Partnering for a safer workplace 

The company partnered with MEM’s Safety and Risk Services (SRS) team for an industrial hygiene assessment. Rhonda Kauffman, an SRS specialist in industrial hygiene, and Senior Consultant Brad Minor thoroughly evaluated the mixing room, assessing factors such as: 

• Air quality monitoring: Airborne contaminants, specifically dust particles, were measured to determine their concentration levels. 
• Noise exposure assessment: Noise levels were measured to identify potential hearing hazards for employees. 
• Ventilation system evaluation: The existing ventilation system was assessed to determine its effectiveness in controlling dust and other airborne contaminants. 
• Personal exposure monitoring: Employees wore personal sampling devices to measure their exposure to specific hazards like wheat dust. 

Tailored solutions for a healthier environment 

The results of the initial survey were concerning. Dust levels were significantly above the threshold limit value (TLV) set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).

To address this, the SRS team recommended a two-pronged approach: 

• Respiratory protection: Implementing a comprehensive respiratory protection program to protect employees from immediate exposure. 
• Improved ventilation controls: Investing in a more robust ventilation system to address the root cause of the problem. 

Collaboration and state-of-the-art solutions 

Recognizing the importance of a healthy work environment, the company took swift action. They implemented the respiratory protection program and explored improved ventilation options. Upgrading the system was a significant investment, but thankfully they received a MEM safety grant to facilitate the process. 

With the grant funds in place, the company partnered with local exhaust system experts. They designed and installed a cutting-edge ventilation system specifically tailored to control dust and mitigate the risk of combustible dust explosions. 

Success through partnership  

The new ventilation system proved highly effective. A subsequent industrial hygiene survey revealed a 50% reduction in dust levels, and employees reported noticeable improvements in air quality and overall comfort. 

Safety & Risk Services: Breathe easier, work better 

Partnering with our dedicated team transforms your workplace. We proactively identify and eliminate hazards, safeguarding employee health and well-being. This translates to: 

• Reduced injuries and illnesses 
• Improved employee morale 
• Increased productivity 

Let’s create a healthier, safer work environment for your business. Contact our SRS experts today at safety@mem-ins.com.  

The post Breathing Easier: How Safety and Risk Services Helped a Food Manufacturer Improve Air Quality  appeared first on MEM.

Joe knew PDC exposure could be harmful, so he investigated further. He observed poor housekeeping practices of PDC solids and dust throughout the plant. Additionally, he noticed employees were not wearing any respirators despite the strong odor. 

Concerned, Joe reviewed safety data sheets and learned that PDC could cause eye irritation and was a suspected human carcinogen. He also discovered the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) had significantly lowered the recommended exposure limit, known as the threshold limit value (TLV) for PDC in 1993, reflecting growing concerns about its health effects. 

Joe immediately brought his findings to the attention of the facility’s safety manager. While the manager acknowledged conducting previous air sampling, they could not locate the results. Joe arranged additional testing, finding four out of five employees exceeded the ACGIH TLV for PDC exposure. 

Working with the facility owner and their insurance agent, Joe recommended adhering to the lower ACGIH TLV; despite not being legally mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Joe didn’t stop there. He collaborated with the facility to develop a comprehensive action plan to address the PDC exposure problem to ensure a safe work environment. This plan included: 

• Engineering controls: Install local exhaust ventilation systems near machinery and de-bagging stations, seal floor holes to improve overall ventilation, and clean the existing exhaust system. 
• Administrative controls: Implement stricter housekeeping practices and provide extensive employee training on the safe handling of PDC and the importance of wearing proper personal protective equipment. 

Smart solutions with real results

Six months later, a follow-up visit revealed remarkable progress. The implemented engineering controls significantly reduced PDC levels in the air. Subsequent air monitoring confirmed a dramatic decrease in employee exposure, with a more than 94% reduction for most employees. 

This story showcases the critical role of Safety and Risk consultants in protecting workers’ health. Joe’s keen observation, knowledge of safety regulations, and collaborative approach helped the facility significantly reduce employee exposure to harmful chemicals, creating a safer and healthier work environment. 

Want to improve safety in your business?

Our Safety and Risk Services (SRS) team provides consultations to enhance your business operations and safety protocols, directs you to valuable resources, and connects you with tailored training programs. We are dedicated to providing education and support to help you achieve your safety goals. Connect with SRS today.    

The post A Breath of Fresh Air: How Safety and Risk Expertise Saved the Day appeared first on MEM.

Most of us have been there. Whether it’s a box of holiday decor or a bag of dog food, we’ve all encountered a heavy object that needs to be moved.

It’s probably a two-person job – but you’re the only one around. Determined, you bend over and hoist it up. Then, a familiar twinge in your lower back.

Overexertion accounts for about 20% of all work-related injuries. While these injuries are often less severe than others, they’re common and a real problem in many industries.

Today, tools and technology are available to help employees who do frequent heavy lifting. However, investing in those tools can be challenging for business owners to justify when they have payroll and overhead to worry about.

What does the ROI for heavy lifting equipment look like? Just ask Silas Koonse, owner of Koonse Glass Company.

Safety grant presents an investment opportunity

In 2022, Koonse Glass Company was one of 38 MEM policyholders selected to receive a safety grant. Koonse purchased a SmartLift 608 vacuum lift for handling large, prefabricated glass materials.

“Before the vacuum lift, the team was predominantly manually handling glass panels using suction cups,” explained Brad Minor, Senior Safety and Risk Consultant at MEM.

He continued, “This was necessary when the manufacturer delivered the glass, the team moved it to storage, and when they transported it to a job site. There were multiple points of manual handling throughout the material’s life.”

Each panel averages around 200 pounds – reaching 400-500 pounds at times – putting Koonse employees at frequent risk of a strain or sprain injury.

When Koonse was awarded a $10,000 safety grant toward purchasing the vacuum lift, it solidified that this investment was worth making.

Breaking down Koonse’s return on investment

While most people recover from strains and sprains, these injuries can leave a lasting impact. Research has shown that back pain is one of the leading causes of limited activity and work absence.

A severe back sprain can lead to chronic pain, mental health challenges, and reduced physical activity. The truth is the value of preventing these injuries goes beyond dollars.

At MEM, we believe in the monumental value of investing in safety. So when our consultants work with a policyholder on an investment like Koonse’s, we do an ROI analysis to uncover that value.

Let’s look at Minor’s breakdown of implementation costs, operational and loss avoidance savings, and net ROI for Koonse.

Cost to implement the SmartLift vacuum

Koonse’s investment in the SmartLift vacuum lift was significant. It’s a big decision to purchase equipment costing nearly $40,000. Like most business owners, Koonse could probably list 20 other worthwhile uses for that money off the cuff.

Plus, bringing in new equipment means training employees to use it safely and incorporate it into their processes.

Luckily, Koonse had their safety grant check to help lighten the load – but this was still a substantial up-front investment.

Estimated expected savings over the 5-year lifetime of the equipment

It takes a seasoned leader to look at this type of expense and see the potential long-term savings. What are those savings?

First, implementing the vacuum lift brought a significant productivity boost. Minor established a conservative estimate of 10 hours per week saved across the equipment’s five-year life.

Second, there are the benefits we’re interested in as a work comp carrier: preventing injuries. We assumed the manual handling of glass could cause two strain and sprain injuries over the equipment’s lifetime – again, a conservative estimate.

When a compensable workplace injury occurs, the work comp carrier shoulders most medical and indemnity costs. These incidents also have very real costs to the business, including:

• Increased insurance premiums
• OSHA fines
• Property damage and re-work
• Lost productivity
• Replacement employee training costs

Return on investment

All things considered, Minor arrived at a return of 191% on Koonse’s investment of around $33,000 – nearly doubling it over five years.

In case you’re wondering, the ROI is clear for us at MEM, too. We invested the $10,000 safety grant and Minor’s time working with the policyholder to ensure proper implementation of the SmartLift.

For us, preventing one or two (or more!) work comp claims is well worth that investment. That’s what makes stories like these genuinely win-win.

Improved safety and productivity – that’s the idea

Minor revisited Koonse Glass in the Fall of 2023 to see how the lift was working for the team. Koonse reported a great experience so far:

“We recently used it on the Logboat Brewing Company expansion project,” he told Minor. “We offloaded 15 panes of glass weighing 500 pounds each, and the employees noted they weren’t even tired.”

Pleased to hear this, Koonse told the employees, “That’s the idea, guys.”

According to Koonse, employees did have to adjust to the new equipment. At first, they were apprehensive about whether the vacuum would work for the project. (We’d be nervous, too, if we were handling 500-pound glass panes.)

Koonse’s solution was to bring a SmartLift representative on-site to show employees firsthand how to use the equipment. Today, it’s part of their daily operations, and they look for opportunities to use it.

The efficiency boost from using the lift also allowed the team to improve their delivery process. Now, the glass manufacturer delivers materials directly to the job site, eliminating the need for Koonse employees to handle them multiple times and further reducing their exposure to strain and sprain risks.

Increase your ROI with a MEM Safety Grant

If a $30,000+ investment isn’t realistic for your business right now, don’t worry. There are ROI opportunities for safety budgets of all sizes.

All MEM policyholders are eligible to apply for a safety grant to help cover the cost of approved safety initiatives. If awarded a grant, we’ll match every dollar you invest, from $500 to $10,000.

“We see the Safety Grant program as a huge opportunity for our clients,” commented Rich Miller, EVP of Risk Management at TIG Advisors and Koonse’s insurance agent. “It compounds the ROI on a purchase like this to create even more value for the business.”

We’ve been in the business of safety for nearly 30 years. Our Safety and Risk Services team can help you identify where to invest in safety to make the most significant impact on your employees’ lives and your bottom line.

Start your safety grant application today, or check out how other policyholders have used their safety grants for inspiration.

The post Safety Equipment Investment Yields 191% Return for Koonse Glass Company appeared first on MEM.

Safety grants save lives and money

The goal of the Safety Grant program is to support policyholders who need safety equipment and are willing to put some skin in the game by matching MEM’s investment. Five years into the program, our grant recipients have seen concrete positive results.

In the two years prior to receiving their grants, the 275 recipients experienced 339 claims totaling more than $8.5 million. Since implementing the safety equipment purchased with their grants, recipients have only experienced 14 claims in the areas addressed by their grant equipment totaling only $49,000.

See how three tree service businesses used their safety grant funds to improve workplace safety.

Allen’s Tree Service, Inc.

A full service residential and commercial tree care company specializing in large tree removal used their safety grant funds to purchase a Palfinger PK40002 truck with mounted grapple saw. The truck eliminates all employee hazards associated with rope climbing, chainsaw usage, drop zone dangers and the manual lifting and carrying of logs, as the remote operated crane can extend up to 62 feet and lift more than 3,000 pounds. The operator stands at a safe distance while controlling the cutting and placement of tree limbs on the ground or into the chipper with the crane.

Gateway Tree Care

A residential and full-service tree company specializing in tree removals, trimming and stump grinding plans to use their safety grant funds to purchase a ride on Vermeer mini skid steer with a grapple to pick up logs, stump grindings and move equipment safety. The mini skid steer will eliminate almost all need for employees to touch the logs once they are on the ground, reducing strains, sprains, and limb injuries.

The return on this safety equipment will extend beyond safer work conditions for employees. Gateway Tree Care estimates a 75% reduction in time spent at each job site due to the equipment.

Shade Tree Service

Responsible for trimming and removing trees to clear overhead distribution and transmission wires for electric utilities, Shade Tree Service, encounters potentially fatal electrical hazards on a regular basis. With their safety grant funds, the company purchased ten V-Watch VMS-20 personal voltage detectors, which are pocket size devices worn on the outside of clothing when working near high voltage systems. The voltage detectors alert the user to the proximity of electric fields or energized electrical equipment with a loud alarm and bright lights. Frequency of the alarm increases as the user gets closer to the electrical hazard. With their employees patrolling power lines on foot during storm restoration efforts, the device has the potential to save a life every time it’s used.

Apply for your safety grant

All of MEM’s policyholders are eligible for a safety grant, regardless of premium size or claims history. Successful applicants earn one-to-one matching grants up to $10,000 toward approved safety initiatives. Policyholders are required to monitor claims data and report on the success of the safety grant so MEM can help other businesses learn from their success.

You can read even more safety grant success stories on our blog. Visit our Safety Grants page to learn more about the program and how policyholders can apply.

The post Tree Service Safety Grants Save Lives and Money appeared first on MEM.

Aging Best, a non-profit Area Agency on Aging (AAA), is an organization that steps in to lend a hand. They empower senior citizens to be as independent as possible. A team of 142 employees coordinates diverse support services across 19 counties in Central Missouri. A smart safety culture powers their success and allows their support services to shine.

A day in the life: Senior support services at Aging Best

The Aging Best team is made up of both full- and part-time professionals. Administrators and case managers help direct services. Staff members execute programs and provide resources. Ombudsmen tend to concerns or issues that arise in long-term care settings. Together, they offer senior citizens, and their caretakers:

• Access. Seniors can take advantage of application assistance, legal services, and transportation.
• Connection. Clients are connected to supplemental services, such cleaning and in-home respite, that allow them to remain in their homes.
• Nutrition. Staff prepare meals and help plan health-conscious diets.
• Support. Family caregivers can tap in to resources, and short-term care can be arranged.

Safety risks on the job

Caring for seniors is a hands-on job. Safety challenges are present in many roles. Staff must be careful while conducting assessments in client homes or care facilities. Many team members drive across several counties a day. They attend meetings and events, deliver meals and carry out inspections. Others spend their time in the kitchen preparing meals, where knives and wet floors present a danger of cuts and slips.

This wide array of support comes with serious safety responsibility. Rebecca Nowlin, Chief Executive Officer and Nate Wall, Director of Human Resources, lead the charge.

Why safety culture shines at Aging Best

For a time, staff didn’t know the positive impact safety has on a workplace. Further, they didn’t know how claims affect employers. It wasn’t that they weren’t willing to work safely. They simply didn’t know what it meant. As a result, injuries and e-mod were rising.

The tide turned in 2019. A change in staff at all levels helped usher in new safety practices. Rich Miller, the company’s agent at TIG Advisors, remembers how the team was ready and willing to change. “We started proactively a few years ago when we met with the entire staff at a group meeting,” he explained. “We educated on the experience modification and how that affects premiums.”

Firstly, the agency helped show the true cost of claims. Then, they partnered with MEM to make the most of safety support. “Aging Best was receptive and open to this plan and the results have been good.”

Putting changes in place

Now, safety starts with agency leaders and spreads to employees in all departments and roles. Administrators and managers went through training. Then, employees were educated. The results have been positive. Most importantly, injuries and e-mod are down. With employees on board, the organization started by making some key changes to build a safety culture:

1. Change the hiring process. New employees are carefully chosen. Managers ask more questions than they used to. For example, if they can perform the job duties, or need accommodation. They search for qualified people to fill open positions.
2. Require yearly training. Every employee must take yearly safety training. Aging Best finds that MEM’s videos are a great place to start. Staff learn how to lift, drive and use knives safely. Further, some team members undergo extra training if their role requires it.
3. Update technology. Better technology helps staff work effectively. A Client Management System helps staff stay organized. New cell phones, laptops and hotspots make work more efficient.
4. Review safety rules and policies. All safety policies and procedures are reviewed and updated regularly. A standardized internal investigation process has also been put in place. If an incident happens, then it is carefully reviewed to prevent it from occurring again.
5. Improve reporting process. The reporting process was refreshed. Staff are encouraged to report any incidents. They use MEM’s online portal to report incidents quickly.

The organization also takes advantage of safety opportunities, like MEM’s Safety Grant program. “Being able to apply for Safety Grants and the entire application process made everyone think about safety in a way we hadn’t before,” Wall shared.

Staying flexible in changing times

Businesses with successful safety cultures stay flexible. They are ready to make changes when needed. Aging Best stays open to safety evaluations. MEM’s Safety and Risk Services team visits from time to time. Consultant Dale Muenks has provided support for the past several years.

Aging Best has also changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID can have a significant impact on the health of a senior citizen. Staff going into care facilities closely follow safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Servers take extra safety precautions while handling food. Curbside pickup is now available. Meetings and consultations are now virtual. These changes will continue into the future; they save the company money and help minimize safety risks.

“We’ve really been preaching that safety belongs to every employee,” Wall explained. Employees have stepped up at every level. As Aging Best serves the senior community and caregivers of Central Missouri, their safety culture and service shine.

The post Aging Best: Where Safety Culture and Support Services Shine appeared first on MEM.

Protecting your employees is your top priority – and ours. But smart safety investments also deliver measurable returns for your business. These three case studies show how strategic safety improvements can lower your experience modification factor (e-mod), control your work comp costs, and keep your employees safe. 

How the premium calculation works 

Your workers compensation premium depends on three main factors: payroll, classification rate, and e-mod. A 1.00 e-mod reflects average losses for similar businesses and does not affect premium. An e-mod lower than 1.00 reduces total premium, and one higher than 1.00 inflates it. 

Payroll × classification rate × e-mod = premium 

The first two factors, payroll and class codes, are objective business traits. You can’t change them to reduce your work comp premium. However, your e-mod is a different story. It’s the one factor you can actively control by improving your loss experience. Here’s how three MEM policyholders achieved this goal. 

Read next: How Your Workers Compensation Premium is Calculated 

E-mod improvements: 3 policyholder success stories 

The following case studies feature actual MEM policyholders. We changed company names to protect privacy, but their stories – and results – are real. 

Case study 1: XYZ Roofing 

The challenge: As a contractor, XYZ Roofing faced inherent fall risks in one of the most dangerous industries. Their high e-mod was also limiting their ability to bid on the most lucrative projects: A low e-mod signals safety and stability – top priorities for large and government contractors. 

The solution: Working with MEM’s Safety and Risk Services (SRS) team, XYZ developed a more comprehensive safety program, including: 

• Quarterly safety meetings with our safety consultants to identify and address job site hazards 
• Pre-work safety training and job site specific checklists 
• Proactive safety resource utilization 
• A new managed medical care solution with MEM’s claim experts 

The results: XYZ’s commitment to safety delivered dramatic improvements over six years: 

Total improvement: 47% e-mod reduction. This translated to substantial premium savings and opened doors to higher-value contracts previously out of reach. 

Case study 2: ABC Manufacturing 

The challenge: This manufacturer struggled with repetitive motion injuries common in production environments. Balancing safety improvements with productivity demands required expert guidance. 

The solution: ABC pulled from MEM’s expertise to create a comprehensive claims management plan and improve its safety culture: 

• 24-hour claims reporting protocol to increase efficiency and reduce costs through early intervention 
• Report Only claims strategy to pay minor medical-only claims out of pocket (avoiding e-mod impact) 
• Partnership with one of our Signature Partner Agencies that reinforced the importance of safety 
• Hazard identification programs with our SRS team to prevent repeat injuries 

The results: ABC’s approach yielded impressive improvements: 

Total improvement: 51% e-mod reduction. Despite a slight uptick in Year 5, ABC maintained a 51% overall improvement, demonstrating the lasting impact of embedded safety practices. 

Case study 3: Support Services LLC 

The challenge: Providing in-home support services exposed employees to unpredictable environments and safety hazards. Multiple years of high losses created an urgent need for better safety equipment and protocols. 

The solution: Support Services LLC benefited from MEM’s safety expertise, services, and programs: 

• Actively partnered with SRS for ongoing consultation and hazard assessment 
• Developed a return-to-work program, including light duty alternatives to accelerate employee recovery 
• Received two MEM Safety Grants to help fund essential safety equipment upgrades 

All MEM policyholders are eligible to apply for a safety grant. Learn more about the program. > 

The results: Strategic safety investments delivered consistent year-over-year improvements: 

Total improvement: 52% e-mod reduction. Support Services LLC achieved the most dramatic transformation, reducing their e-mod by 52%. 

Understanding the financial impact of reducing your e-mod 

These e-mod improvements aren’t just numbers on an underwriter’s computer. They represent real premium savings and competitive advantages. 

Here’s an example: Say a company’s base annual premium is $100,000. 

• They started with a 1.63 e-mod, paying $163,000 in total premium. 
• After reducing their e-mod 47% (the same as XYZ Roofing above), it was 0.86. 
• They now pay $86,000 in premium. 

The annual premium difference between these two e-mods is a staggering $77,000. 

Plus, in some industries like construction, companies must have an e-mod of 1.00 or lower to bid on large projects and government contracts. E-mod improvement strategies are critical for growth in these industries. 

What drove success in these case studies? 

We can trace these successes back to two essential strategies that work together to reduce claim frequency and severity: safety and claims management. 

Preventing injuries with comprehensive safety programs helps you avoid direct claim costs and the indirect costs of business disruption. Your program should include: 

• Written safety rules 
• Regular safety meetings 
• Post-offer employment testing 
• Safety training 
• Incident investigation 
• Safety equipment and technology 

Effective claims management focuses on making sure the injured worker gets appropriate care and minimizing claim costs with strategies like: 

• Timely injury reporting 
• Telehealth and nurse triage 
• Directed medical care when possible 
• Return to work plan with modified or light duty 
• Post-incident drug and alcohol testing 
• Fraud prevention 

Pulling these strategies off isn’t easy. Partnering with the right work comp carrier lightens your load by providing insight into your e-mod – plus the safety and claims support to make long-term positive changes. 

Your path to e-mod improvement 

These case studies prove that strategic safety investments deliver measurable ROI. The companies featured here didn’t achieve these results overnight. Significant e-mod reduction typically takes 3-5 years as claims age out of the calculation. But starting your e-mod improvement journey now gets you one step closer to results like these. 

Start taking steps to lower your e-mod today with our complete guide: E-Mod Explained: What It Costs You and How to Improve It > 

The post Case Studies: How 3 Real Businesses Improved Their E-Mods  appeared first on MEM.

In 2012, the business faced a tough situation. They had recently joined MEM as a policyholder, and safety was a struggle. Injuries were happening too often. With an increased experience modification factor (e-mod), their work comp premium was on the rise. They were ready to make changes, and tapped in to support from MEM.

Ambassador Mid-West Floor: Serving Missouri and Illinois

Ambassador Mid-West Floor sells and installs flooring in both the St. Louis, MO and Illinois areas. They’ve been serving a variety of customers since 1985: builders, homeowners, commercial and retail businesses. Installing floors for builders make up the largest part of their work. The company employs 140-150 team members. One hundred are dedicated completing field installation work; the rest serve as delivery and warehouse staff, or work in the office.

At the forefront of safety are Mike Lee, Vice President of Sales and Operations, and Scott Delaney, Production Manager. Both men began by installing flooring and worked their way up in the company. Lee has been with the company for 26 years, and Delaney for 13. They still lend a hand to their crews on job sites.

A risky history

Delaney serves as head of safety for the company. Project managers assist him by making site visits and doing inspections at least once a week. However, this safety network wasn’t always in place. Flooring employees encounter several risks on the job, including:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Back and knee strains from lifting and carrying
• Cuts and injuries from razor knives and power tools needed to install carpets and panels
• Unsafe conditions from other trades also present on the job site

“Before me, it was kind of the wild, wild west with injuries one right after another,” he explained. Employees had been presented with safety talks. “The main reason wasn’t because they weren’t trying to be safe, but because of how busy we were and there was nobody really there to police it.” As a result, the company was seeing 15-23 injuries every year.

Building a safety culture: Laying the ground work

A major change was needed to get safety—and costs—back under control. Delaney led the charge. “The thing that Scott did that changed the safety culture was giving our staff a warning period for one month, preparing our guys for the change that was about to come,” Lee shared. “He not only talked about safety, but he enforced it by showing the crews safer ways to get the jobs done and fix any issues.”

Making safety a requirement

Safety efforts needed to be present in every part of the business. The company completely changed the way they worked, starting with the following:

• Weekly safety inspections. Project Managers were trained to do site visits and at least one safety inspection per week. They check the site, safety gear, and tools to reduce the chance of injuries.
• Safety & Risk Services (SRS) site visits. A consultant from MEM’s SRS team visits the company two to four times annually. The consultant will also make additional visits upon request.
• Company-wide safety talks. Employees are regularly presented with safety information on different topics.
• Safety changes. To reduce risks from lifting, the business reduced the size and length of carpet cushions and cuts. They are now easier for employees to handle. Crews also call Delaney if unsafe conditions are present at a job site. The crew won’t work until a safe work environment is in place.

POET: A missing piece of the safety puzzle

New hires can be a major risk to any business. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finds that 40 percent of injured workers have been on the job one year or less. Post-offer employment testing (POET) helps determine if an employee is physically capable of doing a job.

Ambassador Mid-West Floor has been using the program for nearly seven years. It allows them to vet potential employees and their flexibility. If an employee has been away from the job for more than 30 days, then they must re-test. The program also assists with employees who are returning after being injured on the job. A doctor may clear them, but it’s important to test their ability to lift and carry.

Creating a culture of safety

Making the transition to a culture of safety wasn’t easy. At first, some staff members didn’t take the new safety efforts seriously. “After that month time frame was up, on the first day he had ten write ups for safety violations,” Lee added. “Scott followed through with his word and the guys saw we were taking this seriously. We saw a decrease in injuries and claims.”

Employees needed leadership to help them be consistent and safe. “Once we started the shift of the safety mindset, it let everybody know that we are watching and we want you to do everything as safe as possible,” Delaney said.

Benefits beyond the job site

Working safer as a business can impact others beyond the industry. MEM made a safety recommendation after the company experienced a significant on-the-job incident. An employee was throwing trash into a dumpster through a sliding glass door, located on the second floor of a building. However, without any safety precautions, a bad throw led him to fall through the opening and into the dumpster himself.

Railings were installed in front of and around the door to prevent it from happening again. But Ambassador Mid-West Floor didn’t stop there. They met with several of their largest builders and together, they made plans to implement safety railings on job sites. As a result, they only need to be installed one time, saving time and money. Training was also provided on how to install and remove the railings safely if an unsafe situation occurs.

Ambassador Mid-West Floor: An example of successful safety culture

Creating a safety culture has made the difference for Ambassador Mid-West Floor in so many ways. Employees are staying healthier now, and as a result, are staying with the company longer. An improved e-mod allows them to bid on bigger and better jobs, leading to increased revenue. Their reputation as a business has also soared. Builders want to work with them.

Safety starts at the top, with leaders setting the standard. “When our employees see why we’re doing it, it makes all the difference in the world. We’re doing it for their own safety. If you can’t go home at the end of the day with both of your eyes, all your fingers and toes, nobody’s going to win,” Delaney finished. “They finally realize it’s not there to punish them, it’s there to help them.”

The post Raising the Bar on Safety Culture with Ambassador Mid-West Floor appeared first on MEM.

Providing water services to the public requires some heavy lifting. However, the safety grant the company earned changed the way they do it – and scored them some savings along the way.

Safety risks in the water industry

Safety is a priority at Culligan. The job requires employees to be in good physical condition. John Mullette, General Manager, is careful to select and train the right employees. “When I hire people to work for me,” he explained, “I put them through a complete screening process.” Every employee undergoes a chiropractic assessment to minimize the potential for injury.

A majority of employees are behind the wheel of a company vehicle during the day. Mullette estimates they get in and out of the driver’s seat nearly 40-50 times a day. Sprained ankles and knees are a hidden risk. Daily deliveries include bags of salt and potassium weighing in at 40 pounds, and five-gallon bottles up to 68 pounds.

Some employees focus on servicing water softeners and tank repairs. Water softener vessels are installed around a hundred times a month. A few are smaller and easier to handle, but commercial tanks are heavier and can weigh up to 500 pounds. They are installed about 12 times a month. Often, they must be maneuvered up or down stairs. They presented a bigger problem – one that Culligan needed a solution for.

Employees are a cornerstone of the business. “We owe these people an honest opportunity to know that we’re not going to hurt them,” Mullette added. And investing in their safety was the way to do it.

Building the right team

Submitting a safety grant application is a team effort. “You want to do it right,” Mullette explained. “It’s not necessarily free money – you have to put time and effort into doing this.” He estimates it took him around three months to complete it. But he didn’t have to do it alone. Marissa Spencer, a member of the company’s agency team, TIG Advisors, played an important role.

Spencer walked side-by-side with Culligan – and John – through the application process. She partnered with MEM’s Safety & Risk Services team to identify the top safety risks. These meetings help identify the safety equipment that will make the biggest impact. “A vehicle doesn’t make you safe, a lift makes you safe,” she offered as an example. She met with John every few weeks until it was time to submit the application.

Hand trucks handle the heavy lifting

Culligan needed a new way to do the heavy lifting. Their old equipment was outdated. It got the job done, but it didn’t do it well. Their successful grant application earned them tech that changes the way they work – and saves them money.

An electric stair-climber hand truck now lifts water softening vessels with ease, reducing the chance of damage. New technology allows it to climb steps with little guidance, even turning itself around on landings. The company also purchased a few convertible hand trucks that handle much of the heavy lifting. For example, one customer requires nearly 80 bags of softener regenerant. Carrying one in each hand, it used to require 40 trips in and out of the business. With the help of a hand truck, the number of trips has dropped to just four.

Between improved use of employee time, equipment costs, and claim cost avoidance, total savings come in at more than $82,000. “In order to be the best, you have to have the best people and the right equipment to do the job,” Mullette shared. And the program helps businesses get valuable insight, even if they don’t receive a grant. The lives, safety, and wellbeing of employees at Culligan are a priority. They know the investment in safety equipment sent employees a vital message: “You are important.”

A small investment in safety can yield a large return. Find out how. >

The post Culligan of Mid-Missouri: Safety Grant Winner’s New Hand Trucks Do the Heavy Lifting appeared first on MEM.

Advantage Nursing Services, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, provides private duty nursing in homes across Missouri and Illinois. More than 500 employees travel to clients’ homes each day, working in shifts from four to 14 hours. Home healthcare can be a demanding role. In a single work day, an employee may need to lift or turn patients, bathe patients, commute to different homes, or work late hours. It is essential for a company like Advantage Nursing Services to partner with an organization that not only prioritizes healthcare safety – but can also provide excellent claims support.

Value is about more than premium

With our shared views of workplace safety and quality service, Advantage Nursing Services was a valued MEM policyholder partner from 2013 to 2019. The six-year partnership came to end when they left for another carrier with lower premium in 2020. In 2021, they returned to MEM largely due to our focus on safety and claims services.

Shannon Szczuka, Director of Human Resources, appreciates that MEM provides one contact for claims and another for safety. The company has access to a variety of claim services, including:

• Improved medical outcomes. Employees get the right treatment and we help keep costs in check.
• Fraud prevention. Comprehensive resources and support to fight fraud in the workplace.
• Return to work. Assistance for employees transitioning back to work after an injury, with modified duty and medical support.

A team of experts on your side

Claims Representative Kylie Murray stays in constant communication with Szczuka. “Kylie is really good at responding,” she shared. “I really like her a lot!” Senior Safety & Risk Consultant Aaron Kleekamp keeps her in the loop on the latest safety programs and training available.

In addition, Field Services Manager (FSM) Steve Summers provides key support. FSMs serve as the intermediary between our Claims, Sales, Customer Service, and Safety and Risk Services Departments. They help bring the best mix of our services to the policyholder. Szczuka couldn’t help but compliment his services. “Shoutout to Steve Summers! He makes things happen. Even after we left, I would still call Steve for help.”

Advantage Nursing Services’ parent company recently acquired several new companies. Szczuka has asked their broker, Mike Boone of Heffernan Insurance, to make sure the new companies are insured by MEM.

At MEM, we pride ourselves on the service we provide to our policyholders. Learn why 9 out of 10 policyholders recommend us.

The post Advantage Nursing Services Returns to MEM for Stellar Claims Services appeared first on MEM.

On this episode of the WorkSAFE Podcast, we sit down with Clint Bergman. He is the General Manager and Co-Franchisee at Two Men and a Truck. The moving company operates locations nationwide. Bergman oversees locations in Springfield and Branson, Missouri. He began his time there as a mover, then a driver, and has experience in every aspect of the business. For him, safety applies to every area of the company – not just those out on the job.

First, we’ll talk about what motivated Bergman to take on building a safety culture at the company. Then, we’ll share the first steps business owners can take to make a change. Finally, we’ll discuss some strategies for those struggling to get management buy-in.

Listen to this episode on the WorkSAFE Podcast, or read the show notes below.

Investing in safety culture: the first steps

When Bergman first stepped into a leadership role at Two Men and a Truck, he was ready to make changes across the business. He admits he has a competitive streak. Winning was a priority. His team tackled one area of the business at a time. Once they reached their goals, they would move on to the next area.

However, the company didn’t have great safety results. Bergman wanted to win in the area of safety, too. As a result, it was easy for him to dive in. But he made an important discovery early on. “We realized really quickly that if safety is not the most important thing that we’re doing, then it can sink our battleship as a business in many different ways.”

Financial investment

Many business owners worry about costs. At Two Men and a Truck, Bergman made a decision. The initial investment would be worth it. Above all, they would save money in the long run.

“The expression ‘it pays to be safe’ is very true,” Bergman added. Better safety means fewer injuries and medical costs. Fewer incidents also mean a lower e-mod factor. As a result, premium costs go down.

Cultural investment

Investing in the safety of employees isn’t just about the business. “Employees need to smell the same air that you’re smelling,” Bergman emphasized when it comes to safety, “And breathe the same air you’re breathing.”

Bergman knows safety on the job improves quality of life. The most important thing is that employees know their leadership cares about them as people  – and values their health and safety.

Employees need to be well-taken care of in Bergman’s opinion. For instance, injuries on the job may mean back and shoulder pain at night. As a result, employees won’t rest well. If they aren’t in the best shape for the job, then they put others at risk. Moreover, they can’t enjoy their time on – or off – the job.

Having fewer incidents raises employee morale. Employees work knowing that their safety and well-being are valued.

Building a safety culture: 4 tips for leadership

Implementing safety changes doesn’t build a safety culture overnight. It means changing the mindsets of management and employees over time. Importantly, these changes need to begin at the management level. Bergman offers other business leaders four tips to encourage buy-in.

1. Mandate safety changes. These new safety rules and policies must come from the highest levels of management.
2. Model it. Show, don’t tell. Employees need to see their management and leaders practicing new behaviors.
3. Manage it. Take responsibility for implementing safety measures. Monitor progress. Where can more improvements be made?
4. Materialize it. Share safety information for your industry. Show employees what working safely means. What good outcomes can they expect from new safety practices?

Start with compliance

Compliance is a great place to start when figuring out the right safety measures for your workplace. Bergman recommends finding all the areas of authority for your industry. What are their standards? Is your business in compliance with those standards? If they were to do an audit, would your business be ready?

Get creative: engaging employees in safety culture

Bergman finds that putting in extra effort when it comes to safety pays off. Business owners need to get creative. How can you engage employees? For example, safety posters are an easy place to start. “It’s not enough just to have the posters, add some flavor to the posters,” he recommended. “Get employees engaged on creating the posters.” Turn safety into something everyone can join in on. This helps it touch every area of the job.

Try new things

“A lot of our meetings are at 7 in the morning. Some people haven’t had their coffee, some woke up at 6:45, who knows!” Bergman admitted. But if you can start the day with something competitive or engaging, then employees can enjoy learning about safety.

Try new things in regular safety meetings. Bergman uses the following ways to engage staff at Two Men and a Truck:

• Get people involved. Let employees be the teachers. Allow them to guide safety discussions. In addition, assign someone to help run the technology.
• Ask good questions. Employees experience different situations on the job. Have they ever encountered a safety hazard or risky situation? What could they have done differently? Be patient. Let everyone have a voice.
• Play games. Add a little excitement to a regular meeting. Employees can participate in quizzes and games using their smartphones – try Kahoot for a free option.
• Hold people accountable. Share a short quiz or worksheet. It will help employees stay engaged. Some may not get all the answers right. But it’s important for them to work towards better scores.

3 ways company leadership can invest in safety today

Some companies struggle to have conversations about safety. Even if employees are willing to change, leadership may not understand the difference working safely can make. “Not every company’s safety program is created equally,” Bergman added. “Not every company’s safety manager, if there is one, is created equally, as well.”

It’s important to understand the benefits and consequences when it comes to safety. Bergman shared three ways leadership can prioritize safety:

1. Create consequences. Every employee – from the top down – needs to follow safety rules and expectations. Not following them can result in write-ups, suspensions, or even financial penalties.
2. Add safety to performance reviews. Hold employees accountable for working safely. A great safety record lends support to a raise. A poor safety record can start a conversation on how to improve.
3. Show incentives. What are the positive results for working safely? Show employees the benefits. Fewer claims and injuries are reasons to celebrate – and to continue working safely.

Safety is everyone’s job

For Bergman, creating a safety culture isn’t just one person’s job. Above all, company leaders drive change. Supervisors and managers support it. Employees make those changes happen. Everyone plays a role. In order to create a safety culture, everyone has to participate. “They have to make a decision: are they going to jump in the boat, or out of the boat?” He explained. “And you have to give them the opportunity to do that.”

For more information on creating safety rules and educating employees, visit our Resource Library. Then, tune in to our latest WorkSAFE Podcast episode on keeping employees safe on the road.

The post Safety Culture: Building a Safer Workplace with Leadership Support appeared first on MEM.

In late 2018, an employee on a Scott Gann Construction site had one of those days. The employee, who had several years’ experience, was cutting exterior trim for a project with a tight deadline when he accidentally moved his index finger into the blade of the saw he was using.

Fortunately, Scott Gann, company president and Missouri Employers Mutual policyholder, had recently replaced their old table saws with new SawStop job site saws purchased with the help of an MEM safety grant.

Emergency stop instead of emergency room

Instead of causing a deep laceration, serious damage or even amputation, the SawStop immediately shut down upon coming into contact with the employee’s skin. “There was no panic; no trip to the ER,” said Gann. “There was no lost work time and most importantly, a young man still has all of his index finger.”

How does SawStop technology work? While in use, the safety system constantly monitors a small electrical signal. If the blade contacts skin, which is conductive, an emergency brake springs into the saw’s blade, stopping it in less than five milliseconds. Typically, users must replace the blade after the brake is activated, which takes about five minutes. After that, work can resume.

Work continued and deadline met

The kind of injury the employee avoided that day can have big consequences. In addition to the loss of a finger, it can sideline an injured employee for weeks or even months. According to MEM claim data, amputation injuries led to an average of 48 lost workdays. That can impact a project’s bottom line in fast-paced, seasonal industries like construction. “Having even one employee out because of a work-related injury can make things more difficult financially and make it hard to meet deadlines,” Gann explained.

In addition to lost time and productivity, this type of claim can incur costs upwards of $50,000. That can hurt a small policyholder’s e-mod – and consequently, increase their premium.

Thanks to this limb-saving technology, the employee went back to work unharmed, and Gann’s crew finished the project on time.

A small investment in safety can yield a large return. Find out how. >

The post Saw Safety Equipment Saves Employee’s Finger appeared first on MEM.

Since Mike Flynn Sr. founded the company in 1954, Flynn Drilling has been providing complete water services throughout the state. The Flynn family – first Mike Sr., then his wife Katy, now their son Danny – has run a tight ship since the beginning. Their objective: 100% customer satisfaction.

Of course, 100% customer satisfaction wasn’t easy in 1954 and it’s not easy today. To provide a great experience, you need consistent results. To produce consistent results, you need employees who are happy, healthy, and confident on the job.

Workplace culture matters

Fostering this high-achieving culture is something Flynn Drilling does very well. “We have very little turnover,” explained Kurt Harke, Chief Operations Officer. “Many of our guys have been here ten to twenty years.” That kind of loyalty isn’t common, especially in their industry. Higher-risk industries like construction and utilities see annual turnover as high as 50-60%.

What’s their secret? “They hire the right people, and they treat them well,” said Kevin Flynn, the company’s insurance agent and – you guessed it – Danny Flynn’s brother. However, it takes some effort to look past the drilling industry’s overall risk profile and see this company’s culture of excellence. In the early days, that wasn’t something Flynn Drilling’s insurance carrier was willing to do.

Kevin explained: “Before we moved them to a policy with Missouri Employers Mutual, it was hard to find a carrier because of their high-risk industry.” When MEM was founded in 1995, Flynn Drilling became one of our first policyholders.

A few years into the partnership, however, the company had three major claims in one year. “It was an anomaly, and I advocated for MEM to keep them despite the setback,” Kevin recalled. If MEM canceled the policy, they would have likely gone to the pool, or the state-assigned plan for businesses unable to get coverage from a standard carrier.

“If they’d been sent to the pool, they wouldn’t have gotten the safety services they needed to get back on their feet,” Kevin explained. “MEM believed in them. Part of their success in terms of safety has been MEM.”

Industry leader in safety

Today, nearly 20 years later, Flynn Drilling joins us in celebrating our 25^th anniversary as one of our oldest policyholders. Their safety record is miles above the industry average. The company has about 50 employees, most of whom work on location at job sites, installing and servicing water wells. Employees typically work in small teams. They change job sites as frequently as every few days – or even hours. In this dynamic and dispersed work environment, company leadership must work hard to keep safety top of mind for everyone.

“We have safety meetings with all employees on the first Monday of every month,” explained Harke. At the meeting, Danny covers a focused topic with the group. Then, he opens the floor for employees to share their own experiences related to the topic, including near misses. You might think employees would be hesitant to share these stories, but Flynn Drilling’s culture provides a safe place to discuss them. “The employees take it as a learning opportunity. If we can prevent a future injury, it’s worth talking about,” Harke said.

Crews also head out to their job sites equipped with toolbox talks, safety checklists and other physical resources that they can reference every day before beginning work.

Safety grant prevents electrical shocks

Some common safety topics for Flynn Drilling: hard hat use, personal protective equipment policies, and electrical safety. Last year, the company was selected to receive an MEM safety grant to purchase arc flash safety suits. These protect employees from shocks while working with the electrical components on a well, which can carry high voltage on a municipal job. Employees also follow stringent protocol when working around electricity to ensure they take all the necessary precautions.

Resident mechanics provide proactive maintenance

At MEM, we talk a lot about return on safety – that is, the return you get on an investment in safety resources, equipment or other improvements. A few years ago, after decades of outsourcing maintenance on their heavy machinery, Flynn Drilling decided to invest in bringing that work in-house.

They added two full-time mechanics to their growing team, dedicated to maintaining and servicing company-owned equipment. This change led to safer equipment and consistent work quality since the in-house mechanics could be trained on the company’s industry-specific machines. It also lets them perform proactive maintenance on their machinery instead of reacting when something stops working – saving time and increasing productivity.

“Drill rigs are complex, and specific knowledge is required to maintain them properly,” said Harke. “When we hired our own mechanics, the rest of the employees immediately started commenting on the change. They’re very happy with it.”

The next 25 years of safety

In a high-risk industry, Flynn Drilling breaks the mold by fostering a proactive, safety-first culture. It’s clear that leadership treats the company’s employees as their most important asset. “It’s about more than OSHA compliance here,” Harke remarked. “We encourage every employee to go above and beyond compliance to truly put safety first.”

MEM is celebrating 25 years of helping Missouri businesses build safer workplaces! Learn more. >

The post Celebrating 25 Years: Safety Culture Drives Family-Owned Drilling Company’s Success appeared first on MEM.