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ABA Newsletter 2ndQtr2009 Flipbook PDF
A.B.A. BULLETIN 2nd Quarter 2009 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, INC. “Workplace Safety = Business $av
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A. B. A. B UL L E T I N A NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, INC. “Work pla ce Safety = B usine ss $ a vi n g s ”
P r e s i d e n t ’s M e s s a g e How to Safeguard Your Identity The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 8 million Americans became victims of identity theft last year. You don’t have to add to this year’s total. Here’s some expert advice, compiled from various Web sites, on protecting your identity: Online • Explore the Web sites you shop. Reliable merchants will provide their address (not a post office box!) and phone number. Do some research before giving your credit card to a seller you know nothing about. • Look for secure transactions. The URL’s prefix should change from http to https, or shttp, to indicate that sales are encrypted or otherwise secure from hacking. • Print out records. When you make a purchase, save and print a copy of the transaction (and any other correspondence) so you can back up your claims in case of any dispute. At home • Mail with care. Don’t leave outgoing credit payments of tax documents in your mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up. Take them to a mailbox or post office to ensure their safety. • Shred after reading. You know this, but it bears repeating: When you discard credit card bills or anything bearing your personal information, rip it up or shred it so garbage divers can’t salvage it to use against you. • Keep track of your credit cards. Don’t keep more charge cards that you can reasonably monitor for fraudulent activity. Pay attention to expiration dates; if you don’t get a replacement on time, contact your bank immediately in case it’s been stolen. Everywhere • Memorize essential data. You don’t want a lost wallet or stolen briefcase to compromise everyone’s identity. Commit Social Security numbers, ATM passwords, and other important data to memory so you don’t need to carry them with you and risk losing them.
Each Quarter the ABA Safety Committee Meets to discuss current Safety Issues & Events plus upcoming Safety Classes. We review our associations accident history and workers comp losses for the quarter and YTD. The next ABA Quarterly Safety Committee Meeeting will be Tuesday, Aug 11th, 2009 – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. It will be held at: Performance Safety (3001 W. Indian School Rd., #201—Phoenix, AZ 85017) As an ABA Member we welcome you to join our Safety Committee or just stop by. * If possible, please bring some information, concerning Safety or Business, to share with the Safety Committee. To RSVP or for Questions Please Call or Email by Wednesday, Aug 5th. 480-874-0114 or [email protected]
2nd Quarter 2009
Inside this issue: Safety Meeting Topics
2-3
Safety Websites
2
Classes & Seminars
4
Member Services
4-5
News & Facts
5
ABA History & Purpose
6
Arizona Business Association, Inc. President Joseph P. Brown V.P./Secretary Christopher M. Brown Treasurer Kimberly A. Brown Director of Insurance Tony L. Martin
Safety Committee Joe Brown
Chris Brown
Tony Martin
Steve Healey
Frank Kubinski
Todd Cremeans
Hugh Zembruski
Doug Harter
SCF Arizona Workers’ Compensation Insurance
www.scfaz.com SCF ARIZONA Call Centers Phoenix Metro/ Wickenburg (602) 631-2600 Tucson Metro/ Southeast AZ (520) 292-4142
Safety Meeting Topic — TRENCHING AND SHORING Because of the various types of soil and their angle of repose, trenching without bracing, shoring or proper sloping is hazardous. Even in hard soil a cave-in can occur. If such a failure does occur, persons in the trench can be buried, usually resulting in serious injury or death. Improper or careless installation of bracing and shoring can cause similar tragedies. Let's review the hazards of trenching and the safety requirements for shoring and bracing. It's essential in the excavation of trenches 5 feet or more in depth that the exposed faces of these trenches be supported and held firmly in place by adequate bracing. This requirement must be complied with for all trenching, except: Trenches that are in rock or hard shale that have been shown to be geologically self supporting of an unsupported vertical face. Trenches with exposed faces sloped to the angle of repose for the type of soil in which the excavation is being made or properly benched to an equivalent of the angle of repose. FOR MORE INFO ON SAFETY AND BUSINESS RESOURCES VISIT:
Trenches in which trench shields or boxes are used. REMEMBER: ♦ Before entering a trench, inspect all shoring at least daily, after weather changes, blasting or any other activity which might affect the shoring system.
www.abasafety.com
♦ Under no conditions should bracing or shoring be omitted, regardless of the length of time that the trench will be open. ♦ To prevent" placing an additional load on the trench face wall, excavated material must be placed no less than 2 feet from the edge of the trench. . ♦ At no time should an individual be permitted to work within the area of operation of any piece of equipment that is excavating the trench. ♦ Employees should never ride the bucket or wheel of the trencher to the bottom of the excavation. Ladders should be used at all times. ♦ Whenever working in the area of trenching operations: don't forget – wear you hard hat. ♦ In all bracing and shoring operations, management is responsible for the type of bracing, the material size and proper installation. You are responsible for the safe handling of the material and safe installation. ♦ By being proficient in the installation of proper bracing, the application of safety precautions and the knowledge of soil conditions, you can eliminate the hazards involved in trenching operations.
NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER: If there have been any accidents recently in your area, be prepared to discuss them with your employees. Listen to their ideas; they may have the answer you have been looking for. Also, mention any hazards that are unique to your operation.
~ Important Safety Web Sites ~ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
National Safety Council Performance Safety Occupational Safety and Health Administration AZ Occupational Safety and Health SCF Arizona (Workers Comp Insurance) Bureau of Labor Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention American Society of Safety Engineers
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www.nsc.org www.performancesafety.com www.osha.gov www.ica.state.az.us/Divisions/osha/index.html
www.scfaz.com www.bls.gov www.cdc.gov www.asse.org A.B.A. BULLETIN
Protect your Eyes, Protect your Career
Imagine trying to do your job in total darkness. Then imagine an eye injury that can end your career in an instant. Fortunately, most eye injuries can be prevented, especially if you know what to guard against. The main causes of eye injuries in the workplace, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are: • Flying or falling objects (including sparks). An object as small as a pinhead can cause severe injury to the eye. • Chemicals. Contact with chemicals causes about 20 percent of eye injuries. • Equipment used improperly. Staple guns, for example. • Poor eye protection. Objects or chemicals flying underneath or around protective eyewear cause about 94 percent of injuries to workers who do wear eye protection. • Lack of precautions. Workers may not be aware that eye protection is advisable or available. Suitable eye protection is a must: Wear safety glasses with side shields, goggles, or protective helmets, depending on the hazards of the situation. Whatever protective gear you use, make sure it fits correctly so that dust, chemicals, or other particles can’t sneak under the edges. Make sure you and others in your workplace are familiar with basic first aid for eye injuries, and designate an eye-washing station where workers can immediately flush their eyes after an accident. And don’t play with laser pointers. They may not be the death rays of sci-fi movies, but looking directly into one can cause temporary vision loss, and even permanent retina damage.
TLMIA.COM
2nd Quarter 2009
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These classes are offered FREE OF CHARGE to you as an ABA Member. However, seating is limited therefore you must register in advance. Register By Phone: (480) 874-0114 or E-mail: [email protected] We will then contact you to confirm.
LOCATION: Performance Safety 3001 W. Indian School Rd., #201 Phoenix, AZ 85017
“Material Handling—Back Injury Prevention” ► Tues, June 9, 2009 ► 9:00 am — 11:00 am
This safety training course teaches employees how to recognize and avoid the most common injuries due to Material Handling in the Workplace. Back Safety Training emphasizes the importance of overall back care, both at work and at home, including exercises and weight control. The Program Includes Info on: • How the Back Works; Common Types and Causes of Back Injuries; Effects of Back Injuries; Injury Prevention and Safety Practices; Proper Lifting Techniques; Basic Back Exercises; and Much More.
Help Your Business Save Thousands of Dollars in Workers Comp Insurance Losses from these Most Common of all Accidents.
“ P r e v e n t i n g S l i ps , Tr i ps & F a l l s ” ► Tues, July 14, 2009 ► 9:00 am — 11:00 am
This safety training course teaches employees how to recognize and avoid the most common Slipping, Tripping & Fall Hazards in the Workplace. Slips, Trips & Falls account for the vast majority of all accidents. These types of accidents cost ABA Members Over 1 million dollars in 2008. Plus, Injuries caused by these accidents have a high rate of recurrence, costing Businesses More Money and Employees a Lifetime of Pain. Those losses not only affected the health of your employees but also raises your E-mod, raising Workers Comp Premiums.
TL
Martin Insurance Agency Exclusive Agency for ABA Endorsed Group Health, Dental & Disability Plans Special Rates for ABA Members
Call Today for a FREE Estimate
602-276-7000
www.tlmia.com Page 4
A.B.A. BULLETIN
Cynical minds might see that as proving that all a would-be leader has to do is fake it convincingly. Whether that’s true or not, it certainly shows once again that image is at least as important as substance when it comes to assuming a leadership role.
~ Quote MARATHON ~ •
42.7 percent of statistics are made up on the spot.—Steven Wright
•
It's when you're safe at home that you wish you were having an adventure. When you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.—Thornton Wilder
•
Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary. —Sir Cecil Beaton
•
Life is trying things to see if they work.—Ray Bradbury
•
Life is built on character, but character is built on decisions. The decisions you make, small or great, do to your life what the sculptor's chisel does to the block of marble. You are shaping your life by your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.—Warren Wiersbe
•
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.—Pablo Picasso
•
The person who constantly angers you or frustrates you, controls you.—Colleen Kettenhofen
Performance Safety offers a variety of other services for your Safety Training needs which are available for group and association discounts. Steve Healey at Performance Safety: Phone: 602-843-8633 ~ www.performancesafety.com
The interesting conclusion came when the researchers repeated the test using math problems. Once again, team members who spoke up more often—not necessarily with the correct answers—were seen as both better leaders and smarter math whizzes, as long as they made their comments with authority.
“Training Today for a Safer Tomorrow”
Do you want to be seen as a leader? Just speak up more. That’s the perhaps unsurprising conclusion of researchers from the University of California, who ran an experiment observing graduate students in four-person teams as they worked on a project. The students, the researchers, and a group of outside consultants all rated the levels of influence and competence of each team member. Students who talked more tended to receive higher ratings in general intelligence and such qualities as being “dependable and well-disciplined.”
How To Succeed In Business—One Strategy The CEO called an employee into his office. "You've been with this corporation for a little over a year. You started here as an intern, then took a sales job, and within a few months you were promoted to manager of the regional sales department. Six months after that you became a vice president. Does that sound about right?" "Yeah," said the employee. "Well, I'm planning to retire, and I want you to take over the company. How would you like that?" "Thanks!" "Thanks, what?" The employee thought for a moment, and then said, "Thanks, Dad." 2nd Quarter 2009
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4388 N. Civic Center Plaza, Unit A Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: 480-874-0114 Fax: 480-874-0115 Email: [email protected]
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Workplace Safety = Business $avings
HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF ABA Arizona Business Association, Inc. started in 1972 and the original objective dealt with workers compensation insurance through SCF Arizona, but has been extended to include other benefits including group health and disability insurance, group dental insurance, Supplemental Workers Comp for member Fire Districts, 25% discount with OSHASystems, collection agency services, Safety Video Library, Safety Seminars, LifeLock ID Theft Prevention, Safety Consultations and other business discounts. Currently, ABA, Inc. is taking a more active role ensuring a higher degree of safety in the workplace which translates into lower losses and higher profitability for ABA Members. Our Safety Committee, which meets every quarter, monitors our members with high losses to assess their situation and assist in achievable solutions concerning safety and ascertaining possible fraud. In an effort to provide insurance as reasonable as possible to employers and because they are non-profit, the SCF Arizona has a rate deviation (up-front discount) of 10%. After claims cost and operating expenses, monies that remain are returned to the policy holders in the form of dividends. Dividend checks over the past 5 years have averaged over 20 percent of the premium paid. AN ADDITIONAL BONUS IS PAID BY THE SCF ARIZONA THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION AS AN INCENTIVE FOR SAFETY PROMOTION. Although SCF Arizona has declared a dividend every year since 1970, dividends are not guaranteed in advance and are subject to declaration by SCF’s board of directors. ABA Dividend/Bonus checks last year totaled over $1.4 million.
~ THERE IS NO ENROLLMENT FEE OR DUES CHARGED FOR THE YEAR YOU JOIN ~ For further information please call 480-874-0114 or Check out our website @ www.abasafety.com