SERMA eNews - Winter 2017

IWIF/State of Maryland Claims and Risk Management Newsletter

Winter (January) 2017

SERMA Supervisor Training at MDOT

SERMA hosted a State agency supervisor training at the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on Dec. 13, 2016. Pictured above are MDOT staff with members of the SERMA training team and Dr. Alan Sokoloff of the Yalich Clinic Performance and Rehab Center. Quarterly trainings are now being planned for 2017. Plans are also in the works for our annual SERMA Conference on May 25, 2017. If you have an idea for a topic or speaker for a training session or the Conference, please contact Kristin Klein at [email protected] or Howard Thomas at [email protected].

New Column: Agency Focus

DHR's "Telly" Campaign Emphasizes Prompt Reporting

The Maryland Department of Human Resources' (DHR) Division of Administrative Operations recently launched an internal campaign aimed at educating DHR employees about the importance of prompt injury reporting.

The campaign featured "Telly," a cartoon character resembling a smart phone, to help get the prompt reporting message acress to employees. Employees were invited to take photo "selfies" with Telly. In this photo, Gregory S. James, DHR Acting Secretary, poses with Telly.

"We wanted to reinforce the message that supervisors must report all on-the-job injuries to IWIF within 3 business days," said Kendra Jobe, Assistant Chief, Office of Risk Management, Division of Administrative Operations for DHR and a member of the SERMA Committee.

If you have a topic idea for a future Agency Focus, please email Kristin Klein at [email protected].

SERMA welcomes Brittany Kellar, Janeene Jensen-Graf

Brittany Kellar is the newest Associate Risk Management Consultant with SERMA. She transferred to the SERMA team in October 2016 from Chesapeake Employers' Safety Services Dept.

Brittany joined IWIF/Chesapeake Employers in August 2014 as a trainee. While in our trainee program, she attended a variety of safety and health courses with MOSH and the National Safety Council (NSC). Brittany holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management with a minor in Human Resources. She also holds an Advanced Safety Certificate (ASC) and is an
NSC-certified First Aid/CPR and AED instructor.

Brittany provides risk management services to various State agencies. She can be reached at 410-494-2141 or [email protected].

Janeene Jensen-Graf, an experienced Safety Management Consultant with Chesapeake Employers' Insurance, will provide risk management support to the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) going forward. She will simultaneously continue in her role assisting Chesapeake's private clients as well.

In addition to her nine years as a Safety Management Consultant for Chesapeake, Janeene also has experience as a Claims Adjuster for IWIF/Chesapeake. She holds an Advanced Safety Certificate (ASC), has completed the OSHA 10-hour general safety and OSHA 30-hour construction safety training programs, and is certified through the NSC as a First Aid/CPR and AED instructor.

Janeene can be reached at 410-494-2013 or [email protected].

Stay Safe on Snow and Ice

Every year, slips and falls on icy walking surfaces are a leading cause of workplace injuries during the winter months. Having a workplace snow and ice removal plan is imperative for the safety of employees, vendors, and visitors to your agency.

Learn valuable tips for preventing slips, trips and falls on snow and ice here. You can also download our winter walking Safety Tip Sheet, "Walk Like a Penguin." Or, you can order our popular "Walk Like a Penguin" safety poster or our seasonal "SNOW Winter Injuries Safety Kit" by emailing [email protected].

Claims Adjuster Tip of the Quarter

IWIF's Claims Department wants State agency risk managers and supervisors to remind all employees to report all near misses and unsafe working conditions!

Our Claims Adjusters emphasize to all employees:

Please pay attention to your surroundings.
If you see an unsafe working condition, report it to your supervisor immediately.
Help stop accidents from occurring in the first place.

"Remember: Safety is everyone's responsibility."

New Safety Materials Available

Chesapeake Employers Insurance has created a new "Stop Opioid Drug Addiction" prevention message kit for employers. The kit encourages Maryland employers to help educate their employees on the dangers of prescription opioid overuse and abuse and is available free of charge from [email protected].

The free kit contains:

Prevention awareness posters for the workplace;
Safety Tip Sheet: "The Dangers of Prescription Opioid Medication Abuse";
Stop Opioid Addiction awareness flyers;
Prevention digital graphics available for download or use on your website or social media pages.