Better Safe Than Sorry

Following the September terrorist attacks, employers and employees are more concerned than ever about maintaining a safe work environment. Below are a few suggested areas that your company may want to address:

• Be sure your company has an emergency preparedness program that includes evacuation procedures.

• Be sure all employees, including long-term and new hires, have received an updated emergency manual which addresses everything from earthquakes and fires, to bomb threats and hazardous waste accidents.

• Replenish emergency food, water and first aid supplies on a regular basis. Encourage employees to keep extra supplies of any special medications that they may require.

• Be sure all employees know where emergency exits are located. They should also know where fire extinguishers, hoses and alarms are located.

• Fire drills and other evacuation procedures should be conducted regularly.

• Assemble a team of individuals who are trained in first aid and CPR. Be sure everyone at your company knows who the trained people are.

• Maintain accurate records of names and phone numbers of employees' family members or friends who should be contacted in the event of an emergency. Maintain an accurate record of who was scheduled to be at work each day, who actually was present, and use that record to account for your employees during any evacuation drills or in the event of an actual emergency.

• Consider adding an Employee Assistance Program, if one is not already in place. Let employees know that professional counselors are available to them to address any personal challenges that they may face.

• Let employees know that your company cares about them.

These are just a few suggestions as to how your workplace can be better prepared for any emergency situations that may arise. For more information, or for assistance, please call me at (800) 533-6547.

Recommended Rate Increase

The Department of Insurance has approved the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau's (WCIRB) recommendation that the 2002 advisory loss cost rates be increased by 10.2%. Mr. Harry Low said that he is very "concerned over the financial health of the state's workers' comp insurance market, which has been rendered under reserved by more than $7 billion by a six-year long price war for market share." Had Governor Gray Davis approved legislation that would increase workers' compensation benefit levels, the WCIRB would have recommended the rates be increased by 19.3%.

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