Insurance Insights ~ June 2002

Safety in the Workplace – A Good Habit

Growing up as kids, our parents did the best they could at teaching us good habits. Despite our wincing and whining every time they had to remind us to wash our hands before we came to the dinner table, or not to talk with our mouth full, we soon learned that these were not acceptable behaviors. They knew that good habits were a learned behavior. So, to this end, they consistently reminded us, realizing that through repetition, good habits would soon be a way of life for us.

Safety in the workplace is also a learned behavior. As professional insurance agents, we take on a role similar to parents. We want to instill good work habits in our commercial accounts in order to avoid costly claims. By continually practicing safer procedures, and raising awareness of safety issues, we will learn to avoid potential hazardous situations, and will provide employees with a much safe work environment.

The majority of work-related injuries can be prevented by simply becoming more safety conscious. Investigate the way you operate. Do your employees do a lot of lifting? Did you know that the most common work injury is also the one you can most easily prevent? Injuries to the lower back affect half of the nation’s workforce at some time during their working lives. You may think you’re in a job that is not prone to back injuries, but take a second look. If you bend at the knees and hug the object close to you, your back stays balanced and the muscles in your legs do the lifting.

Eye injuries account for a large portion of workers’ compensation claims. The majority are very easily prevented by following established safety guidelines and using the appropriate protective eyewear for the tasks we perform. Among the most common eye hazards are flying particles – a hazard typical of many machine operations such as grinding, sawing, etc. Besides eyewear, machine guards should be in place to protect against flying debris.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is yet another common claim that affects those who use the same hand motions over and over again. Painters, textile workers, and word processors are just a few who encounter this painful condition. Wrists ache and swell, fingers feel numb and you have difficulty doing even the simplest tasks. The best way to deal with a repetitive motion problem is prevention. By learning how to position your hands properly and exercise your hands regularly, you can relieve excess pressure on your tendons and nerves that cause the condition. Wrist rotation and hand stretching techniques are your best defense.

Looking at common hazards found in your industry, you can narrow the scope of potential injuries. To help you uncover these hazards, we offer the assistance of our own loss control specialists in Commercial Services. They provide a wide range of risk management services designed to further prevent workplace injuries. For more loss prevention ideas, call our office at 215-257-9171 or e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.

Pedestrian Safety for Older Adults

While walking is one of the healthiest ways for adults to keep in shape, it can also be a dangerous pastime, especially near busy streets. As we all know, streets were designed for vehicles, not pedestrians.

The following are some life-saving tips for older adults as pedestrians:

1. On roads where there are no sidewalks, always walk facing traffic keeping to the left side of the road.
2. When walking at night you should carry a flashlight and wear clothing that is made with light-reflective materials.
3. Stay away from traffic and off the roads if you have been taking medication that may cause dizziness or blurred vision.
4. If you are crossing the street at a busy intersection, always stop at the edge of the curb or road; look left, then right, then left again before entering the street. If a car is coming always wait and search again once the car has passed – the extra look might save you from walking in front of a car.
5. If your view of the oncoming traffic is blocked by parked cars move out to where you can see the road clearly.
6. If the "Don’t Walk" sign starts to flash you should wait until the "Walk" sign appears. If you are in the middle of the intersection you should continue to cross the intersection as quickly as possible.

It is very important to remember that traffic signals and painted crosswalks do not always provide enough protection. Drivers are not always looking out for pedestrians, young or old, so it is up to the walking public to be alert and defensive.

The bottom line is that in a match between a 3000 lb. car and one of us, we’ll show the most damage. The primary responsibility for ensuring that your daily walks are pleasant and safe rests with you.

Information taken from the PA Department of Transportation Walk Alert Program.

Beware of 'Worthless' Travel Insurance

With the summer vacation season approaching, vacationers are being warned they may not be able to claim on their travel insurance.

Direct Line Travel says problems arise because people are not always asked about existing medical conditions when they take policies out.

The firm says around 8.5 million people aren't covered if they have to cancel or cut short a vacation because of a pre-existing condition.

The group is calling on the Government to regulate the way travel insurance is sold. It is also accusing travel agents and tour operators of disregarding the welfare of their customers when selling them insurance for their vacation.

According to Direct Line, around 64% of insurance is currently bought at the same time as a vacation is booked, with some firms refusing to accept a booking unless consumers buy the insurance they are offering.

In its report, the Tourist Trap, it claims some firms present travel insurance as being part of a vacation package, and automatically add the cost to the overall price.

Research carried out for the group found that when buying insurance at the same time as a vacation 35% of vacationers did not discuss the insurance at all, while a further 40% spent less than five minutes going through it, and 18% were simply referred to the details at the back of the brochure.

A Direct Line spokesman said: "Unfortunately, too many vacationers find that their insurance policy fails them when they need it most, leaving them stranded and having to foot the bill."

Buyer beware.

One of the Best

For the second time in three years, readers of The Reporter newspaper have voted our agency "One of the Best" insurance agencies in the region. In addition, readers have voted Peg Hoff of our Perkasie office "One of the Best" insurance agents.

We appreciate this distinction by our customers. We realize that there are many options for insurance today, with many insurance providers offering coverage to the residents of Southeastern Pennsylvania. With this knowledge, we humbly say "Thank you" for recognizing us in this way. Be assured that we will continue to work hard providing the kind of personal service that makes us "One of the Best"!

INSURANCE INSIGHTS is an electronic newsletter published monthly (except for January and August) by G. C. Weimer Associates, Inc. Information contained herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief as of June 1, 2002. If you have a topic of interest for a future issue, e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.