Summer 2018
Quarterly News for State of Maryland Risk Managers
29th Annual SERMA Conference Hosts Ever Larger Number of Attendees

The 2018 SERMA Conference was another huge success this year. The SERMA (State Employee Risk Management Administration) Conference is planned each year by the SERMA Committee and the State claims units at IWIF/Chesapeake. It brings together State agency risk management, safety and HR professionals to share resources and learn from each other’s best practices.

The event was held on Thursday, May 24, from 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Boumi Temple in Rosedale. The Conference has grown so large and now attracts so many attendees that it had to be relocated to this larger facility. “We had a record 227 people attend for all or part of the day which is 12% more than any other year," said Kristin Klein, SERMA Chair. "We heard a lot of positive feedback. The Boumi Shriner’s temple has lots of room for us to grow as we get bigger and better!”

This year’s Conference also offered an expanded agenda with three separate areas of focus for the break-out sessions. The tracks included Health & Medical, Human Resources, and Safety & Risk Management. Click here for Powerpoint presentations from the Conference .

Congratulations to the SERMA award winners!
SERMA awards were presented to individuals and teams for their outstanding work over the past year on health, safety, and risk management initiatives for their fellow employees at Maryland state agencies. Thirty-five awards were presented this year to individuals and safety work groups, including 24 Injury Reduction Awards. There was a 10% reduction in the overall number of injuries reported across State agencies in 2017 as compared to 2016. Congratulations to all!

Chesapeake Employers Helps Fight Opioid Addiction with $250,000 Gift to Maryland Dept. of Health

Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance gave the Maryland Dept. of Health a gift of $250,000 recently to help bolster the State's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and support the agency's efforts to combat opioid overdose and abuse in Maryland. The gift was the third and final installment totaling $750,000 over the span of three fiscal years.

Preventing Violence in the Workplace in Healthcare and Social Services

Healthcare and social assistance professionals in Maryland state hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and social services agencies are particularly vulnerable to violence in the workplace.

OSHA defines workplace violence as "any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It can affect and involve employees, clients, customers and visitors."

In accordance with the State's workplace violence prevention program and OSHA’s recommendations , IWIF/SERMA recommends training employees on how to anticipate and deescalate potentially violent situations. Please feel free to use our safety training materials, found here .
Claim Adjuster Tip of the Quarter: See Something? Say Something!

It’s important to try and prevent injuries from happening in the first place. If you see a situation in need of corrective action, please speak up! Notify your supervisor as soon as possible. If it can be adjusted, fixed, or replaced before someone gets injured, it is a win/win for everyone involved.
Kids' Chance of Maryland Calls for Applicants

Kids’ Chance of Maryland, an educational scholarship fund that helps children of Maryland’s fatally injured workers, is seeking applicants for the 2018-19 school year. If you know a young adult who could benefit from a Kids’ Chance scholarship, please encourage him or her to apply today. 

For an application and eligibility requirements, please call 410-832-4702, email info@kidschance-md.org , or visit our website at www.kidschance-md.org .
 
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