| Consultant and advisor to the pet industry |
| Think Safety to Reduce Costs Workers’ compensation insurance, required by most states, can account for a significant percentage of your total insurance costs. Some estimates from insurance company’s claim that one out of five claims are fraudulent, which will further add to increase your premiums along with the number and type of claims you submit. Consider all the costs really involved with a disabled employee: medical care, pay for lost wages, property damage (if any occurred related to an incidence), wages to cover a replacement employee or income lost from work not performed. Let’s look at some ways to promote safety, reduce claims, and keep your premiums at a reasonable level. Communicate with your employees Set up a standard operating procedure for reporting and investigating accidents occurring in the workplace. Accidents should be reported as soon as possible; your accident report form should also ask for witnesses to the incident as well as the supervisor’s name. It should be signed and have a declaration of truth (what they are reporting really happened this way); also indicate to employees on the form that injuries occurring outside of work will not be covered by workers’ compensation. Contact the doctor or medical center covering your employees, and ask that they call you to verify a workers’ comp claim before perform treatments. Also contact your insurance company to see if they have a specific doctor or center your staff are to be sent to. Often the first treatment can be through your regular physician, but follow up or referral care must be through a physician of their choice. An insurance company that offers managed care will likely have lower premiums than one without. Keep first aid kits in key locations, and be sure to go through them periodically to restock used items. Create a safety training program Your insurance carrier may also offer a reduced premium if you can show that employees receive safety training. A safety program for a grooming shop or kennel should include how to be safe around animals (bites are one of the most reported problem) as well as lift safely, and develop habits that help curb repetitive motion injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or even tennis elbow). Bites: Every staff member should learn to recognize behavior signs indicating the pet’s mood and behavior. Mark files of problem animals, especially those that are aggressive, so staff is forewarned before handling them. Appropriate use of muzzles and restraining techniques should be covered – how to hold a dog or carry a cat, how to leash a timid pet, or getting an aggressive dog in or out of a run. In my experience, the grooming shop has a higher incidence of bites than other areas of the business. Unsocialized or misbehaved pets that are difficult to groom pose a hazard to the person grooming them, especially since they are up on a table at hand and face level. Back injuries: every employee should know how to lift safely using their legs, not their back. Back sprains, pulled muscles, and disc injuries account for the most injuries and missed work time in general. All staff should be willing to help each other lift large animals. The general rule is to not lift more than ¼ to 1/3 of your own weight. Repetitive motion: Groomers need to take breaks from heavy brushing or scissoring jobs. Stretching may help to limber up tense muscles. Rotating jobs and cross training can help prevent the cumulative effects of repetitive motion caused by doing the same thing day after day. Build a Safe Environment Walk around your facility and take a good look at how safe it truly is. Are the floors in the grooming safe when wet, or does it become a skating rink for sneakers? How many items are laying on the floor to trip someone up? Those hoses, for instance, that should be coiled up neatly after the morning cleaning. Are the electrical cords on the dryers and clippers "healthy" or are there cracks, bared or frayed wires, or broken plugs? Provide cushioned mats around grooming tables and tubs to help relieve leg and back stress. If you are in the position to purchase new equipment, consider the electric tables that go lower than hydraulic tables; some ergonomic grooming equipment is now available in the form of scissors and brushes. Check the front desk and office areas As you tour your building looking for areas to improve safety, don’t overlook the reception area and offices. Computer related problems are now common in the age of technology. Eyestrain, repetitive motion issues, and even back strain from sitting to long occur at desks. Is the height of the desk, computer keyboard, computer monitor, and chair at a comfortable level for the employee using it? People who do a lot of data entry on computers should take a break once an hour to get up, move around, and stretch their arms, hands, and back. Monitors should be installed at eye level. Chairs should swivel to allow ease of movement. There are many forms of ergonomically designed furniture and even computer accessories available these days. As your furniture and computers need to be upgraded, look at some of these options. Common signs of problems The most obvious symptom of any condition is pain. Too often we ignore this simple symptom because we need to get the job done. Other warning signs may include:
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