Wearing jewelry provides an outlet for personal expression. In some work environments, however, jewelry creates danger. For those environments the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers guidelines for safe use of jewelry and suggestions for when jewelry should not …
Each year VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) recovers more than $1 million in workers’ compensation and property and liability losses through subrogation. Subrogation, by definition, means “to stand in the place of,” or “to substitute.” “When we subrogate a claim, we …
Read More › “Saving members money – how subrogation fits in”
The VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) 2013-2014 Risk Management Grants will be available once again July 1. Again this year, $250,000 will be available for distribution and no changes to the process or application have been made. Last year VMLIP distributed …
Changes are in effect beginning July 1 for the 2013 – 2014 Risk Management Guidelines (RMG) assessment. While some aspects of the assessment will change, many will remain the same. Some items remaining unchanged include: Easy electronic access to your …
Read More › “Change is coming once again to the Risk Management Guidelines (RMG)”
Effective interviewing is the cornerstone of successful recruitment, and developing effective interview questions is crucial to that process. The goal of the interview is to gain verification of the applicant’s background and work history, and find evidence that the applicant …
For four years the City of Williamsburg Safety Committee has been providing an annual report to the city manager. The report lists the number of meetings the committee held, as well as highlights and major achievements. For Fiscal Year 2012, …
Read More › “Williamsburg safety committee going strong after five years”
Is your entity one of the 66 percent of VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) members without a business continuity plan in place? Do you know where you would conduct business in the event your building was to become uninhabitable? Do you …
Thanks to all who participated in VML Insurance Programs’ (VMLIP) first safety photo contest. We asked members to submit their best safety, program, or other safety-related photo in recognition of April as National Safety Month. The winners are: Most Innovative: Alexandria …
Congratulations to all of the winners of 2013 risk management awards! Each year VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) presents these awards to members with a proactive risk management attitude and commitment, excellent loss experience and reporting time, or a significant improvement …
Read More › “Spring workshop honors 2013 risk management award winners”
Competent person The term “competent person” is used in many Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and documents. An OSHA “competent person” is defined as “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or …
Hazard communication, respiratory protection, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks, lockout/tagout – these are some of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) top ten violations from 2011 – 2012. Are your employees trained in these areas? Is the training up-to-date? …
Are compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) safe? Generally yes, if they are handled and stored while observing a few precautions. Mercury is not released when the CFL bulbs are used properly. However CFL bulbs do contain four to five milligrams …
Operator error is a leading cause of driving and equipment related claims and injuries. To address this issue and promote safety, the City of Petersburg held it’s first vehicle safety rodeo at the city sports complex late last year. Safety …
Press Release, February 21, 2013 – At banquet VML Insurance Programs provides 33 award plaques and discusses success of the campaign on reducing claims, injuries and creating safer roadways – Richmond, VA – In 2009 VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) started …
The VMLIP 2011 – 2012 Annual Report is now available online. The theme of this year’s report is partnership. Inside, in addition to financial information, readers will find information on how Virginia’s local governmental entities joined together in risk management …
Read More › “Partnership is the focus of the VMLIP 2011 – 2012 Annual Report”
Employees of the Vienna Department of Public Works were recognized in December for their role in helping the town achieve a dramatic decrease in work-related injuries. Nancy McMahon, director of administrative services for the northern Virginia town, noted a substantial …
Read More › “Vienna honors public works employees for safety achievements”
Boiler and Machinery coverage isn’t on the forefront of most people’s minds. It is the type of coverage that we only think about when something goes wrong. To lessen the chance of something going wrong, the Commonwealth of Virginia has …
An employee handbook/personnel policy manual is an important communication tool between you and your employees. A well-written handbook sets forth your expectations for your employees, and describes what they can expect from your entity. It also should describe your legal …
Read More › “The New Year is a great time to make sure your personnel policy manual is up-to-date”
This year’s flu season is expected to be one of the worst we’ve seen in 10 years. Chances are that if you don’t have the flu, you know someone who does. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …
Several weeks ago we asked Facebook followers to submit their best winter safety tip! We received many submissions – some from VML Insurance Programs members and some from Facebook followers! The VML Insurance Programs safety team has ranked the top …
Read More › “Facebook contest: Winter safety tips winners announced!”
Press Release, Jan. 3, 2013: Each year VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) distributes Risk Management Grants to members for use in purchasing equipment or training to expand their risk management programs. This year VMLIP distributed $250,000 in grants to more than …
Read More › “VML Insurance Programs distributes $250,000 in risk management grants to members”
Late on the evening of July 20, 2012, officers for the Shenandoah County Sherriff’s Office and Woodstock police departments responded to a call regarding a man threatening people with a knife. By the end of the call, several police officers …
Read More › “Body camera footage corroborates police accounts in Woodstock shooting”
Spiritual celebrations. Holiday light tours. Black Friday. Parties. Mall parking lots. Riding over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house … At no time are we more likely to be distracted than during the hectic holiday season, which …
Nearly a year after a Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed the City of Poquoson’s public works facility, city officials, employees and representatives from VML Insurance Programs gathered on Nov. 14 to dedicate a new public works building. The fire began last …
Read More › “Poquoson opens new public works building after 2011 Thanksgiving fire”
National School Bus Safety Week is being observed Oct. 22 – 26. This year’s theme is “Stand Back from the Yellow and Black” In observance we are focusing this post on a checklist for school bus danger zones, shared from …