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SUMMER 2000 Volume 1, Issue 2 IN
THIS ISSUE
The heat of Summer is upon us and it seems there is no relief in sight! This Summer has been one of the hotter ones in recent history. While these weather patterns can make for great weekends, they also increase the physical demands on your employees. Some extra effort on your part will help keep your employees healthy and productive during the work week. Employees who spend time out doors should be encouraged to use a Sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher. You might want to consider keeping some in your break room or first aid kit. Sun-related illnesses such as exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn and even skin cancer are not uncommon during these hot months. Regular intake of fluids is also an important ingredient in Summer health and safety. Keeping your employees well hydrated can help reduce workers’ compensation claims by preventing dehydration. Dehydration can cause muscle cramping, headaches, blurred vision, poor judgement, fatigue, and exhaustion. Understand that it’s difficult to be productive and safe when you are exhausted. Don‘t forget to keep your "climate controlled" employees well hydrated too. Air-conditioning works by removing humidity from the room air, so be sure your office employees and drivers drink plenty of liquids throughout the day. Helping to maintain
your employees’ Summer health is a simple, but not so easy task.
Regular reinforcement of good habits, and access to the essential
tools (water & sunscreen) will pay off in no time. Remember,
healthy, happy employees are more loyal and productive than their
disgruntled counter-
Beginning this Fall, the fine folks at Stapleton Physical Therapy Group (SPTG) will be calling our medical complex home. They will be moving into the previously unoccupied portion of our facility. SPTG will have a separate entrance and foyer, but will also be accessible through a pass-door that will connect our offices. Stapleton Physical Therapy Group has been a valued and trusted provider for our clinic and patients since 1987. This move will further strengthen our relationship, and benefit both patients and employers by centralizing medical treatment and physical therapy under a single roof. SPTG is part of the national MATRIX Rehabilitation network of providers, and specializes in rehabbing workers’ compensation injuries. Through the resources provided by MATRIX, they are able to take advantage of the cutting-edge technology and efficiencies found in being associated with a national network. They are committed to using the latest innovations in healthcare technology as a resource in continually improving the clinical care that they provide to their patients. Available services include:
Look in the Fall edition of our newsletter for updated news regarding their move. We hope you will join us in welcoming them to their new location. In the meantime, feel free to call Nancy McElroy at (303) 388-7719 or Art Tucker at (303) 399-3533 x755 for additional information about their services.
You have probably already noticed the enclosed safety brochure from Krames publications. As part of our commitment to "Excellence in Healthcare" we will be including a similar brochure in every upcoming newsletter. These publications contain valuable information concerning health and safety in the workplace, as well as self-health awareness that your employees can benefit from at home. Prevention is your greatest weapon in controlling workers’ compensation costs. It is our hope that you and your employees will find these informative and helpful in combating injury and illness. We have taken special care to select brochures that highlight injuries and problems that we treat on a regular basis. Chances are you have employees that have been treated for some of these conditions. If a brochure holds particular interest or relevance to your company, we would be happy to order additional copies for you. Krames charges from $.40 to $1.60 each, depending on the brochure. Many of the titles are also available in Spanish. Contact Tony Baker for info on other topics or to order additional copies. Or, you can call Krames direct at (800) 333-3032
With today’s tight job market, most supervisors wear a number of hats on a daily basis, and completing the "must do" items can seem like a monumental task. It is easy to become overwhelmed and neglect the "non-fire-drill" functions of being the boss. However, to effectively manage your workers’ compensation risks, it is important for all employees and their supervisors to be highly involved in your safety programs. Regular walkthroughs of work areas will help identify hazards and unsafe practices (lifting, bending, no safety glasses, etc…) that might otherwise be overlooked. How many times has an employee, when questioned about a particular hazard or practice, said "That’s the way we’ve always done it." If they haven’t been shown any differently. . . Well, you know the rest of the story. Even if it’s a "common sense" item, many employees in non-skilled positions are afraid to rock the boat,especially where a language barrier is involved. Bring up items of concern and set new policies at your regular safety meetings (you are having regular safety meetings, aren’t you?). This is also an ideal time to praise employees that are setting a good example by following safety guidelines and using the proper safety equipment. As Kenneth Blanchard (One Minute Manager) is fond of saying, "Try to catch people doing something right." A little recognition in front of their peers can go a long way. An effective way to make your employees accountable for their own safety might be to institute an "all or nothing" bonus program. This program has been very successful for employers in high-risk industries; money can be a great motivator. If any employee has a reportable injury, all employees lose their bonuses! Employees are generally harder on one another than any supervisor would dare. What could be better than a company full of safety watchdogs! Are you ready to take safety to the next level? |
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