Division of Risk Management and Loss Control Innovations receives a Montgomery's Best Award
The Division of Risk Management and Loss Control Innovations received a Montgomery's Best Award for development of a pilot safety program with the Department of Fire and Rescue Services. Congratulations to the Chief Richard Bowers, Assistant Chief Denise Pouget, Fred Enos with the Division of Risk Management, and Jack Sullivan, Managing Partner Loss Control Innovations.
Beginning in 2006, the Division of Risk Management began a partnership arrangement with the Department of Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) Safety Office with a goal of changing the culture in FRS to embrace safety as an integral part of the job for all employees. For several years prior to this project, the frequency and severity of on-the-job injuries was increasing, causing double digit budget increases for workers'
compensation claims.
The project was offered by Risk Management to the FRS director, who agreed to support the project, delegating full authority to the Safety Office, led by Division Chief Richard Bowers and Assistant Chief Denise Pouget.
In partnership with Loss Control Innovations, LLC, a contractor funded by the Division of Risk Management, employee and management focus groups were convened for the purpose of evaluating perceptions of the safety culture in the Department at that time, and to evaluate injury data showing accident and injury trends.
Many other fire departments were contacted around the country to identify safety best practices and to determine if those practices would work in Montgomery County FRS.
Once identified, the best practices were compared to then current practices in FRS and training sessions were developed to implement the changes. The training was provided to all management and line employees in the department. The Safety Office was instrumental in providing full access to Risk Management and the contractor to all shifts and units in the Department, and to reinforce the need to change the culture to one focused on employee safety. These practices have been reinforced by the Safety Office since the project ended in July 2007. The FRS Safety Office has continued the work begun two years ago in collaboration with Risk Management.
The results have been impressive. For FY06 and FY07 there has been a 20% reduction of injuries involving lost time from work, reversing a longstanding upward trend. Insurance premiums for workers' compensation decreased over $1 million from FY07 to projected FY09. These changes were possible because of the collaborative spirit presented by Chief Bowers and Assistant Chief Pouget. They have invested in a safety culture for FRS and it is being rewarded with fewer injuries and significant dollar savings for the County.