Insite Online - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009(Plain Text Version)
In this issue:
HAI Group Newsletter Changing Name, Format
Wrapping Up…
Falek Captures NAHRO Award
Never Underestimate the Value of Giving
Legislative Affairs
Green is the Color of Public Housing
Risk Corner
Group Viewing Has its Benefits
Protecting Assets through Preventive Maintenance
Inspection Guidelines Are Important
Snow Big Deal
Risk Corner
Group Viewing Has its Benefits
Housing Authority Insurance Group promotes staff-related training to its members. From a risk control perspective, ongoing staff training is a loss prevention technique that minimizes loss exposure. Training can reduce loss frequency and severity by increasing staff members’ awareness, ensuring rules and regulations are known, promoting recognition of unsafe conditions, and by reminding staff of proper actions to take during an emergency. Viewing programs in a group setting is an effective way to train staff members.
The Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority (SMHA) in Ohio holds annual group training for its staff. The program “Safety First” is an example of cost-effective training with a small time commitment. The process has yielded big results for the authority.
The Safety First training takes place each October. The seminar lasts four days, training 30 to 35 employees daily. The content each day is the same and staff members are rotated to ensure that the authority can carry on its day-to-day operations. This year’s training focused on workers’ compensation exposures. The topics discussed included lifting safety, blood-borne pathogen, driving safety, fire extinguishers, hazard communication, sexual harassment awareness, workplace stress reduction, and workplace anger reduction.
The low cost training consisted of free programs available on Housing Authority Insurance Group’s HTVN training Web site - http://htvn.maplelearn.com/index.html. In addition to HTVN programming the SMHA also used information from OSHA and a local work health and safety facility.
Viewer numbers have increased when the group viewing process is utilized. For example, housing authorities in Buffalo, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Long Branch, New Jersey have viewed programming in group settings. The feedback from these sessions has been positive. According to Annette Smith, the Director of Administration at the Stark Metropolitan Authority, “this was the first year I was able to utilize (HTVN.) Based on the results, I anticipate continuing (HTVN usage) in the future and additional trainings for maintenance and supervisory staff.”
The Safety First training has yielded big results. In the five years the SMHA has been presenting the Safety First training they have seen positive changes in their property insurance loss ratio. In the fourteen years prior to the Safety First training, the authority had a loss ratio of 110%. Since the training began, this ratio has dropped to 37%. The lower loss ratio equates to less money paid out in claims expenses and a lower premium for the SMHA. During this five-year time period, the authority’s property premium payments has dropped by a third.
In addition to lower loss ratios and premium costs, the SMHA has gained recognition from local health and safety agencies. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has consistently awarded SMHA the Group Safety Award since 2004. This award is given for lowering both claim frequency and severity by more than 25%. They have also received the Excellence in Safety Award by the Local Safety Council. Mrs. Smith attributes these gains and awards to trainings like Safety First and the authority’s continued commitment to a Safety Committee (instituted in 2005.) According to Mrs. Smith, “Through the support of our Executive Director, management staff, the staff of HAI Group, as well as excellent resources like HTVN, our agency has been able to lessen our exposure to risk in all areas.”
As a reminder, your authority can get credit for training through the new Risk Control Program Premium Credit (RCPPC) application. The Risk Control Work Plan ceases 12/31/2009. The new RCPPC application begins January of 2010. To learn more about online programs please visit the HTVN Web site at http://htvn.maplelearn.com/index.html.
If you need assistance in creating an HTVN account or utilizing the group viewing process, please contact Stan Gornicz at either sgornicz@housingcenter.com or 800 873-0242 ext. 455. To learn more about the RCPPC application visit www.housingcenter.com or contact your Risk Control Associate.