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From: Curtiss, Aric <acurtiss@mt.gov> |
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Safety Coordinators,
Please see the attachment.
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From: Curtiss, Aric <acurtiss@mt.gov> |
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| Safety Coordinators, Each of you should have received paper and electronic copies of open enrollment fliers for RMTD's upcoming courses "Save Your Back" and "Office Safety: It's a Jungle Out There". If you didn't get a copy please let me know. Originally these courses were not offered east of Billings. After receiving a couple of phone calls I am now prepared to take these courses to Eastern Montana, namely Glendive! I'm looking at doing this on Wednesday, October 11, preceding the scheduled 10/12 course in Billings. Since this offering is not advertised on our mass mailing which already went out I need your help to promote this. The only way people are going to know about it is by word of mouth. Please talk to your employees and see what the interest is. If we can get a total of 10 or more people I definitely will make the trip to Glendive. In promoting these two courses, if anyone has questions please feel free to call me at 444-3486 or e-mail me at acurtiss@s... |
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From: Calkin, Laura <lcalkin@mt.gov> |
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| Good Morning When you have a "free" moment, I would like a ergonomic assessment done on my work station. We had talked about it at the Risk Managers meeting. I will be out of the office Thursday and Friday this week. Thanks Laura Calkin Montana Public Service Commission PO Box 202601, Helena MT 59620-2601 Phone: (406) 444-6175 email: lcalkin@s... |
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From: Curtiss, Aric <acurtiss@mt.gov> |
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| -----Original Message----- From: Curtiss, Aric Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 5:05 PM To: 'rmtd asc@egroups.com' Subject: Safety Coordinators News Please remember, this is sent on an "e-group". By replying directly to this note your response will automatically be sent to all group members. Safety Coordinators, Hello to all. I hope your fall season is going well and safe. I wanted to share some news of recent, current, and future events and taking place with Risk Management & Tort Defense and the Safety Coordinators network. Here are the topics: 1) Fall 2000 Safety Coordinators meeting minutes and next meeting 2) RMTD has moved 3) RMTD offers expanded video library 4) Monthly Safety Talks 5) Flame retarding Christmas trees 6) Upcoming Training 7) Other Odds and Ends Fall 2000 Safety Coordinators meeting minutes and next meeting The last Safety Coordinators meeting was held August 23, 2000. A number of good presentations were made and information was shared by all. The minutes from this meeting are available at the Safety & Loss Prevention page of the RMTD website, www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd <http://www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd> . Please review the minutes here. The next Safety Coordinators meeting will be held Winter 2001, tentatively in January. Please send any questions or topics to Brett Dahl at bdahl@s... |
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From: Dickson, Susan <sdickson@msubillings.edu> |
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| -----Original Message----- From: Curtiss, Aric Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 5:09 PM To: 'rmtd_asc@egroups.com' Subject: [rmtd_asc] FW: Safety Coordinators News -----Original Message----- From: Curtiss, Aric Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 5:05 PM To: 'rmtd asc@egroups.com' Subject: Safety Coordinators News Please remember, this is sent on an "e-group". By replying directly to this note your response will automatically be sent to all group members. Safety Coordinators, Hello to all. I hope your fall season is going well and safe. I wanted to share some news of recent, current, and future events and taking place with Risk Management & Tort Defense and the Safety Coordinators network. Here are the topics: 1) Fall 2000 Safety Coordinators meeting minutes and next meeting 2) RMTD has moved 3) RMTD offers expanded video library 4) Monthly Safety Talks 5) Flame retarding Christmas trees 6) Upcoming Training 7) Other Odds and Ends Fall 2000 Safety Coordinators meeting minutes and next meeting The last Safety Coordinators meeting was held August 23, 2000. A number of good presentations were made and information was shared by all. The minutes from this meeting are available at the Safety & Loss Prevention page of the RMTD website, www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd <http://www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd> . Please review the minutes here. The next Safety Coordinators meeting will be held Winter 2001, tentatively in January. Please send any questions or topics to Brett Dahl at bdahl@s... |
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From: Dickson, Susan <sdickson@msubillings.edu> |
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| Aric, can you help me navigate your web page? I want the minutes from your Coordinators meeting, and I couldn't find them. Thanks. Susan -----Original Message----- From: Curtiss, Aric Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 5:09 PM To: 'rmtd_asc@egroups.com' Subject: [rmtd_asc] FW: Safety Coordinators News -----Original Message----- From: Curtiss, Aric Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 5:05 PM To: 'rmtd asc@egroups.com' Subject: Safety Coordinators News Please remember, this is sent on an "e-group". By replying directly to this note your response will automatically be sent to all group members. Safety Coordinators, Hello to all. I hope your fall season is going well and safe. I wanted to share some news of recent, current, and future events and taking place with Risk Management & Tort Defense and the Safety Coordinators network. Here are the topics: 1) Fall 2000 Safety Coordinators meeting minutes and next meeting 2) RMTD has moved 3) RMTD offers expanded video library 4) Monthly Safety Talks 5) Flame retarding Christmas trees 6) Upcoming Training 7) Other Odds and Ends Fall 2000 Safety Coordinators meeting minutes and next meeting The last Safety Coordinators meeting was held August 23, 2000. A number of good presentations were made and information was shared by all. The minutes from this meeting are available at the Safety & Loss Prevention page of the RMTD website, www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd <http://www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd> . Please review the minutes here. The next Safety Coordinators meeting will be held Winter 2001, tentatively in January. Please send any questions or topics to Brett Dahl at bdahl@s... |
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From: Dahl, Brett <bdahl@mt.gov> |
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| Committee Members, After careful and considerable evaluation, we have decided to consolidate the state Risk Management Advisory Committee and State Safety and Loss Control Committees into one committee and call it the Montana State Government Risk Management Executive Council. The new Risk Management Executive Council will address insurance, loss control, and claims issues and it will be a much more efficient conduit of information to our clients, we believe. The new executive council will become effective once the new executive order is issued. At this point, we envision that our present Safety Coordinators will serve as the new members of the Montana State Government Risk Management Executive Council. Please let me know if you have any questions. THANK YOU for your service and participation. --BRETT |
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From: Curtiss, Aric <acurtiss@mt.gov> |
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| Safety Coordinators, Here are just a couple of quick topics of interest: 1) Fliers are in the mail 2) Employee Fraud training to be held in Helena 3) Fees for RMTD courses 4) Snow and Ice reminder 5) E-Group is enhanced FLIERS AE IN THE MAIL Last week over 1400 fliers promoting upcoming RMTD training courses went in the mail. Please watch for a light blue flier promoting our "Reducing Risk Exposure in Contracts" course. Also watch for a tan flier promoting our Employee Fraud course. I have a limited number of extra copies if you did not get one by now. Please make copies and distribute the information through your agencies. EMPLOYEE FRAUD TRAINING TO BE HELD IN HELENA The Risk Management & Tort Defense division is pleased to announce that our course "Employee Fraud: How to detect it; How to prevent it; and, What to do after it" will be held in Helena. Our recent tan colored flier for this course had to go to the printer before the Helena course could be scheduled and confirmed. Therefore the flier does not list the Helena appearance. A separate flier is not planned for this additional appearance so we are asking the Safety Coordinators to distribute this additional information. The Helena session will be December 5, 2000 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm in room 172 of the Capitol building. Please pass this information to your agencies. Anyone interested in attending can register at www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd/train/trainingregistration. <http://www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd/train/trainingregistration> FEES FOR RMTD COURSES RMTD courses are free to any and all state and university system employees. SNOW AND ICE REMINDERS Most locations across the state have seen snow and ice already this week. Please check that you have ice melt or sand available in the foyer of your building. When an employee spots ice on the walkway or in the parking lot, encourage them to grab a handful of ice melt and take care of the situation. In the past FWP staff have provided the ice melt to state buildings in Helena. They will be checking foyers for buckets. Other locations can check with your building landlords or purchase ice melt at most any store. Please spend a minute to explain to your co-workers the buckets of ice melt. The short minute you spend here can certainly save a lot of trouble. E-GROUP ENHANCED Many of you will be glad to know the "e-group" used to send e-mail to the entire Safety Coordinator network has been enhanced to become more user friendly. Our webmaster has told us the e-group will now allow you to respond to the sender of a message without it going to the entire e-group. As we know, the system had sent responses to the entire e-group in the past. We are told this has been changed so now only the sender will receive any responses. Does anybody want to test this? Once again, please feel free to contact me if there are any questions or concerns I can help you with. Thank you, Aric Curtiss Risk Specialist |
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From: Dahl, Brett <bdahl@mt.gov> |
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| Gang, The Department of Labor & Industry, Safety Bureau, is sponsoring training on the new, proposed OSHA ergonomic rule. As you know, RMTD provides ergonomics training and assessments upon request from state agencies and can assist you to set up an ergonomics program. However, before you go there, it is important that you know what the federal OSHA requirements are. I'm sure that the training will be beneficial. Here is the information that we received from the Department of Labor & Industry. --BRETT DAHL, Risk Management & Tort Defense Division The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is amending Part 1910 of title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows: New Subpart W of 29 CFR Part 1910 is added. Sec. 1910.900 Ergonomics Program Standard What is the purpose of this standard? The purpose of this standard is to reduce the number and severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by exposure to risk factors in the workplace. Want to know more? The State of Montana, Department of Labor and Industry, Occupational Safety and Health Training Institute will give a 6 hour block of instruction on Ergonomics/Back Safety. Location: Missoula College of Technology 909 South Ave. West Health and Business Bldg., Room 01 Missoula, MT Date & Time: January 11, 2000 from 9 am to 4 pm http://www.osha-slc.gov/ergonomics-standard/index.html |
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From: Rhodes, Kristie <krhodes@mt.gov> |
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| Dear Safety Coordinators & Risk Management Advisory Committee Members, Risk Management and Tort Defense recently added our Certificate of Insurance to our web site. State agencies are often requested to furnish proof of liability, auto, or property insurance in contracts or leases in order to satisfy contractors for other parties. Managers, supervisors, and employees ultimately have responsibility for procuring a Certificate of Insurance when it is required by law or by contract. To obtain a Certificate of Insurance visit the RMTD website, <http://www.mt.gov/doa/rmtd/restricted/ins/certofins1.htm> and follow the posted instructions to download a Word file, fill in the required information, and email the file to me for approval. I will print, sign and return the Certificate of Insurance to the agency for distribution. If you have any questions please contact me. Please forward this information to your agency personnel. Thanks, Kristie Rhodes *************************************** Kristie K. Rhodes Risk Finance Specialist Risk Management & Tort Defense Department of Administration 1625 E. 11th Avenue P.O. Box 200124 Helena, MT 59620-0124 Phone (406) 444-4509 FAX (406) 444-2592 Email krhodes@s... |
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From: Dahl, Brett <bdahl@mt.gov> |
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| Seasons Greetings Gang, Apparently, there is a 'Grinch' in Butte, Montana that is attempting to steal Christmas from state employees. To local law enforcement professionals, the 'Grinch' is also known as the Butte Beltway Thief. He/She has broken into several state vehicles recently and taken computers, power point projectors, and other valuables. Why, just two weeks ago, some $10,000 worth of valuables were taken from a state vehicle parked overnight in the parking lot of the Butte Copper King Inn. A number of thefts have also been reported at the Comfort Inn. Don't let the Grinch ruin your Christmas! Please remind your employees to remove ALL personal property and state valuables from their state vehicles when they are parked overnight, especially in Butte. Secondly, some of these thefts have occurred in hotel rooms. Please report anything out of the ordinary to local law enforcement and cooperate with them if something is stolen. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! --BRETT |
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From: Dahl, Brett <bdahl@mt.gov> |
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| Gang, Jerry LaChere from the Montana Lottery just informed me that they adopted a 'Cellular Phone While in Vehicle' use policy. We're thinking about doing the same, however, we interested in knowing 1)whether you presently have your own cell phone policy in place or not; and 2) do you think employees should be able to use cell phones; and 3) is it something that you would like us to look at in the context of our proposed vehicle use policy. Over the past 5 years, we have had a couple of cell phone claims, but they were expensive (over $100,000 on personal injury and property damage stemming from use of cell phones). Here is the Montana Lottery policy: Because of recent litigation launched against employers because employees were using cell phones in moving vehicles, the Montana Lottery must adopt a stricter policy. It reads as follows: While conducting state business and in a vehicle, all Lottery employees are required to be safely parked when using their cell phones. Answering a cell phone call while in a vehicle may be done only if doing so will not increase the risk of an accident. If an employee is not already safely parked, then answering the cell phone can only be done to identify yourself and to state that you will need to park before continuing the conversation or to let the person know you will call them back. THANKS --BRETT |
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From: Curtiss, Aric <acurtiss@mt.gov> |
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| -----Original Message----- From: Curtiss, Aric Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 5:52 PM To: 'rmtd asc@egroups.com' Subject: Additional "Street Smart from 9 to 5" course Safety Coordinators, Due to the extremely good response to the bright yellow flier promoting the course "Street Smart from 9 to 5" a second offering of the course is being made. The original course is scheduled for Thursday, January 25. This course is full. A second offering of this course is scheduled for Friday, February 2 from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Commissioner of Higher Education complex, 2500 Broadway. Since the promotional fliers have already been sent I am asking that the Safety Coordinators please spread the word of this additional offering. Some people may have been interested in the course but had a conflict with the original date so please inform all employees. If you did not receive fliers please contact me at acurtiss@s... |
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From: Dahl, Brett <bdahl@mt.gov> |
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| Committee Members, We have a number of issues and updates for you to be aware of and/or pass on to the appropriate staff within your agencies: 1)We continue to receive requests on the status of the vehicle use policy. It is unlikely that the rule will be issued before the conclusion of the legislative session since our new director needs to have the time to review our responses to agency comments and to consider the policy implications before posting the new rule. 2)The executive order establishing the newly created Risk Management Executive Council has been sent to the Governor's Office. We are hopeful that it will be issued soon and once it is we will probably convene a meeting of the Risk Management Executive Council in February. 3)If there are some areas where you feel that you need assistance with loss control or early-return-to-work training, please contact our Loss Prevention Specialist, Aric Curtiss. 4)Most of you have heard about the rolling electrical blackouts now occurring in states adjacent to California. It is not beyond reason to consider that projects in your area may become targets for generator theft. Through our contacts with public and private entities in surrounding states, we have learned that there has been a rash of portable generator thefts. If your agency owns or leases portable generators, please take appropriate security precautions. While it remains to be seen how the power shortage will play out, we feel it is prudent to pass along a heads-up just in case. THANKS --BRETT |
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From: Dahl, Brett <bdahl@mt.gov> |
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| Risk Management and Safety Coordinators, We have recently received a number of questions about the state early-return-to-work program, volume discounts, safety program discounts, and how they are applied. Until the new executive order is issued, we're still sending our correspondence to both the safety coordinators and the risk coordinators. This memorandum addresses only the volume discount and the early-return-to-work discount. We are presently seeking clarification for the safety program discount from the Accounting and Management Support Division, so stay tuned. 1.When will scheduled credits (premium discounts) for the early-return-to-work program and volume discounts for FY2001 be given? In my recent converations with Brian Bent, Underwriting Manager, Team 5, we were assured that those agencies that were eligible for the early-return-to-work premium discount this fiscal year, will still receive the discount and soon. A number of agencies did not complete the notice of election form, so we are very appreciative that the State Fund has graciously agreed to provide the discounts to them anyway. Apparently, there have been some issues with the conversion from SBAS to the state's new SABBHRS accounting system and it has caused delays in actually applying the discounts through no-warrant transfers. The State Fund is aware of the need to make this money available earlier in the year so that it can be used by state agencies. In fact, the State Fund assured us that the discount money (i.e. volume discounts, early-return-to-work, and safety) from this point on will continue to be made available on a quarterly basis (i.e. October, January, April, July). 2. What can the premium discount money be used for? Funding for the early-return-to-work program is achieved through a 5% workers'compensation premium discount provided by the State Compensation Insurance Fund. The premium discount is given to each state agency through a no-warrant transfer from the State Fund in the year in which each agency earns the discount so that the transfer can be applied to fund modified positions concurrently. Volume discounts depend on the amount of workers' compensation premium and are also given to each agency in the same manner as the early-return-to work discount. Originally, it was our intent that the scheduled credit be used to buy safety equipment, fund safety training, or to make reasonable accomodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. During the 1999 legislative session, however, restrictive language that was placed in H.B. 2 by the legislature prohibited state agencies from using personal services funds for non-personal services expenditures through the end of FY2001. By way of clarification, the early-return-to-work discount is still in effect for those agencies that meet the criteria specified by the State Fund and the Department of Administration in the notice of election form.. According to OBPP, H.B. 2 language restricts the use of personal services funds to personal services only. We have heard that the legislature may introduce legislation this session that PERMANENTLY restricts the use of personal services funds to personal services expenditures. We will visit with the administration and, if they approve, seek an exception for the early-return-to-work program. In terms of the volume discount, again since workers' compensation is a personal services item, the volume discount proceeds may not be spent for non-personal services expenditures. Application of the Discount By way of a reminder, the early-return-to-work and volume discounts are applied as follows: 1)The State Fund sends a no warrant transfer back to those agencies that have signed the 'Notice of Election' form or that are eligible for volume discounts. 2)The State Fund will separate the 5% rebate and the volume discounts on the no warrant transfer statement sent to your agency. This will allow your central services employees to see exactly how much they need to abate. 3)State agencies should treat ERTW and volume discount proceeds as an expenditure abatement based on MM 2-94-2. An agency's workers' compensation premium will actually be reduced by participation in the Early-Return-To-Work program. 4)Funds must used for personal services presently. If restrictive language from House Bill 2 is removed next biennium, agencies must use the discount proceeds to mitigate safety problems, purchase ergonomic equipment, or make accomodations that will allow an injured worker to return to work. 5)The abatement CANNOT be considered as 'carry over' funding. Abatements must be applied as an offset in the fiscal year in which the funds are received. 6)State agencies may share discount proceeds only if they are general fund. However, each funding source must remain separate and can only be used for that funding source's safety needs. Contact Cathy Muri at ext. 4609 if you need any further clarification. Finally, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call me at ext. 3687. I encourage you to work with your centralized services staff in order to assure that the discounts are applied and accounted for properly. THANKS --BRETT |
Risk Management & Tort Defense
Protecting Montana's Vital Assets & Resources