comp news summer 2015 - saif · 2021. 2. 1. · comp news | summer 2015 3 this is my first message...

Killingmore thanpain

COMPNEWS

Aren’tasbestosand leadbanned?

Ergo rap

The magazine of SAIF Corporation

Spring 2015Summer 2015

The magazine of SAIF Corporation

Aren’tasbestosand leadbanned?

Ergo rap

COMP NEWS | Summer 20152

SAIF Corporation is Oregon’s not-for-profit, state-chartered

workers’ compensation insurance company.

We want to hear from you. Please send your feedback

on Comp News—or any questions—to

[email protected].

CONTENTSCOMP NEWS | SUMMER 2015

FYI

03 Message from Kerry Barnett

04 News in briefReduce the risk of drowning | Video contest winner | Cut your sugar | ODOT asks us to slow down this summer | Keep Oregon Green

26Money for nothin’And tips for free. Tips for safety incentives that work best, that is.

27World’s first rap video on ergonomics goes live, yo!The debut of SAIF’s new safety and health site and revised office ergonomics video series.

28Legislative update

29Training calendar

30Crossword Testing what you remember from this issue of Comp News

31 Cutting room floor Food for thought

FEATURES

6 Killing more than painEducation is the best vaccine for the opioid epidemic.

12What you don’t know can hurt youBefore you start that remodel on your business (or your home), you need to consider two things: asbestos and lead.

16Seeing eye to eyeLet’s agree to protect the sight of employees by providing proper eye protection for the job.

18Step by stepPrevent injuries by choosing the right ladder and following these safety precautions.

20Dedicated to balance For Reitmeier, it’s all about making the future safe and secure for employees.

24Electricity You can’t see it, hear it, smell it, taste it, or outrun it.

Cover: Illustrated by Lisa Taaffe, SAIF graphic designer

COMP NEWS | Summer 2015 3

This is my first message to policyholders as the CEO of SAIF Corporation, so I thought I should take the opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself. I have a long history in the insurance industry in both the public and private sectors. From 1993 to 1997, I served as director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, a position that also serves as the state’s insurance commissioner. Since then, I have held executive positions in the health insurance industry, most recently as executive vice president for corporate services and chief legal officer for Cambia Health Solutions, the parent company of Regence BlueCross BlueShield. When I arrived at SAIF a couple of months ago, I had some idea of what to expect. I knew SAIF was a mission-driven organization, with a focus on caring for injured workers and helping them get back to work, strengthening Oregon’s economy by keeping workers’ compensation rates affordable, and

making Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. What I found, I’m happy to report, is an organization that lives and breathes its mission. SAIF is brimming with skilled, smart, energetic professionals who are committed to leading the workers’ comp insurance market by delivering high-quality, innovative services at a reasonable cost. It’s both gratifying and humbling to lead a company that has consistently achieved such outstanding results for its customers. I have met with a number of policyholders in my short time here at SAIF, and I have appreciated the warm welcome and the opportunity to learn more about them and their organizations. I expect to meet many more of you in the coming months, and I look forward to the dialogue. It would be my pleasure to speak with any of you about any questions or concerns you have about SAIF. Contact me at [email protected] or 503.373.8005.

Kerry BarnettPresident and CEO

Message from Kerry Barnett

What I found, I’m happy to report, is an organization that lives and breathes its mission.


NEWSin brief

OSHA conferencesorosha.org/conferences

503.378.3272 [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 29 AND 30

Central OregonOccupational Safety and Health ConferenceRiverhouse Hotel and Convention Center, Bend

Reduce your risk of drowningOn a hot summer day, nothing feels as good as dropping into one of Oregon’s cool lakes or rivers. If you do, you need to be aware of the risks, especially for children 14 and younger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 14 years and the fifth leading cause for people of all ages. Whether on the beach, in a boat, or at the lake, find out how you can safely enjoy the water at cdc.gov/Features/dsDrowningRisks/.

Pay attention. Obey signs and flaggers. Slow down!

925 470

people die in work zone crashes

fatal or serious crashes occur

crashes happen in work zones

Each year in Oregon ...

Oregon Department of Transportation has a fact sheet that explains what causes work zone crashes and how you can prevent them at oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/Documents/WorkZoneSafety_infog.pdf. You can also find more information in the June/July issue of Resource, the newsletter of Oregon OSHA at orosha.org/resource-newsletter/full/2850-2015-06.pdf.

It’s dry out thereDrought conditions have been declared in 19 of Oregon’s 36 counties and are considered likely in the remaining coun-ties. In these conditions, just one spark from a chainsaw, motorcycle, safety chain, or fireworks can ignite a fire large

enough to destroy homes, businesses, and, most importantly, lives. Learn how to prevent fires at Keep Oregon Green: keeporegongreen.org. For tips on training employees on fire prevention, see the June 9 safety talking point at saif.com/safetyandhealth.

LOW - MODERATE

HIGH

VERY HIGH SE

VERE

EXTREME

CATASTROPHIC

FIRE DANGER RATING TODAY


What does SAIF have in common with NASA?

NIOSH Total Worker Health Affiliate ProgramCurrent affiliates

• Center for Worker Health and Environment, Colorado School of Public Health

• Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center

• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB)

• ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association

• Kentucky Department for Public Health

• Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC)

• Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA)

• Mount Sinai Health System

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• National Safety Council

• Nebraska Safety Council

• SAIF Corporation

• University of Georgia

• University of Michigan

• University of North Carolina

• Western Kentucky University

= =

∑

While there may be several things, the newest thing we have in common is our status as a member of the NIOSH Total Worker Health™ Affiliate Program. You can learn more about the Total Worker

Health program at cdc.gov/niosh/twh/. Find out what SAIF’s connection means to you on our website at saif.com/news/537_3939.htm.

Cut your sugar

New World Health Organization guidelines recommend adults and children reduce their daily intake of sugar to less than 10 percent of their total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5 percent or roughly 25 grams (six teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits. These guidelines do not refer to the sugars in fresh fruits and vegetables, and sugars naturally present in milk, because there is no reported evidence of adverse effects of consuming these sugars.

South Salem High School student wins safety video contestJohn Patterson, a student from South Salem High School, won $500 for his first-place video titled “Lorenzo’s Blog,” which promotes young worker safety and the importance of speaking up if your workplace is not safe. The video, told from a first-person diary perspective, depicts Lorenzo’s struggle with finding a job and ultimately quitting his job when asked to perform job duties in an unsafe way. South Salem High School also won a matching amount of prize money. You can find a list of the other winners, as well as a link to see the videos on Youtube at youngemployeesafety.org/south-salem-high-school-student-wins-safety-video-contest/.


Education is the best vaccine for the opioid epidemic.

Think this doesn’t affect you?Use of opioids has skyrocketed over the past 20 years, with approximately 238 million prescriptions written in 2011. Between 1997 and 2007, sales and distribution of hydrocodone increased 280 percent and oxycodone increased 866 percent. A lot of those prescriptions are going to your employees—both for on-the-job injuries and for the occasional sprained ankle on a weekend hike. Either way, it can affect your bottom line.

The liberalization of laws related to opioid prescriptions in the 1990s was supposed to ease suffering. Too often it has had the opposite effect. Forty-six people die every day in the United States from opioid use. In Oregon alone, 164 people died from opioid overdoses in 2012—four times the rate in 2000. In 2011, according to a report in Pain Physician Journal, prescription opioids were responsible for more deaths than “both suicide and motor vehicle crashes, or deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.”

By Melaney Moisancommunications coordinator

Illustrations by Lisa Taaffegraphic designer

While the population of the U.S. represents approximately

4.5%of the world’s population, we are responsible for

99% of the world’s consumption of hydrocodone and 81 percent of oxycodone.

Killingmore thanpain


What is an opioid?Opioids are used to manage certain types of pain and sometimes control coughs (codeine) or treat addiction to other opioids (methadone, buprenorphine). All semisynthetic opioids are derived from naturally occurring alkaloids found in opium. The three most significant are morphine, codeine, and thebaine. Many commonly used opiates, including hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and buprenorphine, are derived from thebaine. Synthetic opiates (synthesized chemically in the laboratory) include methadone and Fentanyl.


According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), prescription opioids account for 25 percent ($1.4 billion) of all workers’ compensation prescription drug costs. A Business Insurance white paper estimated the cost of prescription opioid abuse in the U.S. at $55.7 billion in 2007: Workplace costs accounted for $25.6 billion, health care costs for $25 billion, and criminal justice costs were $5.1 billion. Extended opioid use for pain can also impact return to work. Injured workers on opioids may be too groggy to work—no one wants them driving a school bus or caring for patients in a hospital, for example. Or, once back on the job, they may suffer from drowsiness and impaired judgement.

Opioid historyOpioid use isn’t new. In the 1600s, physicians eased pain with opium and later with laudanum, a mixture of opium and sherry. In the 19th century, ether, morphine, and nitrous oxide were in use, but even though these drugs were available, doctors debated the ethics of operating on an unconscious patient and whether or not relieving pain slowed healing. Heroin was originally an over-the-counter cough suppressant produced by Bayer, the aspirin people. Regulation of opioids began in 1912 with passage of the Harrison Act, and in 1914, Bayer’s Heroin became available through prescription only. It wasn’t banned completely until 1924.

“There is a time and a place for pain pills, of course. But

we need to question the drugs marketed to us, depend less

on pills as solutions, and stop demanding that doctors

magically fix us.” Sam Quiñonesauthor of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic.

Since the late 1990s, more than

100,000

people have died in connection with use of prescription painkillers.

American Academy of Neurology

Health care providers wrote

259 million

prescriptions for painkillers in 2012, enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Get all the detailsMore details about what opioid abuse costs businesses is available in two articles, “Opioid Abuse and Workers’ Comp: How to tackle a growing problem” (Business Insurance) and “Societal Costs of Prescription Opioid Abuse, Dependence, and Misuse in the United States” (American Academy of Pain Medicine). You can find links to both articles in the online version of this article at saif.com/compnews.


“Until the 1990s, opioids were highly regulated and not typically used except in acute pain or terminal cancer care,” said Dr. Franklin Wong, medical director at CareMark Comp, a managed care organization. “But then, well-intended physicians concluded that opiates could be used safely to treat chronic noncancer pain, although these conclusions were not based on clinical studies. Thus began the rapid growth of opiate use for noncancer pain.”

Good medicine?In the 1990s, state medical boards began to ease restrictions on laws governing opioids. New pain management standards were introduced, and a patient’s “right to pain relief” was promoted by physicians and a number of health organizations. This was coupled with intense marketing by pharmaceutical companies. However, claims that chronic pain could be safely treated with opiates were based on misinformation, and today we still lack scientific studies to support the effectiveness of using opiates to treat chronic noncancer pain.

“No clinical guidelines exist for providing opioids to effectively and safely treat chronic noncancer pain,” said Dr. Wong. “It’s one of the few treatments medicine initiated without the appropriate clinical studies. We have no science to guide us regarding dosage or outcome.” The article “Opioid Epidemic in the United States,” published in the Pain Physician Journal, states: “The widespread use of opioids for chronic noncancer pain is in direct violation of the established cardinal principles of medical intervention—that there be compelling evidence of the benefit of a therapy prior to its large-scale use.” “Opioids have been proven to be effective for treating pain during terminal illness, but not for treating chronic pain long-term without users facing the risk of overdose, dependency, or addiction,” said Tammy McCoy, RN, former SAIF medical services manager. “And, in addition to these risks, the outcomes aren’t as good as other treatments.” “Opioids are useful in acute conditions and for managing post-operative pain,” Dr. Wong said. “It

Narcotics and workers’ comp• Narcotics account for nearly one-quarter of all

workers’ comp prescription costs.

• The narcotics share of drug costs increases as claims age.

• Narcotics are often used to treat workers’ compensation injuries.

• Narcotics use can persist for many years.

• Heavy narcotics use for workers’ compensation injuries have occasionally resulted in the added cost of substance abuse treatment.

National Council on Compensation Insurance, research brief “Narcotics in Workers’ Compensation”

In 2011, more than

420,000 visits to the emergency room were related to opioids.


Nearly

one- quarter of all workers’ comp prescription costs


depends on the individual, but still should be used only for a short time, ideally no more than two or three weeks. Chronic use of opiates can cause permanent brain cell changes that affect motivation, cognitive function, and mood, which can adversely affect an injured worker’s ability to do what is needed to recover from their injury and return to work.” At the end of two to three weeks, the physician, with rare exceptions, should address whether long-term opioids are clinically indicated.

Unintended consequencesA study of 28 states (including Oregon) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was published in the center’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, discovered that “widespread prescription opioid exposure and increasing rates of opioid addiction” seemed to be driving the increased number of heroin overdoses. “[R]esearch found that approximately three out of four new heroin users report having abused prescription opioids prior to using heroin. ... [B]oth drugs act on the same receptors in the brain to produce similar effects. Heroin often costs less than prescription opioids and is increasingly available.”

Education and evaluationIf opiates are to be used for chronic noncancer pain, physicians first need to assess the patient for risk factors, which include a history of smoking, family or personal history of substance abuse, history of sexual abuse, and a history of psychological disease. Dr. Wong added that physicians continue to learn more about when opioids can be most effective. For example, opioids have not proven useful for fibromyalgia, chronic low back, or headache, yet they are often prescribed in these cases. “After 90 days of continuous opioid use, doctors need to do an evaluation,” said McCoy. “The longer someone is on opioids, the higher the risk becomes.” Workers also need to be educated on when opioids should be used and for how long. “Injured workers need to know that the point of prescribing opioids was never to take all the pain away. We need to give injured workers more information about what they need in order to heal,” said McCoy. “It will take a community effort,” said Dr. Wong. “We have to educate physicians, pharmacists, workers, and employers.”

In the past 20 years, deaths from opioid-analgesic poisoning have almost quadrupled, from 1.4 per 100,000 in 1999 to

5.4 per 100,000 in 2011.



What health care providers can do:• Use prescription drug monitoring

programs to identify patients who might be misusing prescription drugs.

• Discuss with patients the risks and benefits of pain management options other than prescription painkillers.

• Follow best practices for responsible painkiller prescribing:

• Screen for substance abuse and mental health problems.

• Avoid combinations of prescription painkillers and sedatives unless there is a specific medical indication.

• Prescribe the lowest effective dose and only the quantity needed depending on the expected length of pain.

• Do not refill prescriptions early.• Require a clinic visit by

appointment for refills; no urgent requests for a refill.

• Do not refill lost or stolen medications or prescriptions.

• Monitor pain and function to identify tolerance and track effectiveness.

• Educate patients regarding pain management options.

What states can do:• Increase use of programs that track

prescriptions for painkillers and help find problems in overprescribing.

• Consider ways to assess Medicaid, workers’ compensation programs, and state-run health plans to detect and address inappropriate prescribing of painkillers.

• Increase access to substance abuse treatment and expand first responder access to naloxone, a drug used when people overdose.

What everyone can do:• Avoid taking prescription painkillers

more often than prescribed.• Dispose of medications properly,

as soon as the course of treatment is done.

• Avoid keeping prescription painkillers or sedatives around “just in case.”

• Help prevent misuse and abuse by not selling or sharing prescription drugs. Never use another person’s prescription drugs.

• Get help for substance abuse problems, 800.662.HELP.

• Call Poison Help, 800.222.1222, if you have questions about medicines.

• Ask your physician about other pain management options.

Annual economic cost of chronic pain in the U.S. is at least

$560 to$635 which includes the cost of health care and lost productivity.

The American Psychological Association

In 2013,

16,235 deaths in the U.S. involved opioid analgesics (opioid pain relievers or prescription painkillers).

From the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention

billion

billion


What you don’t know can hurt youBefore you start that remodel on your business (or your home), you need to consider two things: asbestos and lead.


Photos by David Gibb



If you thought asbestos and lead were a legacy of the past, only found in buildings constructed before you were born, think again. While asbestos and lead have been banned in certain products, there is still no complete ban on lead or asbestos in the United States.

AsbestosAsbestos fibers, invisible to the naked eye, can cause several diseases, most commonly mesothelioma, a cancer that is directly related to asbestos, and asbestosis, caused when asbestos scars the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Although workers in shipbuilding or insulation industries have had the greatest risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, those in construction (carpenters, contractors, electricians, painters, and plumbers) or demolition can also be affected. And it’s not only workers who suffer the effects; their family members can as well. Fibers can be carried home on clothing and inhaled by others.

LeadLead has been giving humans health problems for a long time. Written accounts of lead toxicity have been found in Egyptian papyrus scrolls, and the Romans were aware that lead could cause serious health problems, even madness and death. Inhaling or ingesting lead-containing dust and fumes can damage your nerves, stomach, intestines, kidneys, and red blood cells. Lead is stored in the blood and bones, and symptoms can build up over time from repeated exposure.

Lead causes a long list of problems, including learning and behavioral problems, kidney disease, high blood pressure, hearing loss, miscarriage, and birth defects. Lead poisoning can even cause depression and aggressive behavior. Any amount is bad for you.

But we banned lead and asbestos, right? Well, no ...Some uses of lead and asbestos have been banned for several decades, but many products still contain them.

Lead is still found in:

Lead-lined sheetrock used in health care settings

Recycled paint.

Products that still contain asbestos:Clothing

Pipeline wrap

Roofing felt

Vinyl floor tile

Cement shingles

Millboard

Cement pipe

Automatic transmission components

Clutch facings

Disk brake pads

Drum brake linings

Gaskets

Nonroofing coatings

Roof coatings

Environmental Protection Agency

Ban Asbestos in America ActIn 2001, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) first introduced this bill, which proposed to totally ban asbestos in the United States. Each year, she reintroduced the bill with refinements. In October 2007, the Ban Asbestos in America 2007 bill was passed by the Senate, but was never passed by the House of Representatives.


Know what you are dealing withFirst and most importantly, find out if asbestos and lead are present. John Early, owner of Western States Environmental Services in Medford, a company that does hazardous waste cleanup, stresses that the first thing to do is always a survey. It’s important for the safety of your workers, but also, in some counties like Jackson where Western Environmental is located, you can’t even dump the waste from your job without an asbestos survey document. “They will turn you away,” said Early. “It doesn’t matter how new a building is.” Alden Strealy, industrial hygienist with the Oregon-Columbia Chapter of As-sociated General Contractors, agrees. “It

Assume the worstUntil air sampling can be completed, it is best to always assume that lead levels are above the “permissible level” and act accordingly. Provide the following for your workers until you know they are not being exposed. Remember, there are no 100 percent safe levels, and it is up to the employer to reduce exposure as much as possible. Those include:

Appropriate respirators

Protective clothing such as goggles, gloves, and long sleeves

Hand-washing facilities

Medical monitoring for lead

Western States Environmental Services Medfordwsenvironmental.com

In business since: 1989

The boss: John Early, owner since 2004

The crew: Five full-time employees, including John and Suzan Early

Seasonal: The company can have as many as 30 to 40 employees during peak season or as few as 10. Early hopes to add one or two additional permanent employees this spring.

Clean areas for changing and storing clothes (a HEPA vacuum can help with dust)

Trainings that cover health hazards and the lead standard


is important to check, even if you think a building was built late enough to con-tain no lead or asbestos. And it’s impor-tant to have a survey done before you get bids on a job.” Anyone doing asbestos abatement needs to be licensed by the Depart-ment of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Strealy said. “OSHA and the DEQ have separate, and sometimes different, rules. You have to follow the rules of both. It’s complicated, so it is best to have an ex-pert doing the work.” If you are involved in activities that could put your employees at risk for lead exposure—working on a home built before 1978, soldering, and welding, for example—sample the air they will be breathing. It’s best to hire a certified lead-based paint inspector or an indus-trial hygienist who can tell you if lead is present and how much is there. In addition to testing, Early holds a crew safety meeting at the beginning of every project to go over all of the possible risks. “We go over the rules that apply to specific toxic materials, as well as what other hazards the crew might encounter. For example, if the job includes moving heavy drums filled with chemicals, we’ll discuss safe lifting practices. Sometimes we have to deal with fall protection, or working in a confined space. We go over those things as well as issues related to the chemicals.” Removal of asbestos often requires full body suits and respirators, showers, and separate lunch rooms. The idea is to keep the asbestos contained, protect the workers, and not have any on your clothes when you go home to your family. Although there is no truly safe level for lead exposure, OSHA has established certain “action levels” that need to be considered. If airborne exposures to lead are above these levels, employers are required to implement

a medical surveillance program and offer to test the blood levels of their employees. If blood leads are above a certain level, there are specific requirements that include temporarily removing the employee from work involving lead exposure. For more information about lead, you can go online to epa.gov/lead. For information about asbestos, visit epa.gov/asbestos. Or you can go to saif.com/compnews to find the online version of this story, which will provide links to a number of other online resources.

It’s not just a “work thing”Lead exposure can occur on or off the job, and it’s important that we protect ourselves from lead even when OSHA rules do not apply. Lead paint in older homes is one of the most common ways adults and, especially, children can be exposed to lead. But activities like hunting and fishing can also play a role. Making lead fishing weights or reloading shotgun shells also create an exposure to lead. So, when doing these activities off the job, follow the same precautions a worker follows to prevent lead exposure—protecting yourself and your family.


Seeing eye to eye

Thousands of Americans are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could be prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection.

$300,000,000Eye injuries can cost businesses this much every year.

More than

2,000 eye injuries occur on the job site

every day.

Training on personal protective equipment (PPE) must include: • When it is necessary

• What type is necessary

• How to properly use and wear it

• Its limitations

• Proper care and maintenance

Minimum requirements for all eye and face PPE:• Adequate protection

• Safe design and construction

• Reasonably comfortable

• Snug fit that does not interfere with movement

• Durable

• Can be cleaned and disinfected

• Marked to identify manufacturer

By Melaney Moisan, communications coordinator

Infographic design by Mary Ann Potter, graphic designer

Let’s agree to protect the sight of employees by providing proper eye protection for the job.


Impact: chipping, grinding, masonry, sawing, drilling, sandingFlying objects, many that are smaller than a pinhead, can cause punctures, abrasions, and contusions. Safety glasses with side shields or goggles are required. Face shields might be necessary when the hazard is severe.

Heat: furnace operations, casting, hot dipping, weldingHigh temperatures, splashes of molten metal, or hot sparks can cause burns to the eyes and face. Face shield in addition to goggles or safety glasses with special purpose lenses and side shields are required.

Dust: woodworking, buffing, general dusty conditionsDust can cause eye injuries, especially to those who wear contact lenses. Safety goggles are required.

Chemicals: handling blood or acids and other chemicals, degreasing, plating Serious and irreversible damage can occur from chemicals in the form of splash, mists, vapor, or fumes. In addition to PPE, it is important to also know the location of the eyewash station and how to access it if vision is restricted. Well-fitted safety goggles and, in some cases, face shields are required.

Optical radiation: welding, torch-cutting, brazing, soldering, laser workIntense concentrations of heat, ultraviolet, infrared, and reflected light radiation can cause retinal burns (flash burns), cataracts, and permanent blindness. Both employees and visitors should wear appropriate eye protection at all times. Type of protection depends on maximum power density or intensity.

10 to 20 percent of total work-related eye injuries will cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

Nearly 40 percent of work-related eye injuries occur in offices, health care facilities, laboratories, and similar environments, not in construction, manufacturing, or the trades.

For more information: osha.gov/SLTC/etools/eyeandface

National Safety’s Weblog nationalsafety.wordpress.com

The version of this story at saif.com/compnews includes links to a number of online resources.


Walking under a ladder may be considered bad luck. (It’s also unsafe.) But using a ladder carelessly, or choosing the wrong ladder for the job, could invite disaster. Falls are the leading cause of death in the building industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But construction workers aren’t the only

Step by stepPrevent injuries by choosing the right ladder and following these safety precautions.

ones at risk. Oregon OSHA reports that more Oregon workers are injured in falls from ladders than any other elevated surface. Whether you’re using a ladder at home or on the job, please follow these safety precautions to make sure you get back to the ground safely.

Which ladder is right for the job?

Source: cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/pdf/pubs/3083.pdf

Extension ladder: Adjustable sliding sections offer the greatest length—up to 72 feet—in a general purpose ladder. Must be used by one person at a time. May need to be tied off to prevent accidental moving.

Standard stepladder: Self-supporting and nonadjustable; length cannot exceed 20 feet, measured along the front edge of the side rails. Use only on firm, level footing. Spreaders must be fully open and locked when in use. (Do not use a stepladder as a straight ladder.) Never stand on the top step. On a two-way stepladder, two people may work at the same time.

Platform ladder: Like a stepladder, but with a large, stable platform for holding tools, paint, or other supplies.

Orchard ladder: Has a flared base and single back leg for support on soft, uneven ground. Never use on concrete or hard surfaces. Cannot be longer than 16 feet. Must be used by one person at a time. Do not stand on top step.

By Sharon Overtoncommunications coordinator

Infographic design byMary Ann Pottergraphic designer


What’s the right length?The total length of an extension ladder should be seven to 10 feet longer than the vertical distance to the upper contact point of the structure.

What’s the right load?The worker’s weight, plus the weight

of any tools and materials, must be less than the duty rating supplied

by the manufacturer.

How to set up an extension ladder:

1. Choose a sturdy, level surface or ground, with no slippery areas.

2. Start with the ladder closed and base section on top of fly section. Secure ladder bottom against base of structure and “walk” to vertical; raise fly section. Avoid power lines and other overhead obstructions.

3. Extend top of ladder three feet above top landing. Both rails should rest firmly and securely against the structure. Secure lock assembly.

4. Angle ladder so the working length is four times the set-back distance. To check angle, stand at the base with your toes touching the rails. Extend your arms straight out. If the tips of your fingers just touch the rung nearest your shoulder level, the angle has the proper 4:1 ratio.

5. Secure ladder by tying off, if necessary, so it cannot be displaced.

6. Place traffic cones or barrier around ladder base to keep people away.

How to use a ladder:• Wear shoes with clean,

nonslip soles.

• Always use at least three points of contact.

• Never allow more than one person on a ladder at a time (unless it is a two-person ladder).

• Never move a ladder while someone is using it.

• Carry tools on tool belt or use a hand line.

• Face ladder when climbing, hips square to rungs. Keep body within side rails.

• Never stand on rungs that extend above a roofline.

• Never use the top step of stepladder or orchard ladder.

• Use extra care when getting on or off a ladder.

What’s the right material?Wood ladders give good insulation against heat and cold but are heavy and age quickly.

Aluminum ladders are lightweight and resist corrosion, but do not insulate well. Never use around electricity.

Fiberglass ladders are durable, weather-resistant, and non-conductive when dry, but are heavy and require careful maintenance.

1

2

3

4 1

Read all ladder instructions and safety warnings, and inspect regularly for defects.

The version of this story at saif.com/compnews includes links to a number of online resources.


Like many businesses, Reitmeier in Tualatin was hit hard in the recession, cutting employees and focusing on survival. As the economy improved, the business began to grow, giving them a unique opportunity to completely rebuild the company culture. “We didn’t want to be like every other HVAC [heating, ventilation, and air conditioning] company,” said Jeff Nusz, president. “We looked at car companies, software companies, all kinds of successful businesses, to learn the best ways to create an environment where our people could thrive and grow.”

Because most new employees would come from the “millennials,” people born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, they learned all they could about how to attract and retain this age group. “We learned what made them tick, the best way to approach them, and how to teach them,” said Nusz. “We had to dig down and formulate a plan. Because shop programs are no longer available in high schools and construction trades are often not someone’s first choice for a career, we knew we had to start from the beginning. We wanted to bring in great people and teach them the trade. If they


Photos courtesy Reitmeier

Dedicatedto balanceFor Reitmeier, it’s all about making the future safe and secure for employees.

At Reitmeier, new employees receive training at Reitmeier University.


ReitmeierTualatinreitmeiernw.com

In business since: 1984

The boss: Jeff Nusz, owner and president

The crew: 32 employees and growing gracefully

Honors: Chosen as 2014 Western Region Best Contractor to Work For by the The ACHR News, a weekly national news magazine for HVAC contractors


#1Hold leadership development book clubs for employees, based on their positions in the company.

Provide 100 percent coverage of the workers’ health care and 73 percent of coverage for dependents.

Allow office staff to work at home when there is a need.

Allow field staff to use a company vehicle if they are on call over a weekend and need to attend events for their children.

Provide healthy snacks and water.

Operate the “Red Flag Recognition Program.”

Organize family events throughout the year.

are willing to make the time investment, we are willing to invest in them.” One outcome of their planning was Reitmeier University, a two-year continuing education program for training and certifying new employees in commercial HVAC services. The program includes both classroom instruction and work in the field with a senior level technician.

“The training includes the technical information students will need to have, but it also teaches our culture,” said Nusz. “Students are in class two hours, one day a week, and the rest of the time they are in the field with a mentor.” One thing they learned in the process of creating their plan was that millennials prefer online communication. For that reason, as

How Reitmeier makes employees


well as the company’s commitment to sustainability, Reitmeier University is completely paperless. “We communicate with them mostly by text,” said Nusz. “They all have tablets, which they use in the classroom and in the field, and they upload classwork to the web.”

Balance and sustainabilityBalance and sustainability are two words that Nusz uses frequently when describing the culture of the business. “Balance is our mission in work and life,” he said, adding that sustainability is about building sustainable relationships, not just protecting the environment. To help sustain relationships with employees, Nusz organizes a number of events each year, including an annual fishing tournament. “I take five people at a time and go fishing,” he said. “It gives me one-on-one time with employees, a chance to really get to know them.”

Families are important“We also look at how we can involve families more,” said Nusz. “We are proud of what we have and want families to know more about what we do.” For example, if someone is working in the field and needs to attend a child’s soccer game, he or she can use a company vehicle. And office workers can work from home if they need to take care of a child who is ill. “We are committed to each other,” said Nusz. “You only have about 18 years with your kids and that is a priority.”

Safety and healthSafety is an important component of the curriculum at Reitmeier University, and the company is committed to keeping its employees safe. To help

promote the safety message, Reitmeier has initiated a “Red Flag Recognition Program.” Employees receive a Reitmeier hard hat, and, when someone demonstrates safe behavior, he or she is awarded a sticker for the hard hat. It is not only a public acknowledgement of that person’s contribution, said Nusz, but, after a certain number of stickers, they receive a gift card, so there is a little monetary incentive as well. In a move to help employees stay healthy, the company removed all candy and soft drink machines and now provide fresh produce and bottled waters. A field runner takes water to jobsites so the field personnel stay hydrated, and workers receive reminders via email or text messages that simply say, “hydrate.” “People are the product,” said Nusz. “It’s all about them having safety and security for the future. When they have that, production rises and customer service rises. Besides, it’s more fun this way.”

Reitmeier emphasizes health and safety for all employees.


Electricity You can’t see it, hear it, smell it, taste it, or outrun it.

By Kevin Pfausenior safety management consultant

Infographic design by Mary Ann Pottergraphic designer

Birds and power linesA bird sitting on one high voltage power line does not complete an electrical circuit. If the bird makes contact with a second wire, or even the wooden pole, the circuit will complete and electrocute the bird.

engineering.mit.edu

One worker is electrocuted

on the job every day in the United States.

Electrical equipment• Allow only qualified people to work on

electrical equipment.

• Require lockout/tagout procedures when servicing electrical equipment.

• Prohibit metal ladders in areas with exposure to energized parts of equipment, fixtures, or circuit conductors.

• Label all disconnecting switches, indicating the equipment or use that they serve.

• Don’t use an extension cord for something that should be hard-wired.

Electrocution is the third leading cause of work-related deaths among 16- and 17-year-olds.

• Enclose in a cabinet all energized parts of electrical equipment operating at 50 volts or more.

• Ensure adequate work space around all electrical equipment.

• Put tight-fitting covers or face plates on all switches, receptacles, and junction boxes.

• Use extension cords rated for hard or extra-hard service.

• When doing electrical maintenance work, test that the power is disconnected. Take extra care when working around water.


For more information on how to protect yourselfOregon OSHA’s topic pages at orosha.org > A-Z Topic List > E

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at cdc.gov/niosh/topics > Electricity

The version of this story at saif.com/compnews includes links to a number of additional online resources, as well as information on safe use of electrical cords, tools, and breaker boxes.

Overhead power lines account for

43% of electrocutions for all occupations.

Overhead power• Do not work within 10 feet of a power

line until you contact the local utility company and precautions are taken.

• Carry irrigation pipe, ladders, and tools even with the ground to avoid hitting power lines.

• Post a warning sign in clear view of the operator on equipment capable of a vertical, lateral, or swinging motion (like cranes or hay stackers).

• Ask an observer to warn the operator if he or she is working too close to a power line.

• Do not store irrigation pipe within 100 feet of overhead lines.

• If a power line falls on your vehicle, stay inside, warn others, and call for help.

More than

4,000 injuries are caused by electrical shock every year in the U.S.

Underground power• Have underground utilities located

before you dig.

• Call 811 or 800.332.2344 two business days ahead for utility line marking.

• You can also make your request online at digsafelyoregon.com.

• The location markings are within 24 inches of both sides of an underground utility line.

• Consider any wire on the ground or hanging from a pole as live, even if you don’t see any sparks or other obvious signs that it is energized.

• If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump clear of the vehicle with both feet landing on the ground at the same time to avoid electrocution.

• When you hit the ground, keep your feet together and hop until you are clear of the downed wire. Running may cause your legs to bridge current.

Once you get away from the vehicle:• Don’t try to get back in or even touch it.

• Make sure there is no contact between any victim and the electrical current before rescuing.


Just like that other road, the road to the emergency room is also paved with

good intentions. Most companies have their hearts in the right

place when they implement “injury-based” safety

rewards. But, as you’ve read on these pages before, those kinds of rewards—where the payoff is contingent on reducing or eliminating reported injuries—are actually counterproductive.

Why? They reward employees

for not reporting injuries—which means

that even though the employee knows the

consequence of the behavior, management doesn’t and,

therefore, can’t fix the problem. They reward luck for those who

engage in risky behavior but just happen to not get hurt. In fact, rewarding employees who take risks but don’t get hurt actually encourages risky behavior. It can convince workers that their actions are somehow “safe” because they didn’t get hurt.

So what should you do?Your safety rewards should be based on behaviors that proactively support working safely (known as “behavior-based” rewards), say Judy Agnew and Aubrey Daniels in their book, Safe by Accident? And, they advise making incentives part of a larger plan and “not the plan by itself. ...This may include rewards, but those should be a small part.” Agnew and Daniels call this a reinforcement system that includes:

• Identifying safe behaviors, then making sure they’re linked to desired results

• Analyzing accident data to identify which safe behaviors will prevent injuries, especially the most common

• Engaging employees at all levels

• Mixing social and tangible reinforcements (such as rewards)

SAIF’s Trevor Ansbro agrees. The loss control program adviser believes the best plans are designed around employee acts that relate to safe behavior. And they’re supported and implemented by managers and leaders, because the responsibility starts with them. Ansbro’s suggestions for a reinforcement system include:

• Giving small, on-the-spot rewards for correct behavior—for example, an employee wearing proper protective equipment.

• Holding an established number of safety meetings or tailgate talks

• Meeting an established number of peer safety observations and coaching

And, of course, there’s a fat stack of other benefits: lower workers’ comp costs, lower premiums, higher productivity, more employee involvement, and savings from lower turnover.

By Dave Millercommunications coordinator

Money for nothin’And tips for free. Tips for safety incentives that work best, that is.

More helpDon’t hesitate to contact

our safety services team at [email protected]

if you’d like some help with safety incentives.


yo!

They said it couldn’t be done—at least not without Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon. Well, we did it anyway: We produced the world’s first rap video about office ergonomics to help launch our completely redesigned safety and health site and our revised video series on office ergonomics. The site is now called “Safety and health,” and is featured on the saif.com homepage. You can watch the “Go Ergo!” rap video at saif.com/ergo. And you can see 10 other segments in the “Office

ergonomics: Simple solutions” video series on that same page.

Making safety info more accessible for everyoneBoth the office ergonomics video series and the redesigned website are part of an ongoing effort to make safety and health information more easily accessible to SAIF policyholders, their workers, and the public. And they’re part of SAIF’s vision to make Oregon the safest state.

By Dave Millercommunications coordinator

World’s first rap video on ergonomics goes live,

highlights of the new safety

and health site

1. A direct link from the saif.com home page

2. Organization based on relevant topics

3. A dynamic landing page with seasonal resources and topics

4. SAIF-produced videos that are easy to find

5. Enhanced search capabilities

Go straight to our safety and health page


Legislative UpdateBy Jaye Fraserassistant counsel

HB 2764, the most significant workers’ compensation bill passed during Oregon’s 78th legislative assembly, modifies both the amounts and the circumstances under which attorney fees may be awarded. Continuing its important role, Oregon’s Management-Labor Committee reviewed and recommended amendments to the original bill before passing it along to the legislature. These amendments were adopted by the Senate Workforce Committee and passed out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation to the Senate floor. The amendments continue the system’s policy objective to provide a fair and just system that reduces litigation and the

adversarial nature of proceedings, while adding a provision that workers are entitled to “adequate representation.” The National Council on Compensation Insurance was unable to quantify the increase in system costs in Oregon because several bill provisions are subject to interpretation. Other workers’ compensation bills of interest: HB 2211 allows the Workers’ Compensation Division to assess penalties directly against third party administrators instead of the insurer; HB 2797 clarifies timely first payment of time loss; and HB 3114 increases the time within which a worker may file a workers’ compensation claim if the health insurer denies the health claim.

The Oregon State Capitol, constructed between 1936 and 1938, is the third to house the Oregon state government in Salem. Two former capitol buildings were destroyed by fire, one in 1855 and the other in 1935.


BEND541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Unwind Your Organizational Stressors: Developing a Resilient Workforce Wednesday, August 128 to 9:30 a.m.

Oregon Employment Law Update Wednesday, October 148 to 9:30 a.m.

COOS BAY541.756.3118 | 800.285.8565

What is Your Safety Culture? How do You Take the Next step? Thursday, July 2311:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Who’s Job Is It, Anyway? Thursday, October 2211:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

EUGENE

541.683.6700 | 800.285.8560

Making the Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion Thursday, July 1611:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SAIF Update Thursday, August 2011:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What is Your Safety Culture? How do You Take the Next step? Thursday, September 1711:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

House Calls Thursday, October 1511:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

HERMISTON541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Who Took My PowerPoint? How to Provide Impactful Training Without the Convenience of ComputersWednesday, October 211:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

KLAMATH FALLS541.857.4204 | 800.285.8550

Nutrition and Fitness for the Brain: Alert Workers are Safe Workers Tuesday, July 7Noon to 1:30 p.m.

SAIF Leadership Update Tuesday, September 15Noon to 1:30 p.m.

LA GRANDE

541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Who Took My PowerPoint? How to Provide Impactful Training Without the Convenience of Computers Wednesday, October 218:30 to 11 a.m.

LINCOLN CITY503.373.8384 | 800.285.8525

Workforce Challenges Monday, October 269 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

MEDFORD541.857.4204 | 800.285.8550

Nutrition and Fitness for the Brain: Alert Workers are Safe Workers Wednesday, July 8Noon to 1:30 p.m.

SAIF Leadership Update Wednesday, September 16Noon to 1:30 p.m.

ONTARIO541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Who Took My PowerPoint? How to Provide Impactful Training Without the Convenience of ComputersTuesday, October 209 to 11:30 a.m.

PORTLAND971.242.5742 | 888.598.5880

Claims Basics Thursday, July 169 a.m. to noon

Total Worker Health™ Solutions for Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders Thursday, August 209 a.m. to noon

Claims Basics and Beyond Claims Basics Thursday, October 15 Morning session, 9 a.m. to noon Afternoon session, 1 to 4 p.m.

Principios y Estrategias Efectivas para Identificar y Corregir Peligros en el Ambiente de Trabajo. (Note: La Capacitación Será Ofrecida en Español) Wednesday, October 219 to 11 a.m.

REDMOND541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Unwind Your Organizational Stressors: Developing a Resilient Workforce Wednesday, August 1211:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Oregon Employment Law Update Wednesday, October 1411:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

ROSEBURG541.857.4204 | 800.285.8550

Nutrition and Fitness for the Brain: Alert Workers are Safe Workers Thursday, July 99 to 10:30 a.m.

SAIF Leadership UpdateThursday, September 179 to 10:30 a.m.

SALEM

503.373.8384 | 800.285.8525

Revive Your Hazard Communication Program: Using the New GHS Rules to Make it Work Thursday, July 169 to 11:30 a.m.

Cool Tools for the Safety Professional: Making Work Easier and Training Effective and Fun! Thursday, August 209 to 11:30 a.m.

Liven Up Your Safety Committee, Part Deux Thursday, September 179 to 11:30 a.m.

Making the Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion Thursday, October 159 to 11:30 a.m.

Training Calendar

SAIF provides training opportunities throughout the state at no cost to our policyholders. Advanced registration is required.

Visit saif.com/training for updates, more detailed information, or to register. You may also call the SAIF regional office listed for the class you want to attend.

THE DALLES541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Unwind Your Organizational Stressors: Developing a Resilient Workforce Thursday, August 139 a.m. to noon

Who Took My PowerPoint? How to Provide Impactful Training Without the Convenience of Computers Thursday, October 228:30 to 11 a.m.

WILSONVILLE971.242.5742 | 888.598.5880

Jump Start Your Safety Committee Wednesday, September 238 a.m. to noon


Editor: Melaney MoisanArt director: Mary Ann PotterContributing editor: Lyn Zielinski-MillsManaging editor: Mike WattersSafety editor: Chuck EasterlyIllustrator: Lisa TaaffePhotographers: David Gibb, Corey Jenkins, Melanie MesarosWriters: Jaye Fraser, Melaney Moisan, Dave Miller, Sharon Overton, Kevin Pfau

Comp News is printed with soy-based ink on 70# Nature Web matte paper that contains 10 percent post-consumer waste and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Comp News is also available online at saif.com/compnews.

Send subscription requests, address changes, comments, or inquiries about Comp News to:

Comp News 800.285.8525SAIF Corporation [or] [email protected] High Street SESalem, OR 97312

ACROSS 3 These account for nearly one-quarter

of all workers’ comp prescription costs.

5 This has been banned in certain products, but has not been completely banned in the U.S.

7 The leading cause of death in the building industry

9 This kind of ladder has a flared base and single back leg for support on soft, uneven ground.

10 These are responsible for more deaths than suicide and motor vehicles combined, according to a report in the Pain Physician Journal.

11 One of the diseases caused by asbestos

DOWN1 The subject of SAIF’s first rap video.

2 Its toxicity has been known for thousands of years.

4 Never use this lightweight ladder around electricity.

6 More than 2,000 injuries to these occur on the jobsite every day.

8 New World Health Organization guidelines recommend your daily intake of this be less than 10 percent of your total calories.

CROSSWORD

SUMMER 2015Comp News is published four times each year by

SAIF Corporation for its policyholders.

©2015 SAIF Corporation

saif.com/facebook

How much do you remember from this

issue of Comp News?

Across: 3. narcotics 5. asbestos 7. falls 9. orchard 10. opioids 11. mesothelioma

Down: 1. ergonomics 2. lead 4. aluminum 6. eyes 8. sugar


CUTTING ROOM FLOOR

FOOD FOR THOUGHTIn Imperial Rome (roughly 27 BC to 470 AD) the people most likely to be affected by lead poisoning didn’t work in construction, scraping paint from the sides of old houses. They were wine drinkers. And they ate the best food. Most were wealthy. Romans actually drank quite a bit of wine, and they liked it flavored with a syrup made from unfermented grape juice, or “must.” They boiled the must, reducing it to one-half or even one-third its original volume, which concentrated the sugar. Not a bad idea for enhancing wine’s flavor perhaps, except they preferred the taste of syrup made in lead pots over syrup boiled in brass.

This lead-infused syrup was so flavorful that it also was used in numerous meat, fish, and fruit dishes, assuring that lead didn’t just poison Roman drinkers. It sickened some of the eaters as well. In an interview with John Noble Wilford of the New York Times, Jerome Nriagu, a Canadian scientist researching lead poisoning among Romans, said, “One teaspoon of such syrup would have been more than enough to cause chronic lead poisoning.” This wasn’t news to the Romans: Many of them already knew about lead’s toxicity. Lead colic was the first recorded occupational disease. It was discussed in a wide variety of ancient documents as far back as the fourth century BC, and Hippocrates wrote about it in the first century. Nevertheless, lead-lined pipes brought Romans their water, and lead pots were used to cook and store their food. Along with a few other scientists, Nriagu suggests that all this consumption of lead may even have led to the fall of the Roman Empire. Now there’s some food for thought.

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