95%) was very dramatically affected by a few very large losses. I’m proud to say, though, that approximately 91% of you lowered your loss ratio this year! Great job to those who had safe years.
- Safety Webinars. We launched monthly Safety Seminars in February 2007, then converted to online Webinars in the fall. What a success! Many of you have joined us for these free webinars and we anticipate greater success in 2008.
- Online Forms. Hopefully you have noticed that CBR’s website is chock-full of helpful information, forms, etc, designed to serve you in the most efficient way possible. You can now request certificates of insurance, find a Concentra location, submit an Injury Report, find Return-to-Work ideas and more online. (Save those links as favorites! Contact me if you don’t know your userid and password.)
- Safety Services. CBR provided approximately 55 free On-Site Risk Analyses to our clients in 2007. These included written reports of findings, as well as written Safety Procedures for how to correct any deficiencies.
- Safety Procedures Manuals. We have completely re-written a new Safety Procedures Manual for use by all of our clients. Most of you received a copy during 2007. If you did not receive one, please contact me at kvarner@cbri.com to request one.
- Recognition. In 2007, CBR received recognition as an industry leader from several prestigious organizations. We were a Better Business Bureau’s “Ethics Award Finalist”, an Arizona Small Business Association’s “Arizona Company to Watch,” and named one of the Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work.” As an industry leader, the CBR Risk Team takes pride in the role we play in helping CBR maintain that status. (We met several of our clients on the award stands as well! Congratulations to those companies!)
A Look Ahead to 2008
- Aggressive Goals. We continue to set our sights on very low loss ratios, which tend to indicate a commitment to safety and aggressive claims management. To that end, we offer:
- “Safety Assist”. This is a new service we are introducing in 2008. We value our clients and want to identify specific safety needs as they arise. Often those needs are reflected in higher-than-desired loss ratios and/or incident rates, and negative trends. When a need is identified, we will offer special assistance, such as free consultations, specialized safety training, and other specific services designed to identify and minimize hazards and reduce injuries and costs. Companies who succeed in this program will receive “Safety Assist Rewards” which range from monetary incentive pools for supervisors/foremen to flat-screen TV’s, weekend stays at a resort, ticket packages to Suns, Diamondbacks or Cardinals games or other exciting rewards. We believe our clients deserve service that goes “above and beyond,” and Safety Assist is designed to provide that!
- Safety Services. We have extended our contract with K&R Safety to conduct On-Site Risk Analyses and provide safety training. CBR will again provide a limited number of On-Site Risk Analyses free to clients with exposure that warrants the need. Also, K&R Safety has agreed to pass along substantial discounts to our clients for safety services such as safety training, additional field audits or more comprehensive services. Many of our clients are not large enough to warrant the cost of a full-time Safety Manager. CBR is able to coordinate programs with K&R Safety to provide those services at a fraction of the cost.
- Customized Safety Procedures Manuals. Now that basic Safety Procedures have been written, the Risk Team wants to go a step further in customizing those to fit your specific needs. This is a time-consuming process that we believe is worth the time! These will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to industries (construction, manufacturing, landscaping and property management) where the need is greatest. However, if you don’t “fit that profile,” let us hear from you anyway! If we can squeeze you in, we will!
- Effective Safety Webinars. As we learn to use the webinar tool, we are implementing features that make the Safety Webinar experience more valuable! If you and your supervisors are not currently attending the monthly Safety Webinars, why not check it out on January 31! Find out more.
- Attention to the Needs of Clients. We want to hear from you! What needs do you have? Perhaps your supervisors need safety checklists to conduct their own safety audits. We’ve got those! Perhaps you want to develop and implement a more specific safety program at your company. We can help! Perhaps there is a form you wish was available online. Let us know…chances are, we can make it happen!
CBR has not gained recognition as an industry leader by sitting on our hands or ignoring client needs. So, tell us what you need! I have designed a survey to help us determine how we can best meet your safety and risk management needs. Please take 3 minutes to complete the survey.
Have a safe new year!
Contact us or request a proposal for more information!
