Winter Emergency Kit - 9 Thinks to keep in your car's winter emergency kit!

 

Fire Safety for Kids

Here is a great article to read about how to teach your kids to prevent a fire and to survive a fire. Hopefully this will never be needed but it is good information to teach kids before it is needed.

Fire Safety for Kids

Fire Prevention Week

Fires may be more common than you think. On this National Fire Prevention Week, we would like to thank all the firefighters for their bravery & service.

Does your family know what to do in case of a fire? Be sure with

this fire safety checklist.

Restaurant Re-opening Tips Due to COVID19

Greater Together Small Business Resilience Fund

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources from Trusted and Reliable Sources

What are the risks of the novel coronavirus (CPVOD-19) impacting your employees and your business? Stay informed with the following trusted and reliable sources for up-to-date guidance and information:

• The Department of Public Health for your state will provide information specific to your area. Find a link to your state’s public health website here.
   
• The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH) at the University of Utah provides support for the western region and is offering a free online course for employers to stay informed and prepare in the event the virus spreads. Register through their website here.
   
• At a national level, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides guidance for employers on prevention and mitigation as well as helpful information for employers on their website.

Is illness due to exposure to the COVID-19 virus In the workplace covered by workers’ compensation?
Determining coverage for communicable diseases under workers’ compensation requires a complex analysis of how the governing state law applies to the specific facts of each case.

Support for Windows 7 is Coming to an End

Most Common Injuries 2019

MOST COMMON INJURIES IN 2019

As we start 2020, it’s a great time to review how to make your workplace safer. Your organization can start by focusing on systems and processes that have the greatest potential to cause injury as well as being aware of the most common injury types. Below are WCF's most frequently reported injury types of 2019. (Click accident type for prevention guides.) Nature of Injury: Slips/Falls  (21%) Struck or Hit (18%) Cuts (17%) Strains and Sprains  (13%) Misc.  (13%) Lifting Injuries (7%) ACCESS ONLINE SAFETY SEMINARS & VIDEOS With online safety seminars, you have access to WCF Insurance's most popular safety seminars 24/7. Online seminars are developed and presented by WCF Insurance's board-certified safety and industrial hygiene professionals. These seminars offer information to assist policyholders with controlling workers' compensation costs, OSHA compliance, current best practices in safety and the latest innovations in the field of injury prevention. Access online seminars here.  WCF policyholders can also access more than 600 safety videos (365+ in Spanish) at wcf.com for free. All you need is a WCF policy number. Click here to access safety videos.

Marijuana Use in the Workplace

10 Reasons to Implement a Drug-Free Workplace Safety Topic

Prescription Drug Safety Poster

Safety Poster Library

 

With more states passing legislation with respect to marijuana use, is it time to update your drug-free workplace policy? The short answer is no. Every employer has the right to deem impairment from any source unacceptable in their workplace. This includes impairment from illegal substances, alcohol, cold, and allergy medication, and, yes, marijuana.  

 

How do you test impairment?

While there are multiple ways to test impairment level where alcohol is concerned, there currently are not trusted methods to measure the level of impairment where marijuana is concerned. There are reliable methods to test if marijuana is in one’s system, but the drug can remain in one’s system for up to a week after initial use. The argument could be made that the positive results from Tuesday’s reasonable-suspicion drug test was really only showing that the individual used marijuana within the last week. Until better tests are available, this is best addressed by documenting why the supervisor feels the employee is impaired and what risk they pose to themselves and/or other employees.

 

What am I to do as an employer?

Review your state’s laws on discrimination against marijuana users. Make sure your policies are consistent with state anti-discrimination statutes.

• Continue to comply with federal regulations.
• Review your drug use and drug testing policies to ensure that they clearly explain your expectations regarding impairment, marijuana use outside of company time, and drug testing.
• Make sure you are prepared to consistently follow your written procedures.
• As part of an employer's review, have it clearly written whether all employee drug use is banned or merely impairment.
• Have a policy on medical marijuana use. Cannabis with THC will impair judgment, while medical marijuana typically only has CBD products that do not typically impair brain function. One would still test positive for marijuana use in both cases, but would only be impaired if THC were in the cannabis used. 

In summary, know what state(s) you are working in and what laws apply there. Define what constitutes impairment. Work with your drug testing facilities to understand what the results mean and what levels of marijuana are in ones system if a positive test is found.

 

NOTICE: This guide may make reference to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations; however the guide is not legal advice as to compliance with OSHA or other safety laws, codes, or regulations. Compliance with OSHA and other safety laws codes or regulations, and maintaining a safe work environment for your employees remains your responsibility. WCF Insurance does not undertake to perform the duty of any person to provide for the health or safety of your employees. WCF Insurance does not warrant that your workplace is safe or healthful, or that it complies with any laws, regulations, codes, or standards.

Need help with an employee manual? Please give us a call at 435-674-2221.

Wild Fire Awareness - Property Owners Beware!

With the heavier than normal snow pack and wet spring this year. We are almost
guaranteed to have a lot of tall dry grass close to structures.

We are already hearing from many cities throughout Utah that fireworks are banned this year.

Here are 10 Safety tips from the National Fire Prevention Association

• REMOVE leaves, pine needles, and other flammable material from the roof, gutters, and on and under the deck to help prevent embers from igniting your home.
• SCREEN areas below decks and porches with 1/8” wire mesh to help prevent material from accumulating underneath.
• COVER exterior attic and soffit vents with 1/8” wire mesh to help prevent sparks from entering your home.
• ENCLOSE eaves to help prevent ember entry.
• INSPECT shingles or roof tiles. REPLACE missing shingles or tiles. COVER ends of tiles with bird stops or cement to help prevent ember penetration during a wildfire.
• REMOVE dead vegetation and other flammable materials, especially within the first 5 feet of the home.
• KEEP your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to help reduce fire intensity.
• PRUNE tree limbs so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet above the ground to help reduce the chance of fire getting into the crowns of the trees.
• MOVE construction material, trash, and woodpiles at least 30 feet away from the home and other outbuildings.
• DISPOSE of branches, weeds, leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings that you have cut to reduce fuel for fire.