CLEANUP ON AISLE TWO: BEWARE OF SLIP-AND-FALL SCAM ARTISTS!

Any company that has customers on its premises is vulnerable to slip-and-fall claims: A con in which criminals stage "dangerous" situations so they can fake a tumble and claim compensation for their injury.

Because slip-and-fall claims can easily be legitimate, every business needs to either carry coverage against this exposure or self-insure against it.

According to the National Insurance and Crime Bureau (NCIB), the number of suspicious slip-and-fall incidents rose more than 10% from 2010 to 2011, costing businesses hundreds of millions of dollars -- not to mention driving up insurance rates -- ultimately paid by customers in the form of higher prices.

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A large percentage of these scams, often run by organized crime, target retail stores. Although there are a number of variations on the con, one common type involves a two-member "accident team." While one person keeps lookout, the second pours a liquid or a piece of debris in a store aisle and then pretends to take a fall. At this point, the lookout appears to" "help the victim" and volunteers to act as an eyewitness, After telling store personnel that their injury might need medical care, the victim waits for a few days and then returns to demand (pricey) compensation under threat of a lawsuit.

In all too many cases, the store owner will pay up as a cost of doing business, rather than face the hassle and cost of litigation -- not to mention the negative publicity involved. According to insurance experts, that's one reason why most victims avoid reporting questionable slip-and-falls to the police -- which makes the extent of these crimes even harder to measure.

If you carry slip-and-fall insurance, it makes sense to stand up against what you believe are phony claims: The insurance company will pick up the tab for providing a legal defense against litigation and reimburse you if you should lose.

If you don't have this valuable protection, we'd be happy to find the best coverage for you at the best price. Of course, you should also report any suspicious claim to the NCIB nationwide fraud line at (800)-TEL-NICB.

MAKING WORKPLACE SAFETY INCENTIVES WORK: THE VIEW FROM OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is taking another look at the controversial issue of how safety incentive programs on the job impact the willingness of workers to report injuries or accidents.

The new review will examine the conclusion of an earlier OSHA report that a 2005 explosion at a BP oil refinery -- which killed 15 employees and injured another 180 people -- was due in part to a job safety program that provided workers with disincentives for reporting injuries and accidents (the lower the reported rate of mishaps, the higher the bonuses that employees received).

OSHA recently warned employers that if their safety programs discourage workers "in any way" from reporting potential dangers on the job they could face penalties for discrimination against the employee's right to free speech -- as well as violating OSHA requirements that the employer keep accurate workplace records. Although programs which encourage worker safety by offering employees or work teams such incentives as bonuses for having no injuries or accidents over a period of time might be "well-intentioned," OSHA noted that these programs are far more effective if they focus on positive safety-related activities, such as pinpointing hazards in the workplace, or helping investigate mishaps or "near misses" on the job. For example, the agency's guidelines for its Voluntary Protection Program include providing workers with such rewards as cash, gift cards, and T-shirts. A company might also honor workers for their contributions to a comprehensive safety program by hosting a party. On the negative side, employees who violate safety rules would receive demerits.

See an in-depth report on this complex issue from the General Accounting Office here.

The bottom line: To develop an effective workplace safety program, you'll need to create and maintain open lines of communication with your employees. Our risk management professionals stand ready to analyze your business and offer recommendations on a comprehensive safety program to keep your workers as safe as possible.

IT'S SUMMERTIME -- AND THE HEAT IS ON!

Whether your employees are outdoors -- on the job or at play this summer -- or working indoors in a hot environment, they need to know how to cope with hot and humid conditions that can pose serious dangers to their health that the heat brings.

The human "cooling system" uses perspiration and blood vessels to regulate body temperature. However, when someone is working hard in the heat, especially when it's also humid, this system can break down, raising the person's temperature and heart rate. Although people who are past middle age or have health problems are especially vulnerable, the young and healthy can also suffer from heat-related conditions.

Overheating also affects the brain. A temperature hike as little as 2 degrees can impair mental functioning, which makes heat an underlying cause of job accidents, as diminished ability can lead workers to overlook hazards and make mistakes.

In order of seriousness, heat hazards -- and their remedies -- include:

• Heat rash -- Can be irritating: Take a shower and use a little talcum powder.
• Heat stress -- Symptoms include thirst, vision problems and/or feeling woozy or tired: Drink a cool, non-alcoholic beverage in a shady place.
• Heat cramp -- Involves pain from twitching muscles caused by losing salt from perspiration: Get into the shade and take cool fluids.
• Heat exhaustion -- Look for heavy perspiration, fatigue, queasy stomach, and chilly, clammy skin: Put the person in the shade, with their feet slightly elevated, provide a cooling beverage (unless the victim is nauseated), and be prepared to seek medical assistance.
• Heatstroke -- Can be a fatal condition, characterized by a lack of sweating, a temperature elevated by up to five degrees, hot skin, mental confusion, and loss of coordination: Call paramedics immediately -- and then get the victim to a shaded spot and keep him or her cooling down with cold water sponges or ice packs until help arrives.

To help keep your workers protected from the heat, we'd recommend that you advise them to: (1) Wear sunglasses for protection against exposure to UV rays; (2) Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to minimize the risk of cancer or sunburn: (3) Keep hydrated with plenty of cool -- not cold -- water and beverages free of alcohol or caffeine; (4) Minimize exposure to the sun by going indoors or staying in the shade during the heat of the day; and (5) Eat light meals with small servings of fruits and vegetables (which are rich in fluids).

For valuable information on dealing with heat-related issues, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) web page, Heat: A Major Killer.