ABC Launches Safety RoundTables: Traffic Control the First TopicNew Crane and Rigging Rule Goes Into Effect February 1st
Dept. of L&I’s New Stay at Work ProgramABC Retrospective Rating Performance ImprovesThe 2012 STEP Applications are in the Mail
Record Keeping and Reporting: Are You Ready?
Safety is a paramount concern for all contractors and ABC. A new resource offered in 2012 to ABC members are our Safety RoundTables. The first one is Wednesday, March 14 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the ABC Education Center in Bellevue. The topic will be Traffic Control. Brian Salsgiver, Senior Corporate Safety Manager for Centennial Contractors, will bring his hands-on traffic control training tool which helps companies develop and implement temporary traffic control measures. There will be ample time for discussion and networking. This is a BYO lunch event, but there will be a ice cream sundae bar! ABC is excited to add this new safety event to all of the other safety resources available from ABC. Put this on your calendar – details coming soon!
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Do you have any qualified riggers and signal persons on your work crews? Do you need them? Are you sure? On February 1st, the New Crane and Rigging Rule will go into effect and ABC can help you make sure your employees receive the training they need to remain in compliance with this rule.
On January 26th and 27th, ABC will host a 2-day seminar where students can earn a "Qualified Rigger and/or Signal Person" card. Registrants have the option of completing the Rigging portion, the Signal Person portion or both. There will also be a Train-the-Trainer option on the afternoon of the second day. Each class includes required instruction, student manual, exam and ID card.
Day 1 will be devoted entirely to rigging. Under the new rule, qualified riggers must be used whenever workers are within the fall zone, are hooking or unhooking, guiding a load, or doing the initial connection of a load to a component or structure. Students will learn the critical components of a safe crane lift, how to calculate load weights and sling angles, and gain knowledge of wire ropes and synthetic slings. Upon completion of a written and practical exam, students will receive a Qualified Rigger card, which will be valid for five years. At that time, the written test must be retaken in order for the card to remain current. Riggers do not have to complete the written and practical tests until July 31st, 2012; however, they do need to know and understand all of the requirements as outlined in the new rule.
Day 2 will focus on Signal Person training in the morning. Under the new rule, certain conditions will require work crews to use a qualified signal person when operating cranes/derricks or hoist-enabled industrial trucks. The Signal Person section of the seminar will teach students the situations when a signal person is required, the types of signals used and their application on the job-site. Students will receive their Qualified Signal Person card after completing either an oral or written exam as well as demonstration the practical usage of the various signals. The examinations must be completed by February 1, 2012. The signal person qualification must be renewed every five years.
A Train-the-Trainer section for riggers and signal persons will be offered in the afternoon of Day 2.
If you are interested in registering for this seminar, please contact Abby Binion at 800.640.7789 or register online here.
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By Heather Davis, Employer Resources Northwest
The Stay at Work Program is a new financial incentive program that encourages employers to bring their injured workers back to light-duty or transitional work by reimbursing them for a portion of their costs. An employer may be eligible for reimbursement if they: pay workers' compensation premiums to Labor and Industries (L&I) to cover your workers; have an active worker-injury claim with L&I; have an employee who has been released by their health care provider, with medical restrictions, for light-duty, transitional work while recovering from a workplace injury; and can offer light or transitional work that is approved by the worker's health care provider.
There are four reimbursements available to employers: L&I will reimburse 50% of the worker’s gross light-duty wages. The subsidy is limited to 66 days within a consecutive 24-month period or a maximum of $10,000. If the worker needs any specific clothing to perform the job, up to $400 can be reimbursed. If the worker needs any tools to perform the job, up to $2500 can be reimbursed. If instruction is needed, up to $1000 can be reimbursed for tuition, books, or materials needed to prepare the worker for the job.
For reimbursement under the Stay at Work Program, L&I will provide employers with reimbursement applications, though these forms are not yet available. In the meantime, save copies of all payroll records, keep receipts for tools, clothing and any instruction provided, and have documentation from the health care provider showing the injured worker is released to light/modified duty, as well as copies of all signed job offer letters.
This is a brand new program and there will likely be kinks to be worked out over the next several months. That being said, this program presents an opportunity for employers to receive significant savings by bringing their light or modified duty employees back to work in a transitional capacity.
For more information on this program, please contact Heather Davis with Employer Resources Northwest at (800) 433-7601 ext. 806.
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By Greg Kabacy, Employer Resources Northwest
During the height of the recession, construction related firms took a beating. Not only were jobs scarce, but many employees filed either unemployment or workers compensation claims. Because of the high number of workers compensation claims filed, firms going out of business, and a general lack of light duty, the ABC Retro refund program suffered a major setback in 2008-2009.
In response to the changing climate and poor refund results, the Retro Committee, ABC and ERNWest teamed up to put in place a number of changes to help strengthen the program. Those changes have included programs like “Time Loss First Response”, a three-week mandatory light duty, or Kept on Salary (KOS) policy, and an upcoming “waiver” program for companies that do not meet the group’s strict underwriting.
The results of a number of these programs, as well as employers having their key personal in place, seem to be making a difference in the ABC Retro Program. The 2009-2010 plan year performed significantly better than 2008-2009, and the 2010-2011 plan year is even outperforming the 2009-2010.
The group’s newest year, 2011-2012, which is only six months old is actually outperforming all years going back to the 2005-2006 plan year. The data thus far is showing that ABC Retro has turned the corner and is headed back to prominence in the Retro community. For 2011-2012, time loss days, and payments are at an all time low compared to the premium, and if the trend continues refunds for the group could approach levels not seen since Labor and Industries changed the rules back in 2006.
If you’re not part of the ABC retrospective rating program and would like to explore the possibility, please contact Wendy Novak at ABC at (800) 640-7789, or Heather Davis at ERNWest at (253) 237-0806.
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The 2012 Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) applications are in the mail to all ABC of Western Washington contractor members. The deadline to return the completed submittal form to ABC of Western Washington is March 16, 2012. Send all completed forms to ABC of Western Washington. Please do not send any STEP forms directly to ABC National. This will help ensure that your application gets processed without delay.
Completion of the STEP form is a requirement for all ABC Retro members and highly encouraged for all contractor members.
There have been some changes to the 2012 STEP application:
- Participants at all levels must submit their 2011 OSHA 300A form.
- Participants applying for Gold level need to have an incident rate equal to or below the BLS NAICS average and only applicants with fewer than 100 employees may use a three-year incidence rate average to qualify for Gold STEP.
- The Insurer Support Statement is required for Gold, Platinum and Diamond levels.
- A written substance abuse policy is required for all Platinum and Diamond applicants.
- Application fees will not be refunded for any Platinum or Diamond applicant who does not meet the listed qualifying criteria.
If you are applying for the Platinum or Diamond award, send all the paperwork, including your check made payable to ABC, to 11061 NE 2nd St #200, Bellevue 98004.
The ABC National Safety Committee will review all Platinum and Diamond applications. Applicants who have either fatalities or willful violations will not be eligible for STEP Platinum or Diamond. Platinum and Diamond recipients will comprise the group from which ABC National will select its National Excellence in Safety Award winners. Platinum and Diamond level winners will receive special recognition in ABC and non-ABC publications.
If you do not receive your STEP form by the end of January, or if you have any questions while completing your form, please contact Wendy Novak at (425) 646-8000 or (800) 640-7789 for a copy.
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By Safety Matters, www.sitesafetymatters.com
Maintaining accurate records of injuries and illnesses is important in assuring validity of the Annual Occupational Injury and Illness Survey. Record keeping is also important to you as a tool in identifying areas of recurring on-the-job injuries and illnesses. As a result, safety awareness programs can be targeted in problem areas and potentially reduce your injury and illness incidence rate.
The mandatory OSHA forms are:
- OSHA 300 Log and Summary
- OSHA 301 Supplemental
- Annual Occupational Injury and Illness Survey
The basic requirement:
Each employer is required to keep records of fatalities, injuries, and illnesses and must record each fatality, injury and illness that:
- Is work-related
- Is a new case
- Meets one or more of the general recording criteria
Labor & Industries offers free OSHA 300 recordkeeping workshops. For a complete schedule, go to: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/TrainTools/Workshops/Available/OSHA300/default.asp.
Posting Requirements
A copy of the summary 300A form must be posted at each establishment in the place or places where notices are customarily posted. This copy must be posted no later than February 1st and must remain in place until May 1st.
“Do I Have To Maintain An OSHA 300 Log?”
The OSHA 300 -- "Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses" is a record of every work-related injury or illness that involves:
- loss of consciousness
- restricted work activity or job transfer
- days away from work
- medical treatment beyond first aid
- significant work-related injuries or illnesses that are diagnosed by a licensed health care professional.
- Other work-related injuries or illnesses listed in the OSHA regulation
Generally, most businesses with 10 or fewer employees do not maintain an OSHA 300 log.
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