SAN DIEGO/SAN FRANCISCO -- State Compensation Insurance Fund will sponsor a large-scale comprehensive seminar – “Safety Compliance and Claims” – in San Diego, November 7. The seminar – which is open to the public and free of charge - is designed to give employers insight into safety compliance by presenting them with a Cal/OSHA perspective and a claims perspective.

Featured speakers at the seminar include Michael Alvarez, Cal/OSHA Consultation Service Regional Manager; Lisa Prince, Attorney at Law with the Walter Law Firm and; Leslie Tertocha, State Fund Assistant Claims Manager.

During the first part of the seminar – ‘Staying on the Cutting Edge’ -  Mr. Alvarez will discuss the top 20 most cited hazards and offer ideas in instituting cost-effective solutions and avoiding costly fines. Attendees will learn if their current Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) qualifies them for participation in Cal/OSHA’s Recognition Programs and Awards.

In 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 by focusing on:

• 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 part of the seminar - “Workers’ Compensation 101 – A Claims Overview”- State Fund’s Leslie Tertocha will present to employers various suggestions on how to be prepared for handling work-related injuries including:

• Roles and responsibilities employers should be prepared to take in the event of a work-related injury
• How to make sure the injured employee receives prompt medical care
• Basic claims principles and legalities associated with a claim

The seminar is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Sheraton San Diego Mission Valley, 1433 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego. Registration and complimentary continental breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. To register, please call Mike Torres at (858) 552-3347. To register via email, please email Mike at matorres@scif.com. Registration can also be done online.

The San Diego seminar is part of State Fund’s Employer Education Series, a broad spectrum of informative presentations offered throughout the state to help employers create safe workplaces. State Fund has the largest safety and health services program among California workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

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.