Think Negatively, Then Creatively

Business decision makers have to spend time preparing for the possibility of catastrophe. It could be a natural event, or it could have a human origin. Regardless, an owner, manager or executive has to think about the many events that could either temporarily or permanently interrupt their business. In other words, a business must consider what threats exist to their normal, profitable operations. The task may initially appear overwhelming. However, it is just a matter of considering what the business does; where it does it; how it does it; and why it does it; then, examine what could happen to stop any of these things.

Natural interruptions could be caused by wind and rainstorms, flood, snow/ice storms, earthquakes, extended or extreme temperatures, etc. Human events may include fires, break-ins, mobs, sabotage, etc. Typically, a thorough consideration of problems involves identifying the worst possible things that could occur….even when their chance of happening is remote. Remember that a single, unanticipated event could cripple or even terminate a business, so you need to have a plan that contemplates a wide variety of harmful situations.

Consideration must be given to a business’ physical structures and property, machinery/equipment, management, finances, employees, products, stock, finished goods and goods in process, services, communications, transportation, contractual obligations, competition, suppliers, distribution, and so on.

Recovering from disaster depends upon many factors. Regardless the reason for a business suffering a serious interruption, the goal has to be on resuming normal operations as quickly as possible. Getting back into business often depends upon insurance, but other arrangements may be necessary and even be more important. Consider plans that include the following:

• Arranging use of another location to run the business
• Having duplicates of key business records (kept at another location)
• Arranging other sources of product supplies if a key supplier’s business is interrupted
• Having access to substitute production machinery
• Buying and maintaining generators/alternate sources of light and power

When considering how to deal with events that could threaten your business, the biggest disaster could be the failure to create a viable disaster recovery plan. The Risk Managers at Peoples First can provide resources to help you develop a disaster recovery plan for your manufacturing, contracting, healthcare, nonprofit or other type of business so feel free to contact us and discuss your situation.

To Sue or Not to Sue?

In many instances, filing a lawsuit is unavoidable. For instance, when a person seeking coverage has his claim denied, a lawsuit may be the only action that is available. But seeking satisfaction in court can be its own problem. Court calendars (dockets) are often backed up so it could take months or even years before a hearing can take place. Trials may be followed by one or more appeals. The legal expense can be staggering, involving court costs, filing fees, attorney costs, research costs, fees for expert witnesses and a host of other expenses. Time and cost considerations are great incentives for finding other methods to resolve disputes.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

When disagreeing about the amount that should be paid for a loss, mediation and arbitration are popular alternatives to suing your insurance company. Each is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) since they are alternatives to going to court.

• Mediation – This process involves the two parties meeting to discuss their situation with the help of a mediator. The mediator typically has special training and a legal, financial or similar background. As a disinterested party, the mediator studies information from both sides of an argument. Mediation sessions begin with each party fully explaining their position to the other party and the mediator. It is critical that each party is able to explain their side of the issue without interruption. The mediator then discusses each party’s position in private. Afterwards, the mediator shuttles between the parties and tries to negotiate a settlement. The most important features of mediation are that the process is voluntary and the disputing parties are actively involved in reaching a solution.
• Arbitration – This is a method that is frequently required by an insurance policy provision. Under arbitration, you and the insurance carrier each select a representative (arbitrator). Once the arbitrators are selected, they agree on another arbitrator who acts as the arbitration judge. The three persons discuss the merits of the situation and, once any two of the three persons agree on a settlement amount, the process ends. Arbitration differs from mediation in two important respects. First, the disputing parties are bystanders, waiting for a decision to be made by their selected representatives. Second, arbitration is (generally) binding on both parties.

If you are in a dispute with your insurance carrier, no course of action is perfect. Considering the cost and time involved with lawsuits, it makes sense to take advantage of other options to handle high-stakes disagreements. If you need more information, Peoples First is able to navigate you towards an advisable way to reach agreement with your carrier.

February 5 to 11 is National Burn Awareness Week, a good time to acknowledge that burns are a common workplace injury. How bad a burn is depends on how many layers it affects. First-degree burns affect only the first layer of skin, which gets red right away. Second-degree burns involve both reddened skin and some blistering. Third-degree burns look charred, and you might even be able to see tissues that appear to be white underneath the destroyed skin. Protect yourself from burn pain—and possibly serious infection—by knowing first aid for burns.

For first- and second-degree burns:

• Treat with cold water for several minutes to cool the burn and relieve pain.
• After soaking, cover the burn with a clean dry dressing, e.g., sterile gauze or a bandage from the first-aid kit, to prevent infection.
• Don’t use ice, lotion, or ointment on a burn.
• Don’t break blisters that form on a second-degree burn.
• See a doctor if the burn covers a large area or gets infected.

For third-degree burns:

• Call for emergency medical assistance immediately.
• Lay the victim down and elevate severely burned limbs.
• Cut away clothing if necessary, but don’t try to remove clothing that is stuck to a burn.

For chemical burns:

• Call for emergency medical assistance if the burn covers a large area of the body or affects the eyes or face.
• Flush burned areas with water until emergency medical help arrives.
• Remove contaminated clothing, if possible.

For critical burns that can kill, the Red Cross says to get immediate medical attention. Critical burns include those that:

• Make it difficult for a victim to breathe.
• Cover a significant portion of the body.
• Involve the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals.
• Are caused by chemicals, electricity, or explosions.

Take these steps to work safely on ladders:

• CHOOSE a ladder tall and strong enough for the job.
• CHECK that ladders have all parts in good condition, including:
  —Slip-resistant steps or rungs
  —Braces, bolts, screws, and spreaders
  —Rope
  —Safety feet
• WORK cautiously on a ladder to prevent falls. Remember to:
  —Allow one person only on a ladder, wearing shoes with clean, nonskid soles.
  —Face the ladder and hold both rails while climbing.
  —Carry tools on a belt or rope or hoist.
  —Stay below the top two stepladder steps or four top ladder rungs.
  —Work with body centered, one hand on rail, and tools in hanger or holder.
• POSITION the ladder for steadiness with:
  —Ground surface level
  —Feet parallel to the wall at a distance that is equal to
  one-fourth the ladder length
  —At least 3 feet above top support with top anchored, and bottom tied or held

WARNING: Don’t use a metal ladder around electricity!

In addition to cold temperatures and windy conditions:

1. Inadequate or wet clothing increases the risk because they do not provide sufficient insulation from cold temperatures.
2. Drug use or certain medications can inhibit the body’s response to the cold or even impair judgment so that the victim does not realize he or she is suffering symptoms of a cold-related disorder. Avoid drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes when working in cold conditions.
3. Some medical conditions, such as a cold, heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypothyroidism, and even poor blood circulation, may increase risk of suffering a cold-related illness or injury. Get a physical evaluation by a medical doctor before working in cold conditions.
4. Males have higher death rates in cold conditions than females. Some suspected reasons include body fat composition or other physiological differences. Also, males may engage in risk-taking behaviors more often.
5. Older workers become more susceptible to cold-related illness and injury.
6. Exertion in cold can constrict blood vessels in the heart. Workers with coronary diseases have an increased risk of heart attack when working in cold conditions.
7. Overweight people, those who have had inadequate rest, or are physically unfit are more susceptible to cold-related illness and injury.

Here’s why knowing first aid for burns is important:

• Every year in the United States,
  1.1 million burn injuries require medical care.
• Around 50,000 people require hospitalization.
• Almost 10,000 people die of burn-related infections.

Burn Hazards

Learn how to recognize burn hazards, such as the following:

• Flammable liquids, such as oil, solvents, and many chemicals, often have invisible vapors that move quickly through the air; put them together with an ignition source—even a spark—and you could have a fire.
• Smoking is a hazard because lit cigarettes or matches can be an ignition source for paper, flammable liquids, or almost anything that’s capable of burning.
• Welding and cutting operationscreate flames and sparks, so they’re a potential cause of burns and of fires.
• Hot machines and processes are a burn hazard.
• Space heaters can, if not used properly, cause fires and burns.
• Very hot water is a burn hazard.

That means four or more alcoholic beverages per occasion for women and five or more for men.

Excessive consumption, also referred to as heavy drinking, is defined as consuming more than one drink per day for women and an average of more than two per day for men.

CDC found that 72 percent of the total cost resulted from losses in workplace productivity.

Also cited were healthcare expenses, law enforcement, and motor vehicle crashes.

Overall, researchers calculated that excessive drinking cost $746 per person in the United States in 2006, the most recent year studied.

The study, Economic Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption in the U.S., 2006, was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and is available at www.ajpmonline.org.

• Know the hazards of your job.
• Always follow safety rules and procedures.
• Use all personal protective equipment (PPE) that’s assigned to you—every time, all the time.
• Pay attention to safety training and apply what you learn on the job.
• Keep on the lookout for hazards and keep asking yourself what could go wrong while you work.
• Eliminate or report any hazards you see right away.
• Pay attention to warning signs and do what they tell you.
• Be aware when you might be exposed to hazardous chemicals and take appropriate steps to protect yourself.
• Read labels, warnings, material safety data sheets (MSDSs), and other safety information before you start a job.
• Practice good housekeeping at all times.
• Report any injury, illness, accident, or near-miss to your supervisor immediately.

And remember … When it comes to safety, there’s no such thing as a dumb question. If you’re not sure about a potential hazard or how to do your job safely, ask your supervisor. Don’t perform a task unless you know how to perform it safely!

Do you know how to stack loads safely? When stacking loads, such as on pallets, it is important that the stacks do not fall over. This could cause an injury or damage materials.

Follow these basic procedures to help make your stacks stable:

• Put the heavy items on the bottom of the stack and place lighter objects on top. This seems obvious, but it is also often ignored. The lighter objects will be crushed by the weight of the heavier objects and the stack will begin to lean and eventually fall over if not corrected.
• Place small loads on top of large loads. Unless the large pallet is perfectly balanced on top of the small pallet, the large pallet will cause the small pallet to lean one way and the stack will eventually fall.
• Keep the stacks even. Placing an item at a slight angle may cause the load to be off balance and start the stack leaning to the point where it could topple over. Make sure all items in a stack are lined up straight and centered on top of one another.
• Make sure product is stacked within the confines of the pallet and not sticking out. Objects sticking out of a stack into an aisle could be struck by a forklift, which could cause the stack to fall, or a person walking down an aisle could bump into an item.

Why is pest waste a problem? Untreated fecal matter can be a source of harmful bacteria and nutrients. Pet waste also carries disease-causing organisms such as E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Salmonella. In addition, leaving pet waste on the ground may pose a disease risk to children, adults, and other pets. And rain or water runoff may carry the waste to other areas. Here’s what you can do:

• Carry a plastic bag when you walk your dog and use the bag as a glove to pick up the waste. Turn the bag inside out around the waste; scoop it up, seal the bag, and dispose of it in a trash can. Note that putting pet waste in the trash may be against the law in some communities.
• Flush it down the toilet. Don’t try to flush debris such as rocks, sticks, or cat litter. Cat feces may be scooped out and flushed down the toilet, but used litter should be put in a securely closed bag in the trash.
• Bury it in the yard. Dig a hole or trench that is about 5 inches deep, away from vegetable gardens, and away from any lake, stream, ditch, well, or the ocean. Microorganisms in the top layer of soil will break down the waste and release nutrients to fertilize nearby plants.
• Don’t compost pet waste. Compost piles may not get hot enough to kill disease-causing organisms.
• Wash hands with warm, soapy water after handling pet waste!