Safety Matters In the Lives of Employees

Risk Management Division: Safety and Loss Prevention Unit May 2018

C I T Y O F P H I L A D E L P H I A

Office of the Director of Finance

Volume 6, Issue 2

Newsletter

http://www.phila.gov/risk

INSIDE this ISSUE

ARE YOU CONNECTED?

Who can forget the excitement of February 8, 2018? A

few million Eagles fans filled Broad Street and the

Benjamin Franklin Parkway, making it a sea of green.

A 22-inch silver object, the Lombardi Trophy, was the

star of our Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Parade.

What a day!

To get ready for the excitement of our Super Bowl Pa-

rade nearly 100,000 people signed up for free

READYEAGLES text alerts from the city so they could

stay informed of parade developments, including; pub-

lic safety details, weather, mass transit, road-closure status, and the progression of

the parade.

That READYEAGLES text alert system was part of the city’s mass notification sys-

tem, READYPHILADELPHIA. This is a great example of how OEM will be communi-

cating with you in the event of an emergency—or hopefully another Super Bowl Pa-

rade!

READYPHILADELPHIA delivers important information such as:

• Weather alerts from the National Weather Service

• Critical details during a natural or human-caused hazard that may cause an evac-

uation or shelter-in-place

• Specific instructions from Philadelphia Police and Fire departments during an

emergency

• SEPTA service delays and interruptions

• Siren warnings from the prisons in Northeast Philadelphia or the Philadelphia En-

ergy Solutions (PES) refinery in Southwest Philadelphia

Article by Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

Page 2

Safer Streets: Vision

Zero

June is National

Safety Month!

Page 3

Prevent injuries

from slips and falls.

Page 4

Welcome new Risk

Management Staff

Upcoming Training

For information on how to be emergency

prepared in your workplace or home,

visit the Office of Emergency Manage-ment’s website. To stay informed of the latest safety tips or news, follow us on

Twitter or Facebook.

Page 2 Safety Matters In the L ives of Employees Volume 6, I ssue 2 Newsletter

Coming Up: June is National Safety Month

The National Safety Council (NSC) considers June to be National Safety Month. Each year the NSC focuses on

reducing the leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities.

The 2018 focus is “NO 1 Gets Hurt.”

How can you help ensure that no one gets hurt?

• Follow safe driving laws and regulations.

• Don’t text and drive.

• Participate in safety drills at work.

• Make sure you have an emergency plan at home.

• Work on housekeeping and reducing clutter at home and at work.

• Manage chemicals safely with labels and proper storage.

• Talk about safety with your family.

• Learn how to use a fire extinguisher.

• Check your smoke alarm batteries.

For more information and more safety tips visit the National Safety

Council website: NSC National Safety Month Information

OUR CITY AND OUR FAMILIES DESERVE SAFER STREETS.

Every year in Philadelphia, our residents are subject to approximately 10,000 traffic crashes. These crashes take the lives of around 100 people each year in Philadelphia, and severely injur-ing 250 more. Sign up for the Vision Zero newsletter and take the Vision Zero Pledge: I pledge to recognize that crashes are avoidable and my choices matter to the lives of others.

I pledge to slow down, focus on driving, and put my phone away while behind the wheel.

I pledge to choose to walk or bike when making short trips.

I pledge to bike predictably and stop at signals.

I pledge to spread the word about Vision Zero in my neighborhood.

http://visionzerophl.com/

Page 3 Safety Matters In the L ives of Employees Volume 6, I ssue 2 Newsletter

Slips Trips and Falls - It Can Happen Anywhere!

Slips, trips and falls have the potential to be a major cause of injury in any city department. Injuries due to

falls are usually very severe leading to critical medical care, physical therapy and time away from work. Head

injuries, broken bones, sprains and strains are common after a slip, trip or fall.

There is a common misconception that slip and fall injuries “just happen” and that there is little that can be

done to prevent them. This isn’t the case. It’s important to understand where the greatest potential for dan-

ger lies so these injuries can be prevented.

Some hazards associated with slip, trip and fall injuries include: • Slippery surfaces, such as a gloss-finished tile, polished stone, etc.

• Uneven walking surfaces.

• Poorly marked or poorly lit walkway transitions.

• Cords and clutter in walkways and work areas.

• Wet surfaces caused by spills or poor drainage.

• Slippery conditions due to mud, ice or water during inclement weather.

Routine safety inspections can prevent injuries. Your Safety Officer, Safety Committee or other personnel conduct regular work area safety inspections to identify slip, trip and fall hazards. Here are a few ideas to prevent your work area from creating a slip, trip or fall hazard: • Ensure all walkways are properly lit.

• Use slip-resistant floor mats, especially in areas proven to be wet.

• Use “wet floor” signs to warn of known hazards.

• Have spill cleanup supplies readily available.

• Maintain walkways and work areas free from cords and clutter.

Check out this video

for tips on preventing

falls at work and at

home.

Page 4 Safety Matters In the L ives of Employees Volume 6, I ssue 2 Newsletter

Workplace Safety Trainings * Available to all City Employees

Register for training via the LMS at http://philadelphia.smarteru.com.

If you have difficulty, contact Kimberli Harris: Kimberli.R.Harris@phila.gov

Welcome Our Newest Risk Management Team Member Shreen Williams, Risk Management Claims Manager

Shreen is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, and of LaSalle Uni-

versity with a Master of Business Administration. Ms. Williams has responsibility for the Claims Unit

which handles all claims prior to litigation for personal injury and property damage asserted against the

city. Her staff of professional claim adjusters investigates the claims; determines if the city is liable under

the applicable law; and negotiates and settles claims that are meritorious. Additionally, the claims unit

administrates recovery services for monies owed to the City as a result of damage to City property by

third parties. The claims unit works strategically and collaboratively with the safety and loss prevention

unit to mitigate the city's risks and increase public safety, through the implementation of risk management initiatives.

Shreen previously served as Director of Risk Management for vRide, Inc., private-equity owned sister companies developing

rideshare technology and operating the largest commuter vanpooling company in the United States. She was responsible for risk

mitigation, regulatory compliance, insurance, and litigation. Shreen also developed, implemented, and maintained a multi-

jurisdictional, self-insured claims program, which included automobile liability, general liability, property, premises pollution liabil-

ity, environmental liability, workers compensation, employer's liability, directors and officers liability, international liability, cyber,

and crime.

Shreen brings years of risk management and insurance experience, which was acquired via traditional insurance companies, and

the private sector. She has a proven track record of success in process design and improvement, along with policy and procedure

development and implementation.

DATE TIME TOPIC

May 17, 2018

10 AM - 12 PM *Distracted Driver Training June 6, 2018

August 7, 2017

August 16, 2018 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM *Defensive Driver Training

May 30, 2018

10 AM - 12 PM *Rules of the Road Training June 26, 2018

July 26, 2018

May 21, 2018

10 AM - 12 PM *Back Safety & Manual Material Handling June 14, 2018

July 31, 2018

June 12, 2018

10 AM - 12 PM *Office Ergonomics July 19, 2018

August 2, 2018

August 1, 2018 9 AM—3 PM Safety Committee Initial Training

June 5, 2018

10 AM - 12 PM Safety Committee Refresher Training July 11, 2018

August 8, 2018

May 24, 2018 10 AM - 12 PM Citywide Floor Captain Training