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Safety Focus On....Ladders!
One of the leading causes of large losses through the
NECA West ADR program involves ladders. So, we thought we'd take
a few minutes to review basic ladder safety.
The three most common causes for ladder accidents are: (a) ladders in
poor condition (damaged ladders should never be used), (b) improper
selection (know the weight and height limitations of your ladder), and
(c) improper use. In general, our accidents occur from improper
use.
A few examples of current ladder claims are:
- Descending a ladder too
quick, slip and fall Current
Claim Cost:
$290,000
- Overreaching (instead
of moving the ladder) Current
Claim Cost: $195,000
- Ladder slipped out from
underneath contractor Current
Claim Cost: $180,000
- Stepping off ladder
wrong, twisting ankle Current
Claim Cost: $115,000
- Descending ladder,
twisted knee Current
Claim Cost: $100,000
A claim today affects your Workers' Compensation
premiums for the next 3 to 5 years. So, to help reduce those WC
premiums (and to provide a better workplace for our contractors), let's
focus on safety! Encourage your contractors to slow down when
descending ladders, take the extra time to safely move the ladder
(don't hop it, don't overreach), don't carry tools / equipment while
climbing a ladder (use tool belts or a rope to pull the equipment to
you), and ensure that the surface you are placing the ladder on is
stable and free from obstruction.
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NECA West joins the Heat Illness Prevention
Network
NECA West has joined the Heat Illness Prevention Network
(HIP Network). The HIP Network is a voluntary public / private
partnership established to increase awareness of both employers  and
employees of the hazard of heat illness and the importance of heat
illness prevention measures to prevent fatalities and serious illnesses
in California workplaces. HIP Network members work together to
help prevent heat illness in workplaces throughout California in
partnership with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health
(Cal/OSHA) by providing timely information to employers and employees.
Stay tuned to find out what you can do to help limit the effect of the
summer heat on your employees!
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Proper Payroll Record Keeping Can Reduce WC Premiums
Keeping detailed records that clearly show the start and
stop times, hours worked, job duties, and wage rates can help you take
advantage of the lower-rated classification. If you are paying
your employees by piecework, you must keep a record of start and stop
times and the hours worked for each employee to qualify for lower-rated
classification. If you do not keep a time log of the start and
stop times and hours worked, your insurance company's workers'
compensation auditor will assign all payrolls into the highest-rated
classification as the WCIRB permits. Since these wage rates are
subject to verification at the time of audit through a valid source,
maintaining a verifiable record is necessary and helps you utilize the
system.
Accurate records and correct payroll reporting can help reduce the
possibility of unexpected premium owed at the end of the policy
period. Remember, your ability to utilize the lower-rated
construction classification will depend on your ability to provide
original timecard with start and stop times for all construction
employees at the payroll audit. Failure to provide these records
could result in increased premium cost.
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State Fund Files A 3.5% Premium Decrease
The State Compensation Insurance Fund filed a July 1,  2008 revision to its rating
plan, which it anticipates will result in a 3.5% reduction in
collectible premiums. While base rates will remain unchanged,
State Fund has expanded its merit rating and claims-free discount plans
to lower rates for policies with superior safety records. The new
rate filing will affect new and renewal workers' compensation policies
with an effective date on or after July 1, 2008.
For a full copy of the press release, please contact us at info@necawest.com
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Questions?
Looking
for Information
on Workers'
Comp Insurance?
To
apply for the NECA West Workers' Compensation ADR program you may request
a quote from BOTH carriers:
NECA
West Captive ADR Program
Betsy
Moore, WC Underwriting
General
Agency Services, Inc
(989)953-7421
bmoore@gasinsurance.net
NECA
West State Fund ADR Program
Don
Knutsen, WC Underwriting
(866)383-6920
dmknutsen@scif.com
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Objectives & Benefits of
NECA ADR
Objectives
- Reduce Workers' Compensation Claim costs
- Reduce employers' costs
- Improve benefit delivery
- Promote safety
- Promote labor-management cooperation
- Create more jobs for union members
Benefits
- Reduce loss costs
- Reduced litigation
- Shorter claim cycle times
- Better medical care
- Faster return to work
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Safety Expert System Software
A
great tool that NECA developed is the "Safety Expert System
Software". This is a customizable product that provides a
comprehensive approach to safety, the computer program places you in
control of your company's safety program. It provides you with basic
modules on the safety topics affecting electrical contractors
today.
Within
each Safety Topic section you will find a Compliance Guide, Safety
Checklists, Employee Training Guide, Safety Activities, Safety Talks
(great to print out and take to a job site), and a Test. You can
customize each of these documents for the types of job sites you
generally encounter; and it includes a basic Records system that allows
you to track employee training, disciplinary action, accident reports,
etc.
The "Safety Expert System Software" is available from the NECA
online store at www.necanet.org
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