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Loss Lessons
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SLIP, TRIP AND FALL
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PestSure Members,
In several recent PestSure workers' compensation claims, our
technician trips or slips and falls down. If the technician
is wearing a backpack, the injuries involve shoulders and
cervical spine. If the technician is carrying a sprayer, the
injuries involve knees, ankles, and hips and lumbar spine.
Regardless, these injuries result when we have not previewed
our location prior to beginning our service.
- slipped off curb $154,000
- slipped on sand $375,000
- stepped off curb $169,000
- tripped down steps $218,000
- tripped on garden hose $310,000
- slipped on leaves $233,000
- slipped on ice $203,000
The trip and fall hazards that exist at a particular location
are numerous. A simple curb, wet leaves, landscape surface
changes, sprinkler heads, rocks, retaining walls, garden hoses,
toys, and down spouts are just a few of the conditions that
are present. Conditions at our work locations are continually
changing.
Lesson:
I am told by many of you that walking a site or doing a brief
hazard check prior to starting the service is not feasible
with the way we schedule our routes and our service time at
each location. As these types of claims continue to occur
and the loss of productivity and claims expense continue to
tally, our challenge is to adapt our service methods to allow
for this brief hazard assessment upon arrival at a location.
Some of you already have a site preview as part of your procedures
but many of you do not.
- Review your new hire on the job training process
and content and be certain we are training technicians
to conduct a site walk prior to beginning service.
- Discuss potential location trip and slip hazards
as a group to heighten awareness among all technicians.
- If necessary, review your time allotment for a
typical service and be certain you are scheduling to allow
for this brief loss prevention step.
Trips and falls are the number one cause of work injury in
our industry. Please discuss this loss lesson with your entire
team and implement steps to reduce this hazard for your work
force.
Linda Midyett
Area Manager
Safety and Loss Prevention, PestSure
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.
14241 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75254
972.663.6199
800.326.6203 |
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