Tag Archives: safety

Trash Talk 101

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Taking out the trash can be dangerous. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. And the numbers prove it.               

Recent large losses among Society Insurance policyholders include the following claims:

  • Shoulder injury: $121,000
  • Shoulder injury (again): $117,628
  • Back injury: $62,550
  • Back strain: $17,347

What is especially interesting is that these claims have one thing in common. They all involve taking out the trash.

So, what can be done to reduce the danger and make trash removal safer? Start by controlling the hazards associated with these three simple areas: (more…)

Holiday Safety Tips

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As the cold weather moves in and the holiday season begins, it is time to bring out the lights and decorations to help celebrate the season. This is a time of excitement, so it can be easy to overlook the potential hazards of lights and decorations. The main areas of concern are fire and electric shock hazards from holiday lighting, and falls from ladders when putting up the decorations. Follow these tips to keep everyone safe this holiday season. (more…)

24 Tips for Delivery Driver Safety

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When you think about the most dangerous jobs, a non-CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) service or delivery driver does not usually come to mind. However, every year thousands of workers are injured or killed while performing a delivery. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, there were over 100,000 injuries and 300,000 accidents involving delivery vehicles in 2012 and Time magazine ranked it number eight on its list of the 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in 2014.

Delivery driver dangers include vehicle accidents, injuries while performing the delivery such as back injuries and slips, trips and falls, or crime. Both employers and employees can take important steps to help reduce these hazards. (more…)

6 Construction Job Site Safety Tips

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Let’s face it; working in construction is dangerous. In 2015, one in five worker fatalities occurred in construction. Is it any wonder why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted almost four times as many inspections and issued over twice as many penalties for the construction industry compared to the next closest industry classification? By the numbers, that’s 11,869 inspections, 29,777 citations and nearly $72 million in fines from October 2015 through September 2016. (more…)

Tornado FAQ: Before, During and After the Storm

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“It sounded like a freight train.”

This is a common description from those who have experienced one of nature’s most violent phenomena: a tornado. Advances in research and technology have improved identification and measurement of critical elements of super cell storm systems, which makes predicting and identifying the development of a tornado far more effective. However, once the prediction is made or an actual tornado is identified, the responsibility falls on every individual to be prepared to respond appropriately for his or her own safety and well-being.

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5 Reasons Your Business Needs Video Surveillance

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Is your business as well-protected as it should be? Do you really know what goes on when you’re not there to see it firsthand? As a business owner you want to ensure that your investment is protected against loss from the public or from your own employees.

Due to their early and late hours and sometimes short staffing, gas stations, convenience and liquor stores are often subject to more crime and violence, which is a growing concern among many of Society’s policyholders. Other businesses such as restaurants, taverns, and grocery stores experience increasing numbers of slips and falls. Having an effective video surveillance system will help deter shoplifting and employee theft, and it can also prove valuable when trying to document crimes and injury claims by customers or employees. Many of the newer digital systems allow you to review your footage from a smart phone, even if you are not onsite.

So, is video surveillance really necessary at your business? YES. Here’s why: (more…)

Is Your Business a Target? Robbery Prevention Tips

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As a former robbery detective in the Chicago Police Department I can easily see why a business would be a target for a robbery or hold up. Now that my career is in insurance, I know how important it is for a business to keep a “low profile.” Here are a few things you can do to make the bad guys pick another business as their victim:
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Falls Are Not Funny

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This entry is part 8 of 11 in the series Slips, Trips & Falls

The National Floor Safety Institute is focused on providing the general public with an educated awareness to the problems of slip and fall injuries. There are many preventive measures that can help to avoid these terrible accidents. It only takes one fall to completely alter the life of a victim.

Slip and fall accidents happen every day and should be a significant cause of concern in both the summer and winter months. In 2009, the total costs of slip and fall accidents was $60 billion, but that number has continued to rise. Today, these accidents account for nearly $80 billion.

Injuries as a result of a slip, trip or fall are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits. Unfortunately, the general public is sometimes led to believe all slip, trip and fall injuries are scams. This is not true. There are preventive strategies that can help reduce the frequency of these types of accidents, in turn reducing the number of injuries. (more…)

Crime Prevention for Restaurants, Bars and Taverns

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Restaurants, bars and taverns can be targets for robbery, burglary and theft. These businesses may accumulate a large amount of cash during daily operations, which makes them attractive targets for criminal activity.

  • Armed Robbery. Do you know when your business is most vulnerable?
  • Employee Theft. Do you know that this is the most frequent criminal event in a restaurant?
  • Violent Incidents. Do you know how staff should respond?
  • Burglary. Do you know how to deter burglars?

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Speak Up About Safety: 5 Steps to Building a Safety Culture in the Workplace

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We are all born with instincts – those “gut reactions” that tell us what is right or wrong, safe or dangerous, good or bad. They’re vital to our survival and help us navigate through life. Even though this is a natural reaction produced without any effort, these feelings can be ignored. In a high-stress situation, we may overlook the safest option in favor of a quicker alternative. Sometimes this results in an unsafe situation for ourselves or those around us. This becomes especially dangerous in the workplace. (more…)