Comp News, Fall 2015 - Saif · some marigolds for keeping garden pests away, and another team made an organic bug spray. One of the boxes has a community herb garden, and Key Knife

COMPNEWSFall 2015

The magazine of SAIF Corporation

Growinga healthy workforce

Safety is never temporary

COMP NEWS | Fall 20152

SAIF Corporation is Oregon’s not-for-profit, state-chartered

workers’ compensation insurance company.

We want to hear from you. Please send your feedback

on Comp News—or any questions—to

[email protected].

CONTENTSCOMP NEWS | FALL 2015

FYI

3Message from Kerry Barnett

4News in brief

26Ag seminars

28Like usWhat you’ll find on our Facebook page

29Training calendar

30Crossword Testing what you remember from this issue of Comp News

31Cutting room floorOrigins of your morning latte

FEATURES

6 Growing a healthy workforceKey Knife in Tualatin used SAIF’s 2014 dividend to build a garden, encouraging employees to embrace healthy eating.

10Slow burn in the car washA chemical used to clean cars can endanger those who work with it.

12Waking up to the facts about caffeineNo, we aren’t going to tell you to give up your morning cup of coffee.

16Deadly dustsCombustible dusts can create fires and explosions that kill.

18Nothing temporary about safetyBoth the staffing agency and the host employer bear legal responsibility for a safe work environment.

23At the heart of what we doWhen protecting workers is ingrained in all you do, everyone wins.

Cover photo: Tomatoes from the community garden that

Key Knife created, using money from its SAIF dividend.

COMP NEWS | Fall 2015 3

My first few months at SAIF have gone quickly—yes, time flies when you’re having fun. I’ve particularly enjoyed my extensive travels around the state, meeting SAIF customers and agents. In Portland, Corvallis, Medford, Klamath Falls, Redmond, Roseburg, and Bend, I’ve seen great examples of businesses that “get it.” They clearly value the safety and health of their employees and understand the connection between their efforts and lower premiums. But at a deeper level, they see that creating a culture of safety and health helps their business succeed—it creates a more stable, skilled, energized workforce that leads to higher quality, greater efficiency, and better service.

And what could be better than delivering the good news of our recent $120 million dividend for policyholders? Since then, I’ve learned about the creative ways some businesses are reinvesting this money to improve the safety and health of their employees. One example is Key Knife (see story on page 6), a company that used its dividend to build an on-site community garden to help employees learn more about nutrition and healthy eating. I’d like to hear your story as well. Please feel free to let me know what you’ve done to increase the health and safety of your employees—or to contact me with any questions or comments about SAIF. Just send an email to [email protected].

Kerry BarnettPresident and CEO

Message from Kerry Barnett


NEWSin brief

OSHA’s Top

10The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced the 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2015. National Safety Council President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman called the list

“a roadmap that identifies the hazards you want to avoid on the journey to safety excellence.”

The Top 10 for FY 2015* are:

1. Fall protection 6,7212. Hazard communication 5,1923. Scaffolding 4,2954. Respiratory protection 3,3055. Lockout/tagout 3,0026. Powered industrial trucks 2,7607. Ladders 2,4898. Electrical: wiring methods 2,4049. Machine guarding 2,29510. Electrical general requirements 1,973

*Preliminary figures as of September 8, 2015. The final report on the Top 10 violations for 2015 will be published in the December edition of the National Safety Council’s Safety and Health Magazine.

ASSE Foundation awards $300,000 grant to study workplace fatigue

Stand up and get movingThe body of research against sitting too much is growing. We all need to “make our days harder” and get moving. Check out this four-minute video to find out why and how: makeyourdayharder.com

High school video contest accepting entriesThe O[yes] video contest is now open to entries from Oregon high school students. They are due by February 1, 2016. For more information: youngemployeesafety.org/video_contest.

Watch last year’s winning video

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Foundation has awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant to a University of Buffalo researcher who is setting out to develop a sensor-based,

real-time assessment system to enable safety practitioners to better monitor workplace fatigue. You can read more online: workplacemagazine.com/Ezine/FullStory.aspx?EzineDataID=2476

SAIF to renovate its Salem campusIn spring 2016, SAIF will embark on an extensive renovation of its Salem head-quarters. During the renovation, several Salem employees will work from a tem-porary leased facility. But don’t worry: Our services won’t be affected, and our address at 400 High St. SE will stay the same during and after the renovation. The renovation is needed to keep the existing buildings current with

codes and standards. The buildings, which date back to the 1960s and ’70s, also need other improvements, such as upgrades to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. A feasibility study de-termined the cost of maintaining these older systems would be very high if SAIF did not renovate. Find out more at saif.com/news > News releases.


OSHA works to prevent health care injuriesThis summer, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it was going to crack down on hospitals to prevent an epidemic of back and arm injuries among nursing employees. To see what NPR had to say about it: wbur.org/npr/417186384/osha-launches-program-to-protect-nursing-employees

Rules are changingStarting January 1, Oregon OSHA is changing rules on recordkeeping and reporting, and even though some of the changes are minor, they will impact most Oregon businesses. If you aren’t sure when to report an accident or incident, Oregon OSHA has prepared a fact sheet to help you. It spells out exactly when and what type of work-related incident to report. orosha.org/pdf/pubs/5009.pdf

Could you identify fraud?Most small-business owners aren’t prepared to identify workers’ compensation fraud. In a survey conducted by workers’ comp insurer Employers Holdings Inc., 21 percent said they aren’t sure they could. This article in Business Insurance discusses the survey and offers a few tips for recognizing fraud (requires free registration to read). businessinsurance.com/article/20150717/NEWS08/ 150719854?tags =58|92

Pure premium rate to drop 5.3 percent in 2016The Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) has announced that the basic rate Oregon employers pay for workers’ comp insurance (called the “pure premium rate”) will drop by 5.3 percent in 2016. The rate has decreased or stayed the same in 23 of the 25 years since the Oregon workers’ comp reforms of

1990. DCBS estimates that employers have saved more than $20 billion as a result. Since 1990, rates in Oregon have dropped 68.1 percent. You can read the DCBS news release for more information: oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=796

saif.com updateWe asked medical providers what’s most important to them and then enriched their section on saif.com. We updated all the information and added new sections for MCOs, the claim process, and medications. Check it out: saif.com/medical.

Q:Does diabetes affect worker safety?See what the National Safety Council has to say: safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/12811-diabetes-and-worker-safety-nschome


Growing a healthy workforce

Last spring, Key Knife used its dividend from SAIF to help teach nutrition by creating a community garden for employees.



Growing a healthy workforce

Employees at Key Knife in Tualatin walked the 2,658-mile Pacific Crest Trail this summer and didn’t miss a minute of work.

This simulated eight-week hike was the company’s third challenge this year—one is planned for each quarter to spur excitement about employee health.


By Melaney Moisan, communications coordinator | Photos by Dale Peterson


Four teams compete for points in the challenges, and the teams include employees from Key Knife’s worldwide locations: Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi,

Georgia, South Carolina, Canada, Austria, and Spain.

Miles in the walking challenge were calculated using steps recorded on Fitbits provided by Key Knife. To keep the walk interesting, employees received information about various locations along the route, played trivia, and had extra hike-related activities that allowed them to earn even more points.

Because the walk started on the Mexican border, the challenge began with a Mexican party—a kick-off

that got an extra kick from the tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos grown in Key Knife’s community garden, the result of the year’s second-quarter challenge.

Healthy eatingLast spring, Key Knife used its dividend from SAIF to create a new community garden for employees.

“Our focus for the second quarter was on healthy eating,” said Pam Anderson, senior vice president. “The garden was

part of a plan to energize employees around the idea of nutrition.”

Although the healthy eating quarter included a number of ways employees could earn points, planning and plotting the garden was perhaps the most ambitious. With the SAIF dividend, the company built 40 garden boxes, planted fruit trees, installed an irrigation system, and purchased soil and a garden shed.

Some of the boxes are shared by two employees, but many are the sole responsibility of one employee. Team members supported the gardening project in several ways. One team bought some marigolds for keeping garden pests away, and another team made an organic bug spray. One of the boxes has a community herb garden, and Key Knife provided help for any employees who had never gardened before.

Learning about nutritionEducation about nutrition was another focus that quarter. Employees earned points by eliminating three things from their diet: high fructose corn syrup, canned foods, and fried foods. They also received points for recording how much saturated fat, sodium, carbohydrates, and calories they ate over a two-day period. They then read a handout,


Key KnifeTualatinkeyknife.com

Business began: 1986

Locations: Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Canada, Austria, and Spain

Owner: Key Knife is 100 percent employee-owned.

What Key Knife does: Manufactures chipping, flaking, and planing systems for sawmills, pulp mills, and particleboard plants around the world

“Taking a Closer Look at Labels,” and recorded the same nutrients for two more days, noting whether or not anything had changed.

The second full week of each month was designated as “Eat Right Sack Lunch Week.” The company provided tips for putting a healthy meal together, and employees earned points by making healthy sack lunches. Employees had to take a photo of the healthy lunches and submit it along with the form used to record their point-earning activities.

Employees watched an online documentary, Health Foods and Obesity Prevention, and listed one thing they learned by watching, as well as one thing they could incorporate into their lives.

One ambitious team challenged its team members to set personal goals, and they saw marked improvement in their health. Another team created a cookbook, Key Knife Garden Recipe Book: Together We Thrive, which used ingredients from the garden.

“One of the company’s key values is ‘We are safe from the start,’” said Anderson. “Safety is a priority, and we focus on safety to benefit our employees and to bring down workers’ comp costs. As a 100 percent employee-owned company, it makes sense to us to invest the dividend into something that contributes to the well-being of employees.”


When a car-wash employee spilled some cleaner containing hydrofluoric acid on his shoes, he didn’t even notice. The concentration of hydrofluoric acid was too low at 2 percent to cause any immediate pain, which would have served as a warning. Before the foot began to hurt enough for him to seek help, enough damage had been done that he missed three weeks of work.

Because of the severe corrosive and toxic effects of hydrofluoric acid (HF), first aid measures need to be initiated immediately. It is critical to plan for the possibility of exposure and, in the case of an incident, administer first aid prior to, and even during, transport to a medical facility.

HF is used to etch and polish glass and to make pesticides, plastics, and fuels. It is also added to cleaners used in car washes because it does a good job of breaking down roadway tars and oils and eliminating water spots.

If it gets on unprotected skin, HF can cause corrosive chemical burns, and, in the eyes, it can cause blindness. With severe exposure, HF can cause cardiac arrest or death. The severity of a burn will depend on the length of exposure and concentration of HF in the product.

Between 2001 and 2013, 48 workers in the state of Washington received chemical burns after coming in contact with products that contained hydrofluoric acid, according to a study

Slow burn in the car washA chemical used to wash vehicles can endanger those who work with it.

PPE requirements % HF by weight Approximate pH Appropriate PPE/emergency devices Neoprene and Nitrile-NBR are the best materials

>20.0% 1.2 or less Safety shower, eyewash, face shield and goggles, acid suit, boots, and gloves

2.0 to 20% 1.2 to 1.7 Safety shower, eyewash, face shield and goggles, gloves, aprons, boots and rubber sleeves

0.2 to 2.0% 1.7 to 2.2 Eyewash, goggles, gloves, and apron

<0.2% >2.2 Protective equipment not normally required

COMP NEWS |Fall 201510

By Melaney Moisan, communications coordinator


by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Seven of those were hospitalized. Another worker, who ingested hydrofluoric acid, died. Depth of burns were first-, second-, and third-degree. Concentration of HF in the products causing the burns ranged from 0.5 percent to 20 percent.

The study found at-risk workers in 16 industries, with nearly half occurring in car washes. Workers were also at risk when washing trucks, vans, and trailers, or working at new car dealers. Three of the seven hospitalized workers mentioned in the Washington study were truck drivers.

If an employer continues to use HF-based products, even though alternatives are available, engineering and administrative controls should be put in place to limit exposure. Extensive training and use of personal protective

equipment (PPE) can help lower the risk, although appropriate PPE does not guarantee protection. One worker had chemically resistant gloves and a face shield, but while scrubbing carwash walls overhead, the solution dripped down the brush handle and onto the arm and body, causing burns.

Approximately nine of the cases described in the Washington report involved “failure of PPE, when product dripped inside rubber boots or gloves, permeated torn resistant gloves, or was sprayed up under safety glasses.”

Delay in recognizing the exposure and in seeking medical attention can make the burns worse than if treated immediately. Additionally, immediate use of calcium gluconate could minimize the effects of HF. Not one of the injured workers received calcium gluconate at their workplace.

First aid First aid for skin or eye contact with hydrofluoric acid must include immediate washing of the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes. The use of water is critical but may not stop all destructive action of the acid. After washing, the victim should receive immediate professional medical treatment.

The following first-aid measures can also be taken but only by someone trained in first-aid.

Eye contact Use sterile 1 percent calcium gluconate in saline drops for eye burns to limit tissue damage. Get immediate medical attention.

Skin contact Apply calcium gluconate gel or magnesium oxide paste to skin burns. Seek immediate medical attention.

Inhalation Inhaling the spray mist may produce severe irritation of the respiratory tract and cause coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. HF is a serious inhalation hazard. It should never be applied with pump sprayers. Seek immediate medical attention.

Ingestion If the person is conscious, give large quantities of water. Do not attempt to make the person vomit. Seek immediate medical attention.

Source: Oregon OSHA

You can find a hazard alert on hydrofluoric acid and Quick Facts for Employees (in English and Spanish) on our safety topics page. saif.com/safetyandhealth > Safety topics > Chemical and other health hazards > Chemicals and materials

Find more information in this August 21, 2015, CDC report: cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6432a4.htm

Employers who use products containing hydrofluoric acid must:

• Not eat, smoke, or drink where hydrofluoric acid is used, and wash hands thoroughly after handling.

• Use proper gloves, such as medium or heavyweight Viton, nitrile, or natural rubber.

• Always use splash goggles when handing products with hydrofluoric acid.

• Timing is absolutely critical to minimize adverse effects. Have the correct products on-site for first aid and make sure employees have been trained on how to use them.

• Have a hazard communication program for employees.

• Make sure a safety data sheet on hydrofluoric acid is readily available.


You are tired, so you grab a cup of tea or coffee. Or you’re working the late shift, so you drink an energy drink to stay awake. On average, Americans consume about 300 mg. of caffeine every day, or the equivalent of three cups of coffee. At that level, caffeine is not a health problem for most people, and it might even have some benefits: mental stimulation, increased physical performance, and easing headaches, just to name a few. The problem is that consumption of caffeine is rising, and many people who are consuming unsafe levels may not even realize it. We expect to find caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks,

and chocolate. But today you also can find it in some surprising places: gum (45 mg.), candy (up to 600 mg.), almonds (25 mg.), waffles (200 mg.), ice cream (up to 125 mg.), and bottled water (up to 90 mg.). Not every brand of these products contains caffeine, of course; those that do usually tip you off with words related to increased energy like wild, jolt, bang, or perky.

When you consume too muchHigh daily consumption of caffeine, especially more than 500 mg. per day, is considered a significant health risk. Even above 400 mg. a day, caffeine can begin to cause insomnia, breathing problems, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, and increased thirst and urination. It has also been linked to anxiety, cardiovascular symptoms, and gastrointestinal complaints. At a high enough level, it can even cause delusions, hallucinations, seizures, cardiac arrest, coma, and death. And, if this convinces you to cut back, withdrawal can cause fatigue, muscle pain, headache, lack of focus, and nausea. Because the caffeine that most of

Waking up to the facts about caffeineNo, we aren’t going to tell you to give up that morning cup of coffee, so keep reading.



us consume is diluted in coffee, tea, and soft drinks, fatal overdoses have historically been rare. It would be almost impossible to drink a lethal amount of coffee, which could be close to 50 cups. The hidden (and not-so-hidden sources) of caffeine mentioned above can quickly get someone to 500 mg. a day. Add a couple of energy drinks or one-eighth teaspoon of caffeine powder, and you rocket past a safe level.

Energy drinksA total of 34 deaths have been linked to energy drinks since 2004, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adverse event reports. Other recorded effects of energy drinks include high blood pressure, convulsions, and heart attacks. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported the number of emergency room visits related to energy drinks increased from 1,128 in 2005 to 16,053 in 2008. By 2011, the number had grown to more than 20,000 (The Atlantic, James Hamblin). SAMHSA has issued a report calling energy drinks “a continuing public health concern,” and, in 2014, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) asked the FDA to notify consumers of the “risk of heart attack, convulsion, and other adverse reaction to energy drinks.” CSPI also asked that the FDA require manufacturers to lower caffeine levels (currently 80 mg. to more than 500 mg.) in the drinks to 0.02 percent, or 71 milligrams per 12 ounces—the

maximum amount the FDA considers safe in cola-style beverages. And it called for more studies on the other chemical and herbal ingredients found in energy drinks—examples include taurine, glucuronolactone, ginseng, and guarana—and the effects of their interaction with caffeine.

What about powdered caffeine?With 400 mg. of caffeine in one-quarter teaspoon, the risk of an overdose using powdered caffeine is high, and it has been the cause of a majority of caffeine-related poisonings. Powdered caffeine has contributed to at least two deaths. Ten grams, about a tablespoon, is a lethal dose for an adult. In December 2014, CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban retail sales of powdered caffeine. Laura MacCleery, a CSPI attorney, said, “It’s the public misperception and familiarity with caffeine, which is something we think we know, that makes this product so dangerous in its current form.” The FDA advises consumers to avoid pure powdered caffeine. Accurately measuring the powder with common kitchen utensils is nearly impossible, making it easy to accidentally consume a lethal amount.

The bottom lineBefore you reach for that energy drink or fourth cup of coffee, consider better ways to increase your energy. Drink a glass of water instead. Get enough sleep, be more active, and eat a healthy diet.

Recent FDA action on pure powdered caffeine productsOn September 1, 2015, the FDA issued warning letters to five distributors of pure powdered caffeine because these products are dangerous and present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury to consumers. For links to a number of additional resources, see the online version of this article at saif.com/compnews.

1/4 teaspoonof powdered caffeine

1 tablespoon of powdered caffeine is lethal for an adult.

4 cups of coffee


The main sources of caffeine are coffee and tea.

Americans consume around

200 mg. of caffeine per day, 72% from coffee and tea.

Caffeine has a half-life of 5 to 7 hours. If you drink 240 mg. at dinner, you could still have 120 mg. in your body at midnight, when you are wondering why you can’t get to sleep.

34

deaths

have been linked to energy drinks since 2004

At high levels, caffeine can cause delusions,

hallucinations, seizures, cardiac arrest, coma,

and death.

Caffeine withdrawal can cause fatigue, muscle pain, headache,

lack of focus, and nausea.


Just 1 teaspoon of

powdered caffeine can result in

heart failure.

20,000

Number of hospital emergency room visits in 2011 involving

energy drinks

400 mg of caffeine per day is a

safe amount for most adults,

the equivalent of three eight-ounce cups of coffee

FDA official limit for soft drinks is

71 mg. in 12 oz.

Caffeine in soft drinks

varies from

0 mg. to 69 mg.

Emergency room visits related to energy drinks increased

from 1,128 in 2005 to 16,053 in 2008.


In August 2003, an Oregon worker died when a fire ignited wood dust in a mill, causing an explosion. As the worker started machines that morning, a defective fuse created a spark, igniting dust in the fuse box. The first explosion raised clouds of dust, which, in turn,

Deadly dustsCombustible dusts can create fires and explosions that kill.

caused a second explosion. A third explosion carried the fire to the worker, who sustained second- and third-degree burns to his upper body and arms, and inhaled toxic, superheated air. He later died at the Oregon Burn Center.

Mat

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ls fo

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in

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bust

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dus

t inc

iden

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4%INORGANIC

7%OTHER

8%COAL

14%PLASTIC/RUBBER

20%METALS

23%FOOD

(such as rice, sugar, coffee, spices)

24%WOOD



Resources for more informationosha.gov/dsg/ combustibledust/ guidance.html

saif.com/safetyandhealth > Safety topics > Prevent injuries > Compressed gas, combustible dust, and other flammable material

Primary ignition sources:• Friction.

• Spark; static electricity, including grounding connection of equipment.

• Chemical action.

• Welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and other hot work.

• Burner flame.

• Electrical systems and lighting equipment.

Hazard analysis• Determine processes that use or

produce combustible dusts.

• Look for accumulations of fine dust; be sure to check hidden areas (beams, pipes).

• Determine dust combustibility.

• Find ways in which the powders can be dispersed in the air.

• Learn your possible sources of ignition.

Reduce the risk• Prevent dust layer getting airborne by

venting or misting.

• Prevent accumulation with a regular housekeeping program.

• Prevent flames, static electricity, sparks, smolders, hot surfaces.

• Use electric cleaning devices that are approved for combustible dust.

• Use bonding and grounding to dissipate static charges.

• Use forklifts and loaders approved for combustible dust locations.

• Post “no smoking” signs.

• Make safety data sheets and other information about combustible dusts available to employees.

• Conduct training for employees on hazard communication, detection, suppression, and extinguishing.

• Use pipes and equipment capable of containing the dust or a dust explosion safely.

Dust fire and explosion pentagonDispersion of dust particles in sufficient quantity and concentration can cause combustion. If confined, the pressure can cause an explosion. The five factors of oxygen, heat, fuel, dispersion, and confinement are called the “dust explosion pentagon.”

What can I do?Here are some tips to help you prevent fire or explosions caused by combustible dust in your workplace.

Dispersion of dust

particles

Confinement of dust cloud

Ignition

Oxygen in air

Combustible dust


Nothing temporary about safety


Both the staffing agency and the host employer bear legal responsibility for a safe work environment.


To manufacture retread tires, rubber runs between two 2,000-pound stainless steel rollers. For the safety of those workers who feed the rubber, a kill switch hangs within easy reach. Or, at least, it is supposed to. When Jasun Brown, CEO of BDI staffing, placed a temporary worker with a company that manufactured retreads, he was unaware that Oregon OSHA had recently cited the company for hanging the kill switch too high. Their adjustment, made because they felt the switch was in the way of the rubber, caused serious injury to a worker who wasn’t able to reach the switch in time to save his hand. “The kid we placed was only about 20 years old, and he also got his hand caught,” said Brown. “The space between those two giant rollers is only about half an inch wide, and by the time he finally reached the switch, his hand was completely degloved.” Even after two workers were degloved (skin and subcutaneous tissue are separated from deeper tissue layers),

the company still did not lower kill switch, implement effective guarding, or change policies related to operating the machine. This, in Brown’s opinion, was nothing less than gross negligence. He immediately pulled out other employees he had placed at the company. Keeping his employees safe is Brown’s highest priority, but, in his business, it isn’t always easy. Blue-collar temporary staffing is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. labor. In part because of the 2008 recession, companies have increased the hiring of temporary workers, with almost three million now working in a variety of industries. Temp work is also one of the most dangerous jobs. “Caught in” and “struck by” injuries were more common among temps generally, and researchers in the state of Washington found temporary workers in the


construction and manufacturing sectors had twice the rate of injuries of permanent workers. In California, temp workers suffered heat exhaustion at twice the rate of regular workers. In Minnesota, temps were injured by chemicals at three times the rate of the regular workers. Because of the growing concern for temporary workers’ safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) launched an initiative to raise awareness about this growing problem in 2013. In their publication Recommended Practices: Protecting Temporary Workers, they

outline what both staffing agencies and host companies need to do in order to protect these workers.

Reasons temp workers at higher riskSeveral reasons exist for the high number of temp workers being injured. Staffing agencies may not adequately check the safety records of the companies where they place workers, or they may place workers in jobs for which workers are not qualified or trained. Host companies may not provide adequate on-site training, or they may hire temp workers for the types of jobs where injuries are more likely. Workers

ONLINE RESOURCESOSHA bulletins with advice and direction:osha.gov/temp_workers

Illness and Injury recordkeeping requirements osha.gov/temp_workers/OSHA_TWI_Bulletin.pdf (This url is case sensitive.)

Agency responsibilities:• Provide documentation to the host company

that specifies each temp worker’s training and competencies related to the specific job the person is hired to do. Don’t underestimate the skills needed to do the job.

• Build loyalty with employees, so they will report dangerous working conditions and follow your directions on what jobs they are approved to perform. Too often employees place their loyalty with the host company, not with the agency that placed them.

• Ensure employers meet or exceed the staffing agency’s safety standards.

• Follow-up on employee complaints.

• Visit the job site and check on employees.

• Include responsibilities for OSHA compliance standards in the contract.

• Define scope of work in the contract.

• Investigate incidents or injuries.

• Hold your own own safety meetings or have your own safety committee.

• Create a culture that encourages employees to report injuries and hazards.

• Train agency staff to recognize safety and health hazards. Teaching basic safety principles will help employees avoid situations that put them at risk.

• Only send qualified workers to do the job. If you don’t have someone who is qualified, don’t send anyone.

• File Form 801 as soon as you are aware of an on-the-job injury and send it to SAIF.

• Refuse to send workers to companies with poor safety records.

• Know what conditions exist at the site, what hazards may be encountered, and how to ensure protection for the worker. You are putting your employee in their hands; you don’t want them in an unsafe environment.


may be eager to prove themselves in hopes of being offered a permanent job and work too quickly or take on tasks they are not prepared for. Employers often feel there is less of a financial incentive to invest training resources in temporary employees because they won’t be working with them for long. OSHA reports situations, including some in which temporary workers were killed, in which employers chose not to provide required safety training to temporary workers. For example, a temporary worker died after working nine hours straight throwing garbage onto a truck in 90-degree heat. When he stopped working, saying he could not go on,

the dispatcher instructed the driver to pour water on the overheated worker and complete the route. The driver found the man convulsing and with an internal temperature of 106.9 degrees. The worker, who died three days later, was the fourth temp worker in 15 years to die working for that company, which already had received several warnings from OSHA about training workers. After an employee at a different company was crushed by three 800-pound bales of cardboard, a company representative told the OSHA inspector, “We don’t train temps.” If temp workers notice a safety hazard, they may hesitate to complain

Host employer responsibilities:• Conduct site-specific training, including,

but not limited to, hazard communication, location of written program and safety data sheets, control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), and the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used. OSHA standards require site- and task-specific safety and health training in a language the worker can understand. Training should be identical or equivalent to that provided to the host employer’s own employees who are doing the same or similar work.

• Use agencies that provides quality training then be sure to give more specific, on-site training.

• Provide and maintain required PPE unless the contract states the staffing agency will provide it.

• Track incidents and injuries and investigate when necessary. (OSHA requires that injury and illness records be kept by the host employer or whoever is providing day-to-day supervision.)

• Include temporary workers in safety meetings

• Ask what the hiring practices are for the agency. Does it do reference checks? Background checks? Drug tests?

• Record injuries on 300 form for temporary workers.


because the staffing agency could drop them if they seem troublesome, or they may be hoping the host company will give them a permanent job. The workers’ compensation system encourages companies to maintain a safe workplace through financial incentives—the fewer claims you have, the lower your workers’ compensation costs will be. Temporary staffing subverts this system. If a temp worker is injured, it’s the staffing agency that pays the higher premium, not the host company. This can give employers a financial incentive to contract out their most dangerous jobs. “Temporary staffing agencies need to underwrite business just the way we do,” said Carl Halter, SAIF regional operations supervisor. “Best practices include having the temporary staffing company visit the prospective client and see firsthand what their hazards

are, assess their safety and training programs, and work on developing open communications with the client. Safety should be understood as both parties responsibility.”

Create a partnershipOSHA recommends that staffing agencies and host companies have a clear understanding of their roles in protecting employees. Both the staffing agency and the host employer bear legal responsibility for a safe work environment, including training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping. (OSHA could hold both the host and temporary staffing agency responsible.)

Safety should be understood as both parties responsibility.


At the heart of what we do

When protecting workers is ingrained in

everything you do,

everyone wins.

By Melaney Moisan, communications coordinatorPhotos by Terri Jacobson


As CEO of BDI Staffing, Jasun Brown needs to know the hazards of workplaces as different as plastics manufacturing and office work or heath care and sawing logs. At any given time, the


company has about 200 temp workers in the field, and their safety is a core value of the company and a personal priority for Brown. “I need to know what our people will be doing and what the risks are,” Brown said. “I also need to know the safety policy of the companies we do business with.”

Start with a safe host company“Before we place workers with an employer,” Brown said, “we find out how a company manages safety. Typically, I will meet with an owner or plant manager, do a walk-through, and check their protocols.” On a roofing job, for example, Brown will make sure they use fall protection and have ladder safety training. “If I have any concerns, I will ask them to show me their equipment to make sure it’s not worn or broken,” he said. “As long as the company is willing to work with us and do what is right, then we will work with them. Accidents do happen, but a company has to be willing to correct the problem.”

“I wish everyone was as conscientious as BDI is,” said Jacquie Strand, SAIF senior safety management consultant. “They set expectations for how their employees will be treated, and do what they can to assure employees will be safe, no matter where they are working.”

Hire good workers and train themTraining, drug testing, and even background checks for some jobs are all a part of BDI’s hiring and orientation process. BDI drug tests every employee and asks that BDI’s employees be included in any drug testing the host company does. Background checks are conducted when necessary for a particular job. On their first day, new employees have an orientation that includes safety. They also are encouraged to come to Brown with any safety concerns they may see at the host company. “We are willing to pull workers out if there are safety concerns that a company will not address,” he said. “And it is in the contract that I can make plant visits at my discretion.”

We are willing to pull workers out if there are safety concerns that a company will not address.

– Jasun BrownBDI CEO

The values Jasun Brown brings to BDI were taught to him by his mother (pictured here). “She always told me to treat others as I want to be treated,” he said.


InvestigateWhen someone is injured, BDI investigates in order to prevent injuries in the future. When an employee cut his thumb several times while working with a table saw, BDI investigated and learned that lack of focus caused by repetition was the problem. “The company worked with us, allowing the employee to work a shorter time between breaks,” Brown said. “It worked, and the injuries stopped. Sometimes the solution is just that simple. Most of the time companies are very receptive.”

Return to work“Many of our employees can’t afford to lose even a few days of work,” Brown said. “On day one, we are trying to mitigate the loss and keep the person employed.”

BDI works closely with one occupational health doctor, making sure a release-to-work form is signed, if applicable, when the worker leaves the first doctor appointment. “If the company can’t provide modified work, we will,” Brown said, adding that he makes frequent use of the Employer-at-Injury Program to help an injured employee return to work.

It’s a partnership“Companies seem more willing to take safety seriously today,” Brown said. “They see this as an additional service they buy when they use our workers. Having BDI as an interested party with outside eyes can help improve their processes.” “It starts with leadership,” said Strand. “Safety is a major value at BDI, and it permeates everything they do.”


2015-2016Seminars designed for Oregon’s agriculture industry

Who should attend?This free, four-hour seminar

is designed primarily for owners, operators, supervisors, and foremen, but anyone interested in the seminar content is welcome to attend. Twenty-seven seminars will be held in 16 cities throughout Oregon between November 2015 and March 2016. Eight seminars will be conducted entirely in Spanish.

Register online at

saif.com/agseminar

or call 800.285.8525

Topics

RegistrationEarly registration is required. Seating is limited.We will send you an email confirmation as soon as we receive your registration. About one week before the seminar, we will send you an email reminder with the location address. If you have any questions, please call 800.285.8525

You’ve found the hazards. Now what? I A risk-assessment process based on your workplace hazards keeps you focused on the questions you must answer to prevent injuries.

Thinking about safety in a new way I Which long-held beliefs about safety should be dropped into the dust bin of history? We’ll give you exciting new ideas for creating a 21st century safety culture.

Drugs and alcohol in the workplace I The majority of drug and alcohol users are employed, and their problems often follow them to work. What can you do?

News from OSHA I New OSHA policies, useful safety gadgets, and how to avoid costly citations—we’ll discuss it all.


Seminars designed for Oregon’s agriculture industry

BANDONMarch 1, 2016Sprague Community Theater1202 11th Street SW

CLACKAMASFebruary 25, 2016 Monarch Hotel & Conference Center12566 SE 93rd Avenue

CORVALLISDecember 15, 2015 Benton Co. FairgroundsGuerber Hall110 SW 53rd Street

EUGENE December 2, 2015 Lane Events Center 796 W 13th Avenue

HERMISTON January 12, 2016 January 13, 2016 (S) Hermiston Conference CtrGreat Hall415 S Hwy 395

THE DALLES November 18, 2015February 1, 2016February 2, 2016 (S) Fort Dalles Readiness Center402 E Scenic Drive

WILSONVILLEJanuary 20, 2016January 21, 2016 (S) Clackamas Community CollegeWilsonville Training Center29353 Town Center Loop East

WOODBURN February 23, 2016February 24, 2016 (S) Silverton HealthWellspring Conference Center1475 Mt. Hood Avenue

All seminars will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and include lunch. Based on your feedback, we have made changes to some of the dates and locations for this year’s seminars.

HILLSBORO January 5, 2016January 6, 2016 (S) Tuality Health Education Center334 SE 8th Avenue

HOOD RIVER February 3, 2016 February 4, 2016 (S) Best Western Hood River Inn1108 East Marina Way

KLAMATH FALLS March 15, 2016 March 16, 2016 (S) Shilo InnConvention Center2500 Almond Street

LA GRANDENovember 4, 2015 Blue Mountain Conference Center404 Twelfth Street

MADRAS November 17, 2015 Inn at Cross Keys Station66 NW Cedar Street

MEDFORDFebruary 9, 2016Smullin Center2825 E Barnett Road

ONTARIO November 3, 2015 Clarion Inn1249 Tapadera Avenue

SALEM December 1, 2015February 17, 2016February 18, 2016 (S)March 3, 2016Chemeketa at EolaNorthwest Viticulture Center215 Doaks Ferry Road NW

Seminars shown in red are presented entirely in Spanish.

Schedule

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October 7 at 10:30 a.m. | As a senior safety management consultant in our eastern region, your job will be as varied as the scenery. If you share our vision for making Oregon the safest and healthiest state, please apply today. https://jobs-saif.icims.com/jobs/

Imagine working here.

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October 9 at 10:30 a.m. | ‘Tis the season to be a workplace flu fighter. Stop the spread of germs by getting a shot, washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and staying home when you’re sick. saif.com/safetyandhealth/Safety_topics/ Promote_wellness/Infectious_disease.html

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Featured policyholders from our calendar

More than 1,000 people are getting safety and wellness tips, job announcements, and stories about some of Oregon’s most interesting busi-nesses by following SAIF on Facebook. Shouldn’t you join them?

What are we posting about? Our posts so far in 2015:

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Safety at home and on the job

Maxine Vaccine


BEND541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Supervisor Toolbox Wednesday, December 98 to 9:30 a.m.

Safety for SupervisorsWednesday, February 10, 20168 to 9:30 a.m.

COOS BAY541.756.3118 | 800.285.8565

OSHA 300 LogThursday, January 21, 201611:30, registration and lunch; noon to 1:30 p.m., presentation

EUGENE

541.683.6700 | 800.285.8560

Who’s Job Is It, Anyway? Thursday, November 1911:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

OSHA 300 LogThursday, January 21, 201611:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NAMI: In Our Own VoiceThursday, February 18, 201611:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Turning Silver to Gold: Adapting to an Aging WorkforceThursday, March 17, 2016

HERMISTON 541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

OSHA 300 Recordkeeping— What Happened? Using a Systems Approach to Accident Analysis to Fix What BrokeWednesday, January 13, 20162 to 5 p.m.

LA GRANDE 541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

OSHA 300 Recordkeeping—What Happened? Using a Systems Approach to Accident Analysis to Fix What BrokeWednesday, January 13, 20168:30 to 11:30 a.m.

MEDFORD541.857.4204 | 800.285.8550

OSHA 300 LogWednesday, January 13, 2016Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Legal UpdateWednesday, March 9, 2016Noon to 1:30 p.m.

ONTARIO 541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

OSHA 300 Recordkeeping — What Happened? Using a Systems Approach to Accident Analysis to Fix What BrokeTuesday, January 12, 20168:30 to 11:30 a.m.

PORTLAND971.242.5742 | 888.598.5880

A Business Case for Diversity Thursday, December 109 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Oregon OSHA Recordkeeping and Reporting: From Basics to UpdatesThursday, January 21, 20169 a.m. to noon

Claim BasicsThursday, February 18, 20169 a.m. to noon

SAIF Executive UpdateThursday, March 3, 20161 to 4 p.m.

Everything Is Your FaultThursday, March 17, 20169 a.m. to noon

REDMOND541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

Supervisor Toolbox Wednesday, December 911:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Safety for SupervisorsWednesday, February 10, 201611:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Training Calendar

SAIF provides training opportunities throughout the state at no cost to our policyholders. Advanced registration is required.

Visit saif.com/training for updates, more detailed information, or to register. You may also call the SAIF regional office listed for the class you want to attend.

SALEM503.373.8384 | 800.285.8525

Claims Jeopardy Thursday, November 199 to 11:30 a.m.

The latest on the Affordable Care Act Thursday, December 109 to 11:30 a.m.

OSHA 300 Log Thursday, January 28, 20169 to 11:30 a.m.

Breaking Bad Behavior: Drugs, Alcohol, Medical Marijuana, and MoreThursday, February 18, 20169 to 11:30 a.m.

Safety Leadership: A.M.Liderazgo en la Seguridad: P.M.Thursday, March 10, 20169 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Office Ergonomic Assessor TrainingWednesday, March 23, 20168 a.m. to noon

THE DALLES 541.382.0322 | 800.285.8530

OSHA 300 Recordkeeping—What Happened? Using a Systems Approach to Accident Analysis to Fix What BrokeThursday, January 14, 20168:30 to 11:30 a.m.

WILSONVILLE971.242.5742 | 888.598.5880

Jump Start Your Safety Committee Tuesday, November 109 a.m. to noon

Registration for trainings in 2016 will open on December 1.

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Editor: Melaney MoisanArt direction and design: Mary Ann PotterContributing editor: Lyn Zielinski-MillsManaging editor: Mike WattersSafety editor: Chuck EasterlyPhotographers: Lynn Howlett, Terri Jacobson, Kelly James, Dale PetersonWriters: Dave Miller, Melaney Moisan

Comp News is printed with soy-based ink on 70# Nature Web matte paper that contains 10 percent post-consumer waste and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Comp News is also available online at saif.com/compnews.

Send subscription requests, address changes, comments, or inquiries about Comp News to:

Comp News 800.285.8525SAIF Corporation [or] [email protected] High Street SESalem, OR 97312

ACROSS

1 One tablespoon of powdered ________ is a lethal dose for an adult.

5 These workers are at a higher than average risk for injury.

7 Oxygen, ignition, fuel, dispersion, and confinement make up the “dust explosion _________.”

8 One of five factors in the dust explosion pentagon.

9 Key Knife wanted employees to eat more healthy food, so they created this with the dividend from SAIF.

DOWN

2 Online location for SAIF job announcements and safety information.

3 This acid, often used in carwash products, can be hazardous to your health.

4 A kind of dust that can cause fires and explosions.

6 This and misting can help keep dust from becoming airborne.

CROSSWORD

FALL 2015Comp News is published four times each year by

SAIF Corporation for its policyholders.

©2015 SAIF Corporation

saif.com/facebook

How much do you remember from this

issue of Comp News?

Across: 1. caffeine 5. temporary7. pentagon 8. ignition 9. garden

Down: 2. Facebook 3. hydrofluoric 4. combustible 6. venting


CUTTING ROOM FLOOR

ORIGINS OF YOUR MORNING LATTELegend has it that your skinny venti half-caf white chocolate mocha double shot latte got its start somewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, around the ninth century. A goat herder discovered his flock bouncing energetically around a shrub covered with a red, cherry-like fruit, and, when he realized that it was the fruit making his goats so frisky, he tried it himself. Soon, monks in the region were eating the fruit to help them stay awake during long hours of prayer. At first, they mixed the fruit with animal fat to make a type of primitive “energy bar.” Later, it was ground into a pulp, fermented, and made into a beverage similar to wine called qahwah. (The Arabic qahwah became kahveh in

Turkish, which became koffie in Dutch and coffee in English.) Legends are great, but botanical evidence suggests the coffee bean probably originated in central Ethiopia, then spread to the Arabian Peninsula, specifically to Yemen, where its cultivation began in the sixth century. Either way, because of its ability to perk up people in the middle ages, its use spread faster than a bouncing goat. In the 13th century, people began to roast coffee beans for a drink similar to what we enjoy today, and European coffee houses made their appearance in the 1660s. Tea was the favorite drink of American colonists until the Boston Tea Party and the Revolutionary War made coffee our patriotic beverage of choice.

400 High St SESalem, OR 97312

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDSALEM, OR

PERMIT NO. 114

Public service in OregonThe 2016 calendar should be arriving in your mailbox soon.

Here are a few photos of the nonprofit organizations we are featuring.

Comp News, Fall 2015 - Saif · some marigolds for keeping garden pests away, and another team made an organic bug spray. One of the boxes has a community herb garden, and Key Knife

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