Help Municipal Workers Protect Themselves Against Winter’s Fury

January 29, 2018

Municipal workers are often the first line of defense when winter storms hit. They jump into action to clear roadways and sidewalks of snow and ice, remove downed trees and assist those who may be trapped or stranded in vehicles. As they do their work, they may face other hazards – slippery roads and surfaces, strong winds and bitterly cold temperatures.

To help workers prepare against and reduce potential injuries, illnesses or fatalities during winter storms, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have collaborated on a website that provides information about winter weather hazards.

Topics covered on the site include:

• Cold stress, including frostbite, hypothermia and trench foot
• Preparedness, including how to dress properly and adopt safe work practices
• Hazards and precautions, such as
  • Winter driving
  • Work zone traffic safety
  • Being stranded in a vehicle
  • Shoveling snow
  • Using power equipment, like snow blowers
  • Clearing snow from roofs and other elevations
  • Slips on snow and ice
  • Repairing and/or working near downed or damaged power lines
  • Removing downed trees

Plus, there are links to OSHA resources and additional resources related to this topic.

Remember that United Heartland’s WalkSafe campaign also provides our customers a wealth of resources and tools to help their employees avoid slips and falls on snow and ice, including videos, a PowerPoint presentation and more. And if you haven’t already, please subscribe to our Risk Connection e-blasts, which provide important information related to WalkSafe topics and other useful safety tips.

LWMMI Insureds – Don’t Miss Out on Matching Safety Grant Dollars!

As the workers’ compensation administrator for the League of Wisconsin Municipal Mutual Insurance (LWMMI), United Heartland Loss Control wants to remind municipalities about the availability of a one-time 75% matching safety grant available through LWMMI for a safety equipment purchase. The goal of this grant is to aid municipalities in purchasing equipment that could help to prevent employee injuries and reduce losses, thus lowering your experience modification factor.

All LWMMI insureds who purchased workers’ compensation insurance as of May 31, 2017 are eligible and many municipalities have already taken advantage of the grant, so don’t miss out! If your safety equipment dollars haven’t already been allocated for 2018, administrators should work with department heads to review potential safety equipment requests and budget money for this year’s purchases.

You can access the grant application at http://lwmmi.org/safety-equipment-application/. You can contact Sandy Hagen about the process at [email protected] or 608-833-9595 and contact Clark MacAlpine, UH Loss Control Technical Advisor, about safety equipment at [email protected] or 262-787-7406.

Below are a few frequently asked questions regarding the grant. For more information, including suggested equipment purchases, refer to the grant program guidelines.

How is the amount of the LWMMI grant determined?

Insureds will receive 75% of the cost of eligible equipment up to 2% of the workers’ compensation premium listed on the 2016 policy. At minimum, insureds will receive $500.

What equipment is ineligible for the grant? What is eligible?

Ineligible equipment includes anything that you are required to supply by OSHA, including safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, hard hats, work zone vests and gloves. Additionally, the grant does not cover training classes and videos, equipment budgeted on a regular basis, and supplies such as first aid kits. Otherwise, the grant has fairly broad guidelines.

What is the grant eligibility window?

The grant only covers purchases of new equipment made between now and June 30, 2018. Deadline to apply is June 30, 2018.