R&R Insurance Blog

Take control of the health and productivity of your employees - and increase profit. WellCompForLife is R&R Insurance Services’ total solutions approach to that will provide your company with the tools to increase the life span and productivity of your employees - and ultimately your bottom line!

The top three driving trends impacting an employer’s bottom line are Obesity, Workplace Injuries and the Aging Workforce.

Addressing These 3 Corporate Burdens to Increase Your Profit

1. Obesity - Yes, That Means Lose The Weight
Findings show that obese workers were more likely to report occupational injuries, with a great frequency of strains and sprains, along with falls and overexertion injuries. Consider these statistics: A comparison of obese employees to normal weight employees: 50% more workers’ compensation claims, 13x more lost work days, 7x higher medical costs, 11x indemnity claim costs. And this is just the workers compensation part. The negative effects of obese employees on your health insurance costs are overwhelming. Diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain - can all be attributed in part to being overweight. That means you have to do something about it - employee wellness programs, fitness, healthy eating, lifestyle changes for your employees and their families.

2. Reduce Workplace Injuries: Reduce the injuries to reduce the work comp claims!

• Slip-and-fall injury prevention: ensure a safe working environment by maintaining parking lots and sidewalks; encourage employees to wear appropriate footwear for wet or slippery conditions. Make sure you have handrails at all stairwells and inclines/declines - special attention to this for your aging workforce.
• Ensure employees can meet the physical requirements of the job: consider a post-offer, pre-employment physical for new employees – be sure the physician covers medical history as it may reveal something not seen during the physical (the cost of the test would pay for itself when preventing a back or shoulder claim!) Pay special attention to your aging workforce for their physical requirements.
• Ergonomics enhancement: ask employees for suggestions on how their job can be tweaked to avoid fatigue or soreness; consider job rotation for repetitive tasks (also promotes cross-training!)
• Wellness programs to aid injury prevention: help prevent strains, sprains, and falls by improving flexibility, strength, and balance. Great examples is starting a flex and stretch program, cover part of a gym membership, or hold exercise classes like yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi.Also, having a structured return-to-work program has several benefits, the most important of which is the reduction of lost-time (lost-time has 3 times greater impact on your workers compensation premium dollars than a no-lost-time claim).

There are literally dozens of ways to increase safety and reduce injuries at your place of work. If they aren't apparent to you, bring a knowledgebroker in - we'll take a look around and give you some pointers.

3. Address the Aging Workforce
Experts predict that by the year 2020, 25% of the US workforce will be 55 years or older. Couple this statistic with the fact that most people are working past the traditional retirement age of 65 and organizations need to pay special attention to this sector of the workforce.

On average, older workers are injured less frequently than younger workers. However when older workers are injured, it will be more severe and have a longer recovery time. See Preventing Injuries in an Aging Workplace.

R&R Insurance has found that if businesses address the health of their employees, reduce their number of injuries and keep a close eye on ways to accommodate the aging workforce, you will see a significant positive effect on your bottom line! WellCompForLife processes will increase the health and longevity of your employees and their families giving you a lot more control over your health and work comp insurance costs, all while improving the productivity of their employees. This is control business owners don't realize they have. At R&R Insurance, we call this program WellCompForLife!

Join the WellCompForLife discussion on LinkedIn!

For more information about WellCompForLife, contact a knowledgebroker today!

Have you ever been in a car accident? Did you feel prepared for what steps to take? Was there anything you forgot to do?

As a CSA in our Personal Lines Department here at R&R, I frequently assist clients after they’ve been in a car accident. Unfortunately, I was recently in one myself and learned what it’s like to be on the other side of the phone. Being the client was a great reminder about what steps someone should take immediately following their accident. I encourage you to keep these tips in mind, and never hesitate to contact your knowledge broker for more information.

• Safety First! Make sure yourself or the other party is not seriously injured. Call for medical assistance, if needed. If cars can be moved out of the road to a shoulder or side street, try and do so to avoid another potential accident. If they cannot be moved, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on. Don’t forget to put on your emergency flashers!

• Call the police. They can help get tow trucks, direct traffic out of the way, and can file the policy report right there. Having a police report on file for your insurance claim will be very helpful down the road.

• Don’t discuss fault with the other driver or a police officer. Leave it up to the officer and insurance companies to determine it. Just explain what happened so the police can document it on their reports, don’t admit fault or place blame on the other driver.

• Gather information. Take a picture of the other party’s insurance card and driver’s license if you don’t have a pen and paper available. Make sure to get their name, phone number, license plate number, insurance carrier and insurance policy number. If possible, take some pictures of the damage done on both vehicles.

• Witnesses. If there are any witnesses at the scene who have stopped to help, get their information as well. It may be important in helping determine who is at fault later on.

• Call your insurance agent. It may take around 10 minutes to get the claim started, so make sure you’re in a safe place and out of traffic to do this. If you are in need of a tow truck or a rental car, they can help you out with that as well.

• Seek Medical Attention. It may take some time before you realize that you've been injured. Once the shock of being in an accident wears off, you might realize you’re swollen or sore in places. It doesn’t hurt to get checked out by a doctor. Make sure that your doctors document everything, in case your pain gets worse later on.

Contact a knowledge broker for more information on car accident safety.

The advancements in car safety features over the last few years have been tremendous. From automated braking and back-up cameras, to alert systems and running lights, “car safety” has taken on a whole new meaning.

While the majority of these features can be life-saving, they also offer a great deal of cost savings as well. Many insurance companies offer discounts to drivers whose vehicles are equipped with certain safety features. The USAA provides insight into a few of the most common features available:

1. Back-Up Camera. Once a luxury vehicle standard, the backup camera often displayed in the rearview mirrors or in-dash display is now a popular option on midrange cars, giving drivers assurance when backing out of a parking spot or down a driveway.
2. Automatic braking. If the driver doesn't respond to the warning, some systems are able to brake automatically to prevent a collision or lessen the impact. Systems that combine forward-collision warning and auto-brake are the most effective.
3. Adaptive headlights. This innovative technology, which allows drivers to see better as they round a curve, surprised researchers with how well it performed. According to Highway Loss Data Institute research, property damage liability claims fell as much as 10 percent with adaptive headlights.
4. Sideview assist. Sensors can detect a car in your blind spot and then alert you with a light in your side mirror or with a beep if you engage your turn signal.
5. Forward collision avoidance system. Using the same forward-looking sensors, these pre-crash warning systems alert drivers with visual or auditory cues when the vehicle is getting too close to the one in front.

To learn more about car safety features or to find out how they can positively impact your auto insurance, contact one of our knowledge brokers.

Although it may not feel like it now, summer is just around the corner. Before we know it school will be out, vacations will be planned, and boats will be hitting the water. Whether you are a new boat owner or you have had one for years, it’s important to refresh your memory with boat safety before heading out on the lake. Our friends at West Bend Mutual provided these simple safety tips for boating this summer:

1. Read your owner’s manual and understand the various on-board warnings located on your boat.
2. Wear a life jacket. While this sounds like common sense, the excitement of riding in a boat may take your focus off safety. A life jacket is like a seatbelt. It should be worn at all times because it can increase your chances of survival if there’s an accident.
3. Stock your boat. Make sure you have an appropriate life jacket for each person onboard. An adult life jacket is not appropriate for children. In addition, if you plan to be on the lake for the day, make sure you have plenty of water, sunscreen, medications, and snacks. Lastly, make sure you have a fire extinguisher, flares, maps, and communication devices in case you run into trouble. Here is a great video resource for the proper safety items to have onboard.
4. Bring a back-up. If you’re boating with friends or family, make sure somebody other than the driver is familiar with the boat. It’s not a safe idea for one adult to take a boat full of children out tubing. If the primary driver is injured or unable to navigate, it’s vital that a passenger is also familiar with the boat and can get you back to land safely.
5. Keep an eye on the weather. Summer weather can change quickly. Pay attention to your local forecast and consider signing up for weather alerts that can be sent to your Smartphone.
6. Be aware of your surroundings. Depending on the time of the year, boat traffic can be heavy on the lake. Make sure you always keep a close eye on what’s happening around you. If pulling a tube or skier behind your boat, always have a spotter to alert you of issues.

Taking a Boating Safety Course is another great way to ensure you have the most up-to-date information to protect you and your family. Visit your local DNR website for additional information. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/boat/

If you haven't evaluated the value of your boat this season, contact your knowledge broker. We can ensure you have the proper coverage to get you through your summer on the water!

A tragic accident at a North Carolina high school wrestling meet in 2014 led to heightened regulations on mat thickness and placement. When no-1 ranked wrestler, Luke Hampton, attempted to drive his opponent backward he wound up headfirst in a padded wall - leaving him completely paralyzed from the neck down.

In the weeks following the accident, tournament officials, school superintendents, and coaches refused to complete until mats were positioned correctly. According to the 2011–12 edition of the federation’s handbook, Rule 2-1(5) states: “The mat area includes the wrestling mat and a space of at least 10 feet surrounding the mat, as well as the team benches and scorer’s table where facilities permit.”

Today, 12 inches of padding is recommended with it extending at least 8 feet beyond the area of activity. In order to ensure you’re meeting regulations, visit the ASTM Standards 1292 – an excellent guide for mats and protective surfacing. Suppliers are also a reliable source for recommended protection.

What is ASTM International?

Established in 1898 originally as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards developing organizations in the world. ASTM is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for the development and publication of international voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems and services. ASTM’s members, including producers, users, and consumers from more than 150 countries, develop technical documents that are a basis for manufacturing, management, procurement, codes and regulations.

Contact our Knowledge Brokers for additional information.

Late last year, we discussed the OSHA reporting changes for 2015. In addition to reporting, it’s also important to consider and plan for potential site visits when OSHA is contacted. The National Safety Council states that “reacting quickly to the incident with a prescribed procedure and actions can demonstrate your company’s commitment to safety. It also ensures the proper information is collected to fulfill an incident investigation’s ultimate purpose – to prevent future injuries.”

According to an article by Ogletree Deakins, employers are reporting more injuries than expected (particularly with regard to hospitalizations) and OSHA does not have the resources to inspect each incident. Instead, most Area Offices are asking employers to do the following:

• Conduct an incident investigation (Also known as Attachment A, this is a “non-mandatory investigative tool” that employers may complete in lieu of providing an incident investigation report. Employers are instructed to submit the information by a certain date or risk an immediate on-site inspection.)
• Document findings and send corrective actions to the relevant Area Office
• Post a copy of the letter where employees can readily review it
• Fax or email a copy of the signed Certificate of Posting (Also known as Attachment B) to the relevant Area Office

How should employers respond to these communications?

Ogletree Deakins recommends the best course of action is often to respond the same way an employer would respond to an OSHA complaint letter. The employer’s goal should be to show the incident was investigated and corrective measures were implemented. At the same time, the employer does not want OSHA to be interested enough to inspect the worksite. In addition, employers should be aware of potential civil liability issues.

Rather than using Attachment A, you may also consider submitting a letter briefly describing how you investigated the incident, exactly what happened, and what corrective steps were taken (i.e., retraining or fixes to equipment). The letter may be supplemented with the First Report of Injury (if you are in Wisconsin) or the OSHA 301 form and proof of corrective steps. Employers must recognize that OSHA does not provide assurances that it will not cite an employer on the basis of the information provided.

If you have additional questions or concerns, contact your knowledge broker at R&R Insurance!

When going on a long road trip, your car will suffer some inevitable wear and tear. Before leaving, it's important to prep your car by doing the following:

• Check your tires for air pressure, tread, and general wear down. Tires are the most common cause of vehicle failure. While you can’t do anything about getting a flat tire, you can make sure your tires are safe to drive on. Have your mechanic check to see if your tires need to be balanced or rotated as well.

• Check your brakes. Take note of when the manufacturer recommends getting the brake pads changed. Also have your mechanic check out your brake fluid. If it needs to be changed, be sure to get the brake line flushed, cleaned and filled with new fluid.

• Get your suspension checked out. Shocks and struts can be expensive, but if you need new ones you will definitely feel the difference in your trip!

• The second most popular cause of vehicular failure is the cooling system. Having this inspected and cleaned will not only identify any leaky or weakened hoses, it is also a very inexpensive type of maintenance.

• You should definitely be having a mechanic look under the hood of your car before you go on a long road trip. Items to inspect include:
  • Your transmission. This is a serious and expensive part of your car, and can be very time consuming to get fixed. You don’t want to spend your vacation in the waiting room of a mechanic!
  • Check all belts for wear and tear. Failed belts are at best an inconvenience and could stop your entire road trip.
  • The exhaust system should also be checked out. If there are any leaks or holes in the system, it could be putting you and your passengers at risk.

• Finally, you should do any routine maintenance that you may have been putting off. Oil changes, filling the windshield washer fluid, and replacing the windshield wipers are all important aspects of your car that you may need during your trip.

Hopefully this list will help you prepare for your Spring Break extravaganza. Have a safe trip!

Providing a safe working and learning environment is one of many responsibilities schools are tasked with every day. Preventative measures and protocols are important components in a school safety plan and should be thoughtfully prepared and executed. While there are many things to consider to safely protect the school premises and those inside, effective security should include: school and premises access restrictions, trained security personnel and adherence to policies intended to prohibit unauthorized entry.

Consider the following recommendations to protect your employees and students from the potential dangers that can accompany workplace intruders.

Security Personnel To Monitor Entrances

For security purposes, post uniformed security personnel at all regularly used entrances. Security personnel will be responsible for restricting building access and sending all visitors to the office area. Before you hire security personnel, complete a full background check.

If your school budget is restricted, consider tasking staff members to monitor entrances during high traffic times, when students are entering and leaving the building. Ask staff members to monitor for adults and ask them for identification. If they encounter a visitor, they should direct the visitor to the office immediately.

R&R Insurance Best Practice Recommendation: To test your school’s security effectiveness, periodically test how well the security personnel enforce your entry procedures.

Employee Identification Badges

For added safety, you should consider requiring all school employees to wear photo name identification badges at all times. Identification badges will clearly identify permitted individuals so there is no grey area on safe personnel within the school. In addition, this simple step can ensure visitors and students alike will know which qualified personnel to turn to if a problem should arise. Be sure your safety policy includes the retrieval of employee identification badges immediately upon suspension, termination or resignation.

R&R Insurance Best Practice Recommendation: If employees forget their name badges, there should be protocol on how they are able to identify themselves to security personnel and temporary identification should be provided.

Visitor Registration and Identification Badges

Visitors should register at the school office and log in and out using a visitor log. Visitors should be asked to provide photo identification and let the office receptionist know whom they are visiting and the purpose of their visit. It is important to provide visitors with an identification badge that is clearly visible, so staff and students know the visitor is permitted on the premises. Visitor badges should have a date so they cannot be re-used in the future.

If you are having any construction or maintenance work completed at the school, ensure the crew provides you with a personnel roster and that all visitor badges have an appropriate date range.

R&R Insurance Best Practice Recommendation: Consider installing a panic button under the office reception desk so the receptionist can discreetly summon help in threatening situations.

Deliveries and Messengers

In your safety policy, consider including safety procedures for deliveries and messengers. You should require that all deliveries be made in-person at the school office.

If deliveries are intended for specific staff members, the office staff should call the named individual to verify the delivery and ensure the items are expected. Do not allow anyone to leave unexpected or undesired items on school grounds.

R&R Insurance Best Practice Recommendation: In the office, consider having a delivery logbook, where messengers write their name, employer and the date and time of delivery.

Key Control

It is important to establish a key-control system. Consider which employees require a key and what their key should have access to within the school. If a key is lost, consider replacing locks. If an employee is suspended, terminated or resigns, be sure to change keypad combinations and retrieve their key prior to departure.

R&R Insurance Best Practice Recommendation: Be sure that no single key provides unrestricted access to all areas of the building. Consider having a locked and secure master key locker with a copy of all keys used in the building.

Additional Security Measures to Consider:

Secure Parking Areas

If you can, it is a great safety resource to have video-surveillance in school parking lots. At night, parking lot lighting should be bright enough to both deter trespassers and facilitate video monitoring. If video monitoring is not feasible, consider adding a fence around the school premises and have one single entry point to designated parking areas that can be monitored.

Loading Docks

If your school has a loading dock, it is important that the loading dock area is behind locked doors and does not permit access to the inside of the school building. If possible, consider adding video-surveillance. Before any cargo is left on school property, make sure it has been checked and approved by authorized personnel. Be sure to secure dock areas during periods of inactivity.

With the proper preventative measures in place, your school can be prepared to prevent intruders from gaining unauthorized access to your school. If you feel that your school is not adequately prepared, consider the initial steps you can take to improve school safety and reach out to R&R Insurance to obtain additional resources.

Interested in learning how R&R Insurance can improve safety in your school and reduce your costs? Request our free safety resources and case studies or schedule a call with one of our School Group Experts, today. At R&R Insurance, we are committed to helping schools minimize their risks, offering solutions and resources to help build safe environments for staff and students alike.

Across the nation, schools work diligently to provide a safe learning environment for students and a safe workplace for teachers. Prevention is an essential component to classroom safety, and learning to recognize potential dangers in the classroom is often the first step. With the right tools and guidance, teachers can advocate for prevention and promote a culture of safety.

We have outlined below some basic steps that teachers can take to help ensure safety in the classroom, for themselves and their students.

Consider Weapons of Opportunity

In the heat of an argument, many common classroom objects have the potential to become dangerous weapons. Common classroom items such as sharp scissors, heavy rulers, vases, letter openers, and paperweights could pose a safety risk. Consider storing these items out of site, in a drawer or covered shelving unit. Art, science and vocational teachers should also exercise caution with the variety of items in their classrooms. Sharp tools and instruments should always be safely stored and it is important that all classroom tools are accounted for and safety returned at the end of each class.

Avoid Cleaners and Chemicals In the Classroom

While most household cleaners are relatively non-hazardous, extra caution is needed in the classroom, especially in elementary schools. Students should seldom be exposed to cleaning agents and chemicals; moreover, students should never be asked to use hazardous items in the classroom without proper instruction. Schools should provide all cleaning agents and ensure that they are properly labeled with current material safety data sheets (MSDS) as required by federal safety laws. Specialized personnel should be responsible for all cleanups following the school’s outlined safety policy rules.

Use Extension Cords Safely

Extension cords can present many hazards in the classroom. Aside form the obvious tripping hazard they present; improper use of extension cords is the number one cause of fires. Here are few safety recommendations for proper extension cord use:

• Inspect each extension cord carefully before each use and before placing in storage. Ensure that the insulation is in good condition and that the grounding prong has not been damaged. Return any damaged cords to building services for repair or disposal.
• Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis. Extension cords should not be used for long periods in place of adequate outlets.
• In your safety policy, ensure there is a provision about acceptable extension cords. All extension cords should be provided by building services and be of commercial grade. Cords must have a grounding prong plug.
• Never run extension cords under rugs, over ceiling tiles or hang them from nails or staples. This can cause damage to the insulation, making the cord a safety and fire hazard.
• Avoid using excessive power strips that can overload the circuit and create a fire hazard.

With prevention in mind, these simple steps can help you promote safety in your classroom each day. Learn to recognize potential dangers in the classroom and foster a culture of safety by encouraging others to do the same.

Interested in learning how R&R Insurance can improve safety in your school and reduce your costs? Request our free safety resources and case studies or schedule a call with one of our School Group Experts, today. At R&R Insurance, we are committed to helping schools minimize their risks, offering solutions and resources to help build safe environments for staff and students alike.

Each weekday morning there are more than 3.1 million teachers and 49.8 million students rushing into public schools. (National Center for Education Statistics)

With the sheer volume of traffic in and out of schools each morning, revising safety protocols to minimize potential risks, like slips and falls, must be a priority.

You likely strive to continually reinforce your safety policy and communicate the importance of creating a culture of safety and prevention within your school. If you are looking for a way to reduce your costs while maintaining a high standard of safety, you might consider a policy revision. Starting small, consider these seven simple steps you can take in your school to minimize the occurrence of slip and fall accidents.

1. Entry Carpets To Reduce Moisture

As teachers and students travel into the school their shoes bring the outdoors in, be it snow, rain, dirt or muck. During wet or wintery months, it is important that your school entryways have carpets that extend at least six feet to ensure shoes are losing accumulated moisture. This simple measure will keep moisture contained to one manageable area and minimize the slip and fall risk throughout adjacent hallways and classrooms.

2. Outdoor Maintenance Schedule

Establishing a schedule to regularly maintain outdoor walkways, sidewalks and doorways is one way to minimize risk. Coordinating regular intervals for shoveling and salting, and for moisture and debris removal is an easy method to prevent slips and falls.

3. Outdoor Hazard Inspection

It is important to inspect your outdoor school property regularly and keep an eye out for potential hazards. For example, take a few minutes to identify pavement cracks or heaving and if you are unable to repair them right away, spray paint these hazards a bright color to ensure safety for all school visitors.

4. Indoor Maintenance

Whether it is a spill in the art room or a mess in the cafeteria, always ensure that your custodial staff is prepared. Consider the following recommendations:

• Establish communication protocols to alert custodial staff of a hazard so they can arrive quickly on the scene.
• Provide custodial staff with the necessary equipment and barricades to keep teachers and students away from known hazards.
• Ensure custodial staff has ample cleaning and hazard removal supplies on hand.

5. Indoor Hazard Inspection

Much like outdoor inspection, you should consider doing indoor safety inspections regularly, too. Educate all staff members on problems they should look for and solutions to help them prevent accidents. Simple things include identifying extension cords hazards and bundling cords out of traffic areas, and looking out for areas where moisture tends to accumulate, increasing the risk for slips and falls.

6. Storage and Hanging Policies

As a school, you are taught to think first and foremost about the safety and well being of your students. It is however, just as important to consider the safety of your staff members. Classroom storage is an important consideration because improper storage methods can lead to injury and falls. Consider implementing a policy on proper classroom storage and hanging and educate your teaching staff on the do’s and don’ts of storage.

7. Proper Footwear

While it might be difficult to advocate for proper footwear at school to fashion savvy staff and students, but it is a must. Designer shoes are not made for walking in inclement weather and will not bode well for personal safety. Encourage your students and staff to wear sensible, weather-safe shoes into the building and to change their shoes once they are safety indoors. Consider offering your staff members a shoe storage bag to carry their fashionable shoes to and from school and to use as a storage bag for their sensible shoes during the day.

What other simple safety solutions would you recommend to prevent slips and falls? Does your school have best practices?

At R&R Insurance, we are committed to helping schools minimize their risk, offering solutions and resources to help build safe environments for staff and students alike.

Interested in learning how R&R Insurance can improve safety in your school and reduce your costs? Request our free safety resources and case studies or schedule a call with one of our School Group Experts, today.