A newsletter from the SERMA Risk Management Committee
Fall 2015
Message from the Co-Chairs

Hello! There are several important items we'd like to share with you.

 

First, there has been a change to IWIF's eServices login protocol. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We thank you for your patience while we worked through our technical issues, which have now been resolved. Please see the article below for more information.

 

Second, we have again partnered with a number of our sister agencies on another important safety initiative, this time about Maryland's important Move Over law. Please read more about this also in this issue.

 

As always, please feel free to contact either one of us if you have any questions or comments.

 

Brian Furr, Director, IWIF State of Maryland Operations, [email protected]

Kristin Klein, Director, Chesapeake Employers' Safety Services Dept., [email protected]

Co-Chairs, SERMA Risk Management Committee
New e-Services login process
With more focus on individual authentication and online user recognition, IWIF has changed from an agency group or policy login to individual logins using unique emails and passwords. You will experience enhanced security as a result of this. The new login process went live on 9/1/15. Read more here  or skip to instructions for resetting your password.
State agencies team up to create safety messages around state's "Move Over" law

Tragically, every year, first responders are injured or
killed on the job while providing the public with important safety services on Maryland's highways.

To help reduce the risks associated with these duties, new safety messaging informing the public about Maryland's Move Over law was recently created by several state agencies all working together in partnership.

The new safety materials include a pamphlet, a poster, and a detailed safety tip sheet. Despite being signed into law nearly five years ago, many motorists are still unfamiliar with Maryland's Move Over law, which requires drivers approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck stopped on the side of the road with its emergency lights flashing to slow down and make a lane change if possible.

The Maryland State Police, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the State Highway Administration's Coordinated Highways Action Response Team all partnered on this campaign. They have been distributing pamphlets at many traffic stops, motor vehicle crashes, and when assisting disabled vehicles. The Maryland Highway Safety Office, a division of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, joined the campaign as well by displaying posters at all MVA locations in Maryland.


New safety materials now available

New titles include:
  • "The Safely Move Over Law - Help Keep Our Emergency
    Workers and First Responders Safe along Maryland's Roadways" (poster, tip sheet and pamphlet)
  • "Custodial & Housekeeping Professionals: Thank You for Working Safely" (top 10 safety reminders poster)
  • "PPE Safety: Be Seen and Not Hurt - Wear Your High-Visibility Clothing" (tip sheet and safety poster)
  • "Horseplay - Just Say NO to Horseplay on the Job" (safety poster)
  • "Tick Bite & Lyme Disease Prevention Tips" (tip sheet and safety poster)
And don't forget: We also have a number of winter driving and winter walking safety materials online as well. To access IWIF's safety materials, click here.
New "Guide for the Injured Worker" for State Agency Employees

IWIF has published a new "Guide for the Injured Worker" brochure
for state agencies, in both English and Spanish.  

The new guide is 16 pages and includes a detailed question-and-answer format.

"We needed a version of this guide specifically for state agencies," explained Nikki Ledgard, IWIF Claims Supervisor, Unit 25.

The new "Guide for the Injured Worker" brochure for state agencies is available as both a hard copy brochure and as a pdf download.

To access the pdf, click here. To order printed copies, please email [email protected].
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