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1/29/2013
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 …
Read More › “Overview: Boiler and Machinery Coverage”
1/14/2013
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”
1/07/2013
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!”
1/03/2013
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”
12/27/2012
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”
12/14/2012
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 …
Read More › “Holiday Traffic Safety”
12/12/2012
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”
10/22/2012
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 …
Read More › “Recognizing National School Bus Safety Week”
9/28/2012
The backing of equipment and vehicles, also known as “reverse operations,” has caused an average of two work related fatalities per year in Virginia since 1992. In an effort to reduce reverse operation injuries and fatalities, the Virginia Department of …
Read More › “Virginia’s reverse signal operation standard for equipment and vehicles”
9/17/2012
Several weeks ago we asked Facebook followers to submit their best safety tip – for “back to school” or for the general workplace. We received 11 submissions – some from VML Insurance Programs members and some from Facebook followers! …
Read More › “Safety contest winners revealed!”
9/10/2012
Sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians is challenging for most drivers, especially when there are so many distractions facing today’s drivers. The bevy of gadgets available are often the biggest culprits to distracted driving, but increased stress, sleep deprivation, …
Read More › “Driving around cyclists and pedestrians”
8/28/2012
As Gulf Coast states prepare for Hurricane Isaac, we are reminded that it is never too late to make sure we are prepared for hurricane season which ends Nov. 30 but peaks from mid-August until mid-October. The Weather Channel predicts …
Read More › “Are you StormReady?”
8/23/2012
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting the highest number of West Nile virus (WNV) disease cases reported through the third week of August since the virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. Of the 1,118 …
Read More › “West Nile virus cases reach annual record”
8/21/2012
August is back-to-school month for most of us. Parents have their hands full preparing for a new school year, but so do faculty and staff. To make your transition back to school with students easier, you can refer to this …
Read More › “Back to school safety”
8/15/2012
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to revise the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals standards regarding requirements for head protection. OSHA is updating the references in …
Read More › “Changes to hard hat protection requirements coming this September”
8/09/2012
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has released a pamphlet summarizing the science behind actions law enforcement agencies can take to improve officer safety and wellness. The pamphlet, entitled “Protecting Our Protectors: Using Science to Improve Officer Safety and Wellness,” …
Read More › “Protecting our protectors”
8/07/2012
Most of us don’t think about sidewalks; their practical convenience is virtually invisible to us, but they can be a potential cause of both liability and workers’ compensation claims. Local governments own and maintain miles of sidewalk that are used …
Read More › “Heads up: Maintaining safe sidewalks”
8/02/2012
In recording working time under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), infrequent and insignificant periods of time beyond the scheduled working hours, which cannot as a practical matter be precisely recorded for payroll purposes, may be disregarded. The courts have …
Read More › “Recording hours worked”
6/27/2012
A community volunteer program allows a public entity to utilize the talents, skills, and knowledge of volunteers to supplement the efforts of staff. Efforts to engage the community in local government operations will help to educate the public and gain …
Read More › “Volunteers can help enhance an entity's performance”
6/25/2012
Last year VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) made available $200,000 in Risk Management Grant funding. Funds were depleted within the first three months of the program, setting another record for grant distribution. Beginning July 1 VMLIP will again begin accepting …
Read More › “Risk Management Grants available July 1”
6/20/2012
Did you know that falls are the leading unintentional injury and account for more than 8.7 million emergency room visits each year in the United States? One in every three adults age 65 and older falls each year. This information …
Read More › “You could "fall" head over heels for our new video!”
6/14/2012
In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires, including 1,100 total structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 14,100 outside/other fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Hospital rooms treated an estimated 8,600 people for firework related injuries, …
Read More › “Fireworks considerations for public entities”
6/08/2012
Each year 74 deaths occur and 25,000 people receive emergency treatment as a result of riding lawn mower activities, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. Using mowers at work is quite different from using them at home. On …
Read More › “Lawn mower safety”
6/06/2012
The 2012 Virginia General Assembly has passed a law that impacts the issuance of certificates of insurance. The law will be effective on July 1, 2012. The law was advocated by the insurance industry and addresses an issue that insurance …
Read More › “New law impacts certificates of insurance”
6/05/2012
Earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes – “oh my.” Last year in Virginia we experienced each of these. Hurricane season started June 1, and while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a near-normal hurricane season this year, “near-normal” still means …
Read More › “Is your entity prepared for hurricane season?”