December 2015

Compensation claims for overweight employees cost far more than for those of normal weight – giving businesses a financial incentive to offer help obese workers shed poundage.

“If your 300- or 400-pound worker has an injury, you’re looking at a half-million-dollar claim,” says Misty Price, of workers compensation defense firm Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell & Jimenez (Thousand Oaks, CA). “Their obesity is going to drive it. If an employer spends $30,000 or $40,000 helping them lose weight, they may reduce the total cost of the claim and return the individual to work sooner.”

According to “Indemnity Benefit Duration and Obesity,” a 2012 report by the National Council on Compensation Insurance, obesity raises the cost of comp benefits significantly:

• For “morbidly obese” individuals, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, medical costs were 6.8 times those for claimants of healthy weight. Morbidly obese employees were twice as likely to file a claim, while their number of lost workdays was almost 13 times higher.
• For claimants with BMIs of 35-40, medical costs came to 3.1 higher those than for employees who were not obese, while claims were 1.9 times more frequent, and 8.3 times more workdays were lost.
• For workers with BMIs of 30-35, medical costs of claims were 2.6 times those by employees of recommended weight, claims were 1.5 times more likely, while 5.3 times more workdays were lost.

Ms. Price recommends that businesses collect BMI data to track how much obese and overweight workers are adding to their comp costs. “You don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy predictive modeling to predict your large losses,” she says. “You can lay your eyes on it by looking at your workforce.” Sounds like healthy advice.

Safety signage plays a key role in protecting your workers. To make the most effective use of these warnings in your facility, and comply with OSHA regulations, be sure all employee are familiar with the three colors of workplace signs and pictographs so they can recognize the degree of danger (or safety) even if they don’t have time – or aren’t able – to read the specific message.

Here’s how the system works:

Red stands for danger. Red danger signs and tags, with contrasting black or white lettering, are used in areas where an immediate, serious hazard that can cause death or serious injury exists. Flammable liquid containers are usually colored. Red markings are also used for some safety equipment, such as emergency stop bars, buttons, and switches.

Yellow stands for caution. Yellow and black caution signs and tags warn about potential hazards or unsafe practices that could cause minor injuries. Wet floors, radiation, and “Do Not Enter” signs are colored yellow

Green is for safety. Safety instruction signs have a white background, a green panel, and black and white letters or markings. They provide general safety information. For example, to mark the location of emergency exits, first-aid kits, and safety equipment.

These pictographs or graphic signs are usually self-evident. However, to make sure that all workers understand their meaning, review them in a safety meeting, and then give them a quiz to ensure they can match the hazard to the graphic. The workplace safety professionals at our agency would be happy to help you review your signage policy. Give us a call at any time.

Proper lifting technique begins with proper delivery and storage. Plan incoming deliveries when enough labor is available to assist without straining. According to Liberty Mutual’s five year study, overexertion is the number one cause of on the job injuries. We can manage and do better.

Check supplies in, and then put them where they belong. By storing materials quickly, hallways, loading docks, and work areas stay uncrowded. And, employees know where to store and find supplies.

Muscle pulls can occur with relatively light weights. To reduce the frequency of these pulls, try to organize storage so a minimum of reaching high or bending low is required, especially with heavier objects.

Store twenty pound objects at waist height. Any object weighing more than twenty pounds should be stored where hand trucks can be used to move the objects. Do not store objects higher than five feet. People should not reach over their heads to retrieve an object. Reaching risks dropping a load on the employees head.

Sounds like you need more storage space? First, try disposing of all that top shelf long-term stuff. Everyone in business has a certain amount of clutter that accumulates over the years. It’s similar to the attack or garage. Space tends to fill up with stuff. Clean it out. Psychologically, it will make you feel leaner as a company.

Do not overcrowd storage areas. Overcrowding promotes two bad hazards. Trips and falls occur more frequently in overstuffed storage areas. Unusual twisting and bending of the torso occurs more frequently in disorganized or overcrowded storage.

Design and designate storage space so adequate supplies or materials can be on hand without employees needing to twist, turn, strain or trip and fall to get them. Organized, safe storage promotes more professionalism. People tend to maintain inventory as they find it. Safety is the result of proper planning and implementation of storage management.

High heat and construction work are simply not compatible. Yet, the work must get completed. Workers must wear protective clothing and gear which diminishes the body’s capacity to shed heat. This fact combined with high heat creates specific exposures which require vigilant monitoring.

Short-term exposures to heat and humidity:

• Prevention: Drink plenty of water – a good test is the employee must urinate every three hours at a minimum, two hours is better. If they do not need to urinate, they are not getting adequate fluids. Wear breathable clothing such as cotton. Work in the shade or indoors as much as possible, take frequent water breaks in the shade.
• Heat exhaustion: the stage prior to heat stroke when many symptoms from dehydration can be noticed. Any dizziness, nausea or vomiting, cramping, or sudden weakness requires immediate attention. Headaches, blurred vision or unusual fatigue can be signs of heat exhaustion. Rest the worker in the shade, loosen tight clothing and provide water. Observe the employee for several minutes. If they quit sweating or any symptom becomes worse, or they breathe rapidly or have a quick pulse, seek emergency medical help immediately.
• Heat stroke: LIFE THREATENING. Add these to the heat exhaustion symptoms:
  • Hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, illogical behavior
  • High body temperature, red or pale skin, difficulty breathing
  • Unconsciousness or coma

Seek immediate professional help for these symptoms.

Bacteria carrying insects love this weather. Lyme disease and West Nile Virus are not uncommon. Prevention includes spraying mosquito deterrent and checking for ticks.

Long-term exposures include skin cancer. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen.

Common sense goes a long way to prevent over-taxing workers. If a concrete pour is scheduled for an extremely hot day, postpone. You’ll spare your employees heat related discomfort, and the odds of getting the concrete in before it sets is remote at best.

Remember your machine operators too. Check on them throughout the day and carefully observe their performance. Any signs of erratic behavior needs to be addressed immediately. Even air conditioned cabins can create dehydrating condition in the hot sun.

If you want your crew working Friday, you need to supply plenty of water and shaded rest breaks Monday through Thursday. The body can only take so much heat.