10/26/2011

By boverson

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The Importance of New Hire Orientation

Loss Control wants you to know that when you hire new employees, effective new hire orientation can not only increase production and save money, it could save a life.  Statistics show that somewhere between 75-80% of workers do not receive information or training on how to do their jobs safely.  Historically, new employees have been more likely to get hurt on the job than more experienced workers.  A recent study has shown; of 6 million injured, 40 percent are employees who have been with the company less than one year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Comp-Sigma’s Loss Control team has collected data from claims they have managed in the past, and found that the frequencies of injuries are great and also extremely costly.

Some common orientation mistakes are overwhelming the employee with to much information and names packed into one day, showing long orientation movies, and failing to properly prepare for the new hires arrival.  Instead, try getting their families involved in the process, and giving the employees enough work to be productive on their first days.  Also, providing orientations that are not rushed or boring helps keep their interest level high and always use feedback to improve their job tasks.

Proper new hire orientation can raise safety awareness, prevent costly injuries and lead to an increase in production.  Plan ahead, and provide enough training for your new hires!  You will be glad that you did.

08/10/2011

By boverson

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OSHA’s Injury & Illness Prevention Program

Over the past year, OSHA has been gathering data from trade associations and unions while promoting their initiative I2P2.  The initiative would require workplace managers to implement a Injury and Illness Prevention Program.  According to OSHA, the program “simple requires employers to develop a program to help them find and fix hazards in their workplaces.”

There are six key elements OSHA sees as necessary components of a successful prevention program, they are:

  1. Management Leadership
  2. Worker Participation
  3. Hazard Identification
  4. Hazard Prevention
  5. Control, Education & Training
  6. Program Evaluation & Improvement

Developing I2P2 into a standard is not an easy task; however, OSHA head, David Michaels called it the Agency’s highest priority of 2011.  Michaels and the Agency have been promoting the initiative heavily.  Michaels has made close to a dozen speeches since announcing the rule in April, the Agency has held five stakeholder meetings to get input on how to draft it and recently unveiled a new I2P2 webpage to increase interest in the coming initiative.

This is and will be a very important issue for business owners.  Keep checking back for the latest I2P2 information.

07/20/2011

By boverson

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Workforce Wellness Client Wins Health Innovator Award!

CONCORD, NH–Workforce Wellness LLC, a subsidiary of the Scott Lawson Companies, is pleased to announce that client, EPTAM Plastics of Northfield, NH, has been named as the latest Health Innovator Award recipient by Harvard Pilgrim Heath Care and New Hampshire Business Review.  The award celebrates and recognizes employers for innovation and sustained efforts in bringing wellness programs to the workplace.

Workforce Wellness has been partnered with EPTAM Plastics as their wellness provider since 2008.  Workforce Wellness designs their ongoing, customized and creative wellness program, and provides continuous wellness coaching and support.  EPTAM Plastics employes over 160 people, with 32% participating in the wellness program.

“Lindsay Foley [wellness coach] has been fantastic!  She creates a relaxed environment, free of judgement, during individual and group sessions, which I think is very important.  We want our participants to feel comfortable and know that Lindsay will always provide positive and knowledgable advice,” said Marcy Cheney, wellness participant, EPTAM Plastics.  “Workforce Wellness has been a tremendous benefit to our company; it has allowed us to foster friendly competition among employees and raise awareness about making healthy choices.”

For more than five years, Workforce Wellness has provided its clients with comprehensive, customizable wellness plan options that offer an array of services to support the full range of needs and interests of organizations.  These plans are proven to lower medical cost and improve the health and productivity of its participants.

“We are pleased to be beginning our fourth year working with EPTAM Plastics. Their staff is fun to work with, and enthusiastic about wellness! We continue to see health improvements in their group, and were very proud to learn they received this honor,” said Stephanie Ceccherini, Wellness Coordinator, Workforce Wellness.

About Workforce Wellness LLC

Workforce Wellness LLC, a subsidiary of the Scott Lawson Companies, provides on-site health and wellness services that help improve and sustain the health of employees and their families, reduce medical costs and decrease workers’ compensation claims.

Located in Concord, New Hampshire, Workforce Wellness was founded by Scott Lawson, President of the Scott Lawson Companies.  Get more information at Employee Wellness Services.

Contact

The Scott Lawson Companies

Miranda Yeaton, 603.228.3610

myeaton@slgl.com

06/16/2011

By boverson

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Workforce Wellness LLC Practitioner Achieves WELCOA Faculty Status

Stephanie Ceccherini Joins Elite Group of Business Leaders & Health Professionals

CONCORD, NH–Workforce Wellness, LLC, a subsidiary of the Scott Lawson Companies, is pleased to announce that Stephanie Ceccherini, Wellness Coordinator, has achieved WELCOA Faculty Status.  WELCOA, Wellness Councils of America, promotes healthy lifestyles for all Americans, through wellness initiatives at the worksite.

Faculty status is achieved by participating in and completing four or more WELCOA certifications.  Each certification increases the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, deliver, and evaluate a results-oriented worksite wellness program.  Stephanie joined WELCOA in the fall of 2010 and has been working hard ever since. “I feel that it’s important to stay on the cutting edge of what is happening with employee wellness around the country.  Being a member of WELCOA, and completing their certification courses, is one of the ways I have been able to do that,” said Stephanie.  “Achieving this designation was an unexpected bonus.”

Stephanie joins a select group of elite practitioners, who now stand out as some of the best-trained wellness professionals in the country.  Currently, only 118 business leaders and health professionals have achieved this designation.  “This is a significant accomplishment for Stephanie and for Workforce Wellness,” said Scott Lawson, President and Founder, Scott Lawson Companies.  “It’s wonderful to be awarded for our dedication to improving the health and well-being of our clients and their families.”

About WELCOA

The Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) was established as a national not-for-profit organization in the mid 1980’s through the efforts of a number of forward-thinking business and health leaders. Drawing on the vision originally set forth by William Kizer, Sr., Chairman Emeritus of Central States Indemnity, and WELCOA founding Directors that included Dr. Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, WELCOA has helped influence the face of workplace wellness in the U.S.

About The Scott Lawson Companies

Scott Lawson Group, Ltd. (SLGL), Comp-SIGMA, Ltd., and Workforce Wellness are subsidiaries of The Scott Lawson Companies.  Scott Lawson Group, Ltd. is one of the leading worker health and safety, and laboratory services firms in New England; Comp-SIGMA, Ltd. is a third party administrator for two of the Self Insured Trusts for workers’ compensation in N.H.; and Workforce Wellness provides on-site wellness programs and health risk assessments that work to improve the health of employees and lower the cost of group health insurance.

Located in Concord, New Hampshire, The Scott Lawson Companies were founded by Scott Lawson in 1978 and have served nearly 5,000 customers nationwide.  The Scott Lawson Companies are on the web at www.scottlawsoncompanies.com

Contact

The Scott Lawson Companies

Miranda Yeaton, 603/228-3610

myeaton@slgl.com

 

06/01/2011

By boverson

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Look beyond Air Sampling Results

Our company, The Scott Lawson Group, has been conducting various types of industrial hygiene exposure monitoring projects for many years.  Typically we do the work as a result of some sort of complaint situation.  An employee claims to have been exposed to “Methyl ethyl bad-stuff” and the employer (our client) has hired us to “prove” that there really is not a problem.  Many times they want to do this by doing personal and/or area air sampling to collect data for comparison to OSHA and or other applicable standards.  They hope to be able to use the data to show themselves and the employee that there is no problem and they “don’t have to do any thing else”.

As anyone who has done this type of exposure monitoring could tell you, many times this type of monitoring will indeed produce “negative exposure” data.  In other words all sampling results will be less than applicable exposure limits.  At this point you usually have to have a conversation with the client that includes the phrase “ air sampling results were OK but….

The “buts’ can include a wide variety of things, but many times they will include bad work practices, or poor general housekeeping issues.  For example, we have done a lot of testing for airborne metals in welding operations, and although laboratory results often show no airborne exposure problem, the work place is so dirty that all the nearby surfaces are covered with dust/debris/films from the process.  In other cases we have done air testing for a whole slew of solvents involved in a process (all of which came back below limits), but noticed during the sampling employees doing work without the proper PPE such as gloves.  In all of these cases, the “real” exposure issue is not from airborne “Methyl ethyl bad-stuff”, but from improper use of PPE or from bad housekeeping, that has increased the potential exposures (and the potential adverse health effects) to employees through skin contact.

Employers must look beyond just air monitoring results to include employee behavior and work practices to obtain a true idea of workplace hazards.  So many times the client does “have to do something else” (clean, enforce proper PPE use), even though air sampling results are acceptable.

 

06/01/2011

By boverson

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Managing Your Mind and Body: Bikram Yoga

One thing I have struggled with over time is gaining flexibility and managing stress.  Joining the gym, walking and running are all great ways to relieve stress, and stretching helps keep us flexible.  I have always wanted to try Yoga, but never wanted to take that first step and walk into a class.  I had no idea if I could handle the poses, and nobody wants to feel like everyone is watching you, especially when you are not familiar with Yoga.

I was speaking with a co-worker one day, and she mentioned that a Bikram Yoga studio in town was giving a discount to employees, in our office, who wanted to try Yoga.  This was my opportunity to go with someone who was familiar with Yoga – so we picked a day and went after work.  When we got to the studio, we immediately took our shoes off.  Bikram is done in bare feet! I registered, grabbed a complimentary mat, and changed into running shorts and a tank top.  It is a good idea to spend five or ten minutes just laying in the room before class too…Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Bikram Yoga classes are done in heated rooms at 105 degrees fahrenheit.  Now, if you don’t like the heat that is OK!  Fortunately, the Bikram studio is a dry 105 degrees….but it is hot!

So if your still with me, and the temperature doesn’t bother you then we will keep going!  Studios and class sizes differ and I would guess there were roughly 20 people in class.  Mirrors positioned at the front of the room are extremely important because you need to concentrate hard on yourself and the postures.  It should be mentioned that not one person is going to look at you, and think your new!  Everyone is looking at themselves, so if your shy and you think Bikram isn’t for you…don’t be!  Each class begins with a set of breathing exercises which is nice, and then we begin the 26 postures.

I had no idea how to perform the postures, but the instructor is very informative and you can observe others if you need to.  I should mention that you will sweat the ENTIRE TIME.  It is a good idea to bring at least two bottles of cold water, and it is also important to go at your own pace.  If you need to lay down at anytime during the class you should.  I have spent half an hour just laying on the mat before, and concentrating on my breathing.  I have noticed lower stress levels and I am definitely more flexible after going to a handful of classes.  I encourage anyone who has ever wanted to try Yoga to check out a Bikram Studio.  I am very glad I did!