Loss Control and Claims Management

To help employers develop and maintain effective safety programs and to prevent accidents, ABC is available to provide resource materials and to meet with employers to assist their program development. In the event of an accident, employers must understand how to effectively manage and control the claim. ABC is a resource and will assist employers claims management efforts.

Safety Courses/Certificate Program

ABC offers OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour courses and other timely programs on topics concerning OSHA standard changes, emphasis programs and other issues. ABC schedules regular safety courses each month in New Hampshire and Vermont, September - June. Individuals may register for selected courses or they may plan to attend courses each month to receive a Construction Site Safety Certificate and OSHA's 30-Hour Outreach Card.

Topics include:

• Safety Compliance and Regulations
• Accident Investigations, Safety Planning and Analysis
• Communications and Effective Safety Training
• Fire Protection, Welding, Concrete and Masonry
• Fall Protection
• Personal Protection
• Trenching, Excavation, Confined Spaces
• Electrical/Tool Safety
• Steel Erection, Material Handling
• Site Inspection

Why Safety

Moral Obligation
Employers and employees owe it to each other to provide and maintain a safe workplace. Everyday, even as you read this, people are injured at jobsites throughout the country. None of the victims expected it would happen to him or her when they arrived at work. Accidents and injuries are always something that happens to someone else. The impact of an injury and especially a death can be devastating to family, friends and co workers. The impact can last a lifetime. Perhaps the most disturbing consideration is that they are all preventable.

Do not become a victim and do not allow any of your employees or co-workers to become victims. Go home to your family and friends in one piece. It is your moral obligation to practice safe acts and enforce compliance by those working for and with you.

Economic Considerations
Consider 6.5% of the contract value of any project you are currently performing. That is the amount the average contractor will spend on direct and indirect cost for safety on the project. Direct costs include workers compensation and liability insurance. Indirect costs include schedule disruptions, productivity loss, equipment damage, training replacements and other costs associated with an accident. Loss control programs, effective claims management and reduced workers compensation cost will help you reduce that 6.5%. Do you have room for improvement?

Pre-qualification
Owners understand how to evaluate a contractor's safety performance. They understand that an unsafe company is more expensive to work with and less productive than a safe company. Safety is a major issue when owners are pre-qualifying contractors for their projects, including experience mod rates, incidence rates, employee training and safety awards.

Legal
OSHA/VOSHA can actually be a resource for employers. Although it is a challenge, understanding OSHA standards and effectively interpreting the regulations can be managed. However, no employer can do it without adequate resources and support. You must stay up to date on current interpretations, standard changes and available equipment to assist your safety performance. Key employees must know how to access information to assist their efforts to maintain compliance. As difficult as the challenge may be, the cost of fines, accidents and injuries may be even greater.

In New Hampshire, employers must also be aware of the state Department of Labor's safety inspection process and the requirements for a joint loss management committee, a written safety program and an alternative duty back-to-work program.