SACRAMENTO – For the third consecutive year, State Compensation Insurance Fund will be a featured participant at Pacific Builders Safety Expo in Sacramento. The third annual event is being held March 27-29 at Sacramento State University and is being hosted by the Sacramento Builders' Exchange.

The “PBSxpo” is designed for construction/building industry professionals, and thousands of contractors and their employees are expected to attend. Hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, paired with more than 50 training workshops, will provide a forum for safety and health related education and training. The PBSxpo sessions are vital for contractors – both large and small – to educate their employees about the latest and most pressing safety and health issues today, including the top 15 OSHA violations and accidents in the construction industry.

The PBSxpo will feature vendors and exhibitors who will have construction equipment, products, and services on display from virtually all segments of the industry. There will be demonstrations on the proper tools and equipment, and how to use them safely.

State Fund will be an exhibitor at the event and several State Fund safety and claims professionals will be featured speakers, including Jim Hay, Martin Tamayo, Jeff Tiedeman, Lisa Witchey, and Tanya Sandoval.

Hay will conduct a two-part course, “Cal/OSHA 8-hour Core: Commercial – Parts 1&2,” which will focus on implementing an effective accident prevention program. The course is designed to train foremen and supervisors on how to prevent accidents and illnesses at their worksites.

Tamayo will discuss “I.I.P.P. – The Most Cited OSHA Violation.” This workshop will address how employers can establish an Injury and Illness Prevention Program that will effectively meet Cal/OSHA requirements.

Tiedeman will conduct a workshop on “Construction Ergonomics.”  The workshop will examine the direct connection between ergonomics and preventing construction-related injuries. Tiedeman will demonstrate innovative tools that are designed to minimize injuries to workers, and he will also discuss ways that employers can reduce injuries through changes in attitudes and work practices. 

State Fund claims experts Lisa Witchey and Tanya Sandoval will hold a seminar, “Claims Management/WC 101,” that will focus how employers can control or sometimes reduce the cost of medical claims. They will discuss strategies such as taking an active roll in claims management; utilizing First Aid reporting, and establishing an early return-to-work policy.

The PBSxpo schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, March 27, 2007
  • Registration – 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Education/Training – 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 28, 2007
  • Registration – 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Education/Training – 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Expo (tradeshow) – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 29, 2007
  • Registration – 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Education/Training – 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Expo (tradeshow) – 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All attendees must register to attend the Expo. The cost to attend all three days is $35 with advance registration. The pre-registration deadline is March 19, 2007. Registration applications may be faxed to (916) 932-2209. Participants can also register online at http://www.pbsxpo.com/. After March 19, registration must be done onsite with a $50 fee. For more information, contact Heidi Hughes at (916) 932-2296 or e-mail her at heidih@4arc.com. Parking is free.

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.