BUENA PARK/SAN FRANCISCO -- State Compensation Insurance Fund will sponsor a comprehensive accident investigation seminar in Buena Park on May 15. The seminar, which is free to State Fund policyholders, is designed to show employers how to more thoroughly investigate accidents to reduce their future claims, as well as educate employers about Cal/OSHA citations and consultation.

Featured speakers at the seminar include Michael Kerney, Director of Risk Management Services; Lisa Prince, an attorney at the Walter Law Firm; and Wende Carleson, Regional Manager of Cal/OSHA High Hazard Enforcement.

In the first section of the seminar, “Why Conduct an Investigation: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” Mr. Kerney, who is also an Associate in Risk Management (ARM), will explain how workplace hazards can be discovered and corrected through properly conducted accident investigations. He will show how accident investigation results can work as a catalyst for preventing future workplace accidents and provide workers with a safer environment.

During this portion of the workshop, attendees will conduct simulated investigations involving different industries and explore three accidents. All participants will leave with a variety of investigation forms that will enable them to develop their own custom accident investigation reporting tools.

During the second part of the seminar, “How Employers Can Address Serious Cal/OSHA Citations,” Ms. Prince will explain to employers how they should respond to serious Cal/OSHA citations and penalties. She will focus on the following topics:

• Evaluating the hidden costs and risks of a Cal/OSHA citation.
• Preparing for a Cal/OSHA inspection.
• How to successfully get through the inspection process.
• How to navigate the Cal/OSHA appeals process.

In the final section of the seminar, “Cal/OSHA's Ten Most Cited Violations,” Ms. Carleson will review and discuss the most commonly cited safety violations, and the standards that warrant these citations. She will explain how to comply with these standards and provide attendees with ideas for instituting cost-effective compliance solutions. In addition, she will help employers understand the citations related to the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), and how employers can make their program more effective. She will also explain the Cal/OSHA inspection process, the rights of employers during this process, and the free services from Cal/OSHA Consultation that employers can use.

The seminar is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Buena Park, 7000 Beach Boulevard. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and free parking is available. A continental breakfast will be served at the event.

The Buena Park seminar is part of a series of educational programs State Compensation Insurance Fund is holding throughout the state in order to help employers create safe workplaces. State Fund has the largest safety and health services program among California workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

Register now for this or other available seminars.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Established by the California Legislature in 1914, San Francisco-based State Compensation Insurance Fund is a self-supporting, nonprofit, fairly competitive public enterprise that provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage at cost to California employers.