Summer 2006
NEWSLETTER
Preventing Strains
And Sprains
Strains
and sprains account for a majority of workplace injuries are often caused by
lifting, pushing or overreaching and usually affect the back, shoulders, and
arms. Although it only takes a moment
to cause one of these injuries, it can take many painful days or months to
heal. Preventing strain and sprain
injuries is a lot easier than correcting them.
Your body
works best when it’s used as it was designed.
When you force your body to do things beyond its capability, you risk a
strain or sprain injury. How can you
prevent these injuries? The obvious
thing is to keep yourself in good physical condition and work within your
limits.
Keep Yourself Physically Fit
Take care
of your body by exercising and eating well.
If your muscles or ligaments have weakened over time from lack of
exercise or age, you’re more likely to get a strain or sprain than if you’re
physically fit. Do some stretching
exercises before work and during the day to increase your flexibility.
Practice Proper Lifting Techniques
Poor
material handling techniques, such as lifting things that weigh too much or
lifting incorrectly, account for many strains and sprains. Before lifting, consider the weight, size,
and shape of the load. If you’re not
sure you can handle the load, get help from another worker or break it down
into smaller parts. If you can’t break
it down, use a mechanical lifting device.
Carry The Load Correctly
Strains and
sprains can occur from even moderate loads if they’re handled in awkward
positions. Carry the load close to your
body, keeping as much of it as you can at waist level. When Carrying a load, try to avoid bending
or twisting. If you use a mechanical device
to help you move it, be sure the device works properly. Sometimes equipment can put more strain on
your body if you have to push or pull it.
Avoid Awkward Positions And
Overreaching
Working
for long periods in an awkward, bent-over or twisted position can strain or
sprain body parts. Because strain
increases in proportion to the distance of the work from your body, keep as
close to the work area as possible.
There’s less strain on your body if the work is positioned between your
shoulders and waist, with a waist high level being the most neutral and
comfortable. You may need to raise or
lower yourself for better positioning.
Your body
is your most valuable piece of equipment, it can last a lifetime if it’s used
properly and treated with care.
Trucking Safety
Commercial trucking
is vital to our economic system, but those highway and freeway miles can be
dangerous without trucking safety.
The truck driver is
the most important link in trucking safety. Stay healthy, fit and well rested.
Driver fatigue and inattention to the road can increase the probability of an
accident. To maintain your most alert state when driving, avoid alcohol, drugs,
and medications that cause drowsiness. Learn and follow the hours of service
requirements that apply to you. Don’t multi-task while driving; keep your eyes
and mind on the road.
Safe driving
techniques can also reduce truck crashes. Follow posted speed limits and local
road regulations. Always wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts keep you in your truck,
in your seat, and in control. Drive defensively and never assume that you can
predict another driver’s intentions. Be aware of your truck’s “no zones”
(blindspots) and check carefully before making slow, deliberate maneuvers.
On the road, keep a
safe speed and maintain adequate braking distances from other vehicles. Avoid
aggressive drivers and do not use aggressive moves like high speed, tailgating,
and frequent or abrupt lane changes. Always slow down in construction and road
work zones and as you pass stalled or stopped vehicles.
A truck driver’s
most important safety equipment is a well-maintained and inspected vehicle and
trailer. Conduct pre- and post-trip inspections to check for wear and tear.
Make sure that all brakes and the steering system work properly. Inspect the
tires for excessive wear and proper inflation. Check the headlights, brake
lights and signaling devices. Frame and suspension systems should be
structurally sound with no cracked or broken frame members. Examine the
mirrors, windshield, and windows for cracks and damage.
Make sure that your
truck is equipped with safety gear such as a fire extinguisher and road warning
signals. The truck and trailer should have proper decals and reflective
markings. Under-ride prevention bumpers should be in place. Dash sensors and
warning devices should work properly.
Inspect your
trailer and load for safety before you agree to haul it. Make sure that trailer
couplings and fifth wheel assemblies are securely attached. Check the load
factor; loads should be balanced and securely fastened. Tankers should be at
least 3/4 full to avoid sloshing and the danger of rollover.
Follow-up on all of
your hard work! Maintain your truck inspection records, hours of service logs,
and repair and maintenance logs. Periodically, read trucking safety materials
and attend training to practice safety maneuvers and “keep on trucking” safely.
The above
evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not
be relied upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the
information provided to us and relate only to those conditions specifically
discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your
workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations
or standards.
State Fund Offers Credit
Extension to Policyholders Affected by Heat Waves
August
22, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO -
State Compensation Insurance Fund announced today that it will extend credit to
policyholders who have suffered a financial loss or business disruption caused
by the recent severe heat wave.
“State Fund
recognizes that the unprecedented heat has caused a significant disruption and
hardship for some of our policyholders,” said State Fund Acting President James
C. Tudor. “Our offer of credit relief is one way to help them return to
normal operations.”
State Fund will
work with employers who were unable to report payroll figures or submit
payments as a result of the heat emergency. Dedicated customer service lines
have been established to provide assistance to policyholders whose operations
were impacted by the extreme weather. Affected policyholders are
encouraged to contact the Customer Service Center at (800) 388-0902 to make
arrangements for July payroll reports and payments. This program will be
offered to employers through a series of newspaper announcements and mailings
to all State Fund policyholders. Separate notices will be provided at Heat Illness
Prevention Seminars presented by State Fund and Cal/OSHA.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
State Fund has approximately 229,000 policyholders ranging from small
businesses to large group associations. Created by the California Legislature
in 1914, State Fund is a nonprofit, self-supporting, fairly competitive public
enterprise that guarantees a permanent workers’ compensation insurance
marketplace at cost for California employers. State Fund has acted as both
a moderating and stabilizing influence on the workers’ compensation market.
Required Employer
Responsibilities
California
law requires that:
“Every
employer…shall post and keep posted in a conspicuous location frequented by
employees and where (it) may be easily read by employees during the hours of
the workday, a notice which shall state the name of (the) current compensation
insurance carrier…”
The
notice must also contain information regarding employee rights and
responsibilities and must”…be posted in both English and Spanish where there
are Spanish-speaking employees.”
Additionally,
the law requires employers to provide a form on which employees may indicate
the name of their personal physician or personal chiropractor. The form must be provided to new hires
either at the time the employee is hired or by the end of the first pay period.
If you
would like free copies, in English or Spanish, of the required posting notice,
the brochure explaining an employee’s workers’ compensation rights or the
physician predesignation form, call State Fund’s toll-free customer service
number at 1-877-405-4545.
Reporting Work-Related
Injuries
State
Fund’s Claims Reporting Center (1-888-222-3211) is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week for policyholders to report injuries as soon as they occur. Agents will do the necessary paperwork to
get the claim started and refer the injured to the designated physician or
provider.
Within
8 hours of any serious illness or injury (requiring hospitalization over 24
hours, other than for medical observation or where there is permanent employee
disfiguration) or death occurring in the workplace or in connection with
employment, employers must report the incident to the Division of Occupational
Safety and Health.
* Some
or all articles were reprinted by permission from State Compensation Insurance
Fund.
