|
|
Loss Lessons
|
TOO HEAVY
|
| |
PestSure Members,
In this recent injury claim, a technician chose to move an
item that was too heavy and bulky for one person to handle.
While working at a restaurant after hours, the technician
was moving seating booths out from against the wall to treat
behind the fixtures. The excessive weight of the booth unit
combined with the drag produced when attempting to slide the
unit across a carpeted floor, culminated in a severe tear
to the rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
Conservative treatment of the injury was unsuccessful so the
technician eventually had to undergo surgery. His post surgery
outcome left him incapable of returning to pest control work
and he has been released to only very light duty work by his
physician. This injury has greatly impacted this employee's
life and was very avoidable. The cost of this incident is
expected to reach approximately $400,000.
Lesson:
Our technicians usually work alone and most often this is
appropriate. To prevent a situation from occurring like the
one detailed in this e-mail, consider the following:
- Train employees on procedures to follow should
they encounter a job hazard that prevents them from completing
a job safely
- Be certain your technicians truly understand that
you do not want them to engage in any task that jeopardizes
their safety
- When quoting jobs, be certain to determine any
labor that might take more than one technician to complete,
and plan for that extra labor in both your quote and in
your job scheduling
Review this loss with your team. Check your groups understanding
of your directive to never place personal safety on the line
for the job. This technician believed he was to complete this
restaurant job as scheduled and continued to work even after
he realized the booth units were too heavy for one person.
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 |
| |
| |
|
