Tag Archives: risk management

Safety Concerns As Construction Season Booms!

Posted by:

With construction in it’s peak for most of the country, now is a great time to assess your risks and safety protocols. As recently as this week headlines are filled with work related injuries including work related fatalities. How can you avoid putting your staff at risk?

stockxpertcom_id47528431_jpg_e021a107289ddf2901dfc318eabc9519

This week the construction of the new “Levi’s Stadium”, future home of the 49er’s was plagued with a work related fatality. A local contractor lost one of their long time elevator workers when he was struck by a falling counterweight while standing on a ladder at the bottom of an elevator shaft. Even with 43 years of experience on the job and what has been reported as appropriate PPE for the job, this 63 year old was lost. The $1.3 billion project with approximately 1,000 tradesmen on site was shut down for two days. How can you protect your team before it’s too late?

Host and engage your staff in regular safety meetings. Even the most qualified and experienced of tradesmen need to be reminded of safety procedures, cautions, and be aware of what is taking place on the job site. Regularly screen employees for PPE and question them on their safety precautions. Encourage all contractors on site to report any safety concerns or possible dangers to the on site safety manager immediately. Some of the safest sites include those who offer bonuses to those who report safety concerns and offer rewards for long periods of time on site without injury.

While maintaining and regularly evaluating your job sites for safety concerns can be time consuming and cost additional investment dollars, the return on investment is undeniable. Simple investments such as reflective vests, bright colored hard hats, additional safety fencing, and mirrors can save costly injuries quickly. Be sure to include all temporary workers who are on site in your regular safety meetings and practices. Everyone on site, regardless of their length of employment should have a part in maintaining a safe job site.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of experienced construction workers? Contact us today!  If you are a stand out skilled trades worker seeking short or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

 

Is Your Staffing Partner Protecting You From Future Damages?

Posted by:

As with any business partner, most companies assume that the staffing partner that they select is protecting them from future damages and charges. While during the course of employment most of the liability incurred with an employee would fall under the responsibility of the staffing firm, there are some cases in which an incorrect decision on your staffing partner’s behalf could effect you in the future.

stockxpertcom_id8988282_size2

Recently a produce company was ordered to pay almost $500,000 in back wages and damages to temporary workers who were incorrectly compensated for their work in the past. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the firm was investigated as part of a multi-year enforcement effort.

In this instance, the produce company operating in New Jersey was requiring temporary workers to report to the production area 15 minutes before their shift was to start but they were not compensated for this time. In addition to this uncompensated for time, the employees were on occasion paid piece rate wages which were not taken into account when calculating overtime.

In this case, both the produce company and their staffing firm were considered liable for Fair Labor Standards Act violations. The produce company signed a settlement agreement that including back wages and liquidated damages, amounted to $498,604. How can you help prevent being in a similar situation?

As with any potential business partner, you should pre-screen your staffing partner. The more established and experienced the staffing agency and their staff are, the more protection and quality of service you can expect. An established staffing agency should be able to provide you with a brief bio on the team who will be servicing your account, information on their corporate support structure, references from current and previous clients in your industry, and be familiar with appropriate laws and regulations in your industry. Choosing a staffing partner who can identify possible situations like the one above, can save you large amounts of money in the long run. While it is not the staffing partner’s responsibility to stop you from violations such as those above with the Fair Labor Standards Act, an experienced staffing professional is likely to bring it to your attention that you may be in violation or that such actions could cause you future damages or harm.

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

How To Hire A CDL Driver

Posted by:

Does your company specialize in something other than drivers? If so, hiring a safe a qualified CDL driver can be a serious task. Due to the nature of their product line, many manufacturers, retail facilities, and warehouses employ their own driving staff. Unfortunately due to strict DOT regulations, insurance, and other factors these employers may be opening themselves up to costly and dangerous liabilities.

Continue reading →

How To Be Successful In Marine Staffing

Posted by:

Whether you are searching for Marine Electricians, Shipfitters, or Pipefitters, the search for qualified skilled trades people with marine industry experience can be difficult. In our niche market, marine staffing has it’s own set of diverse challenges that can be difficult for those inexperienced in the industry to overcome. Let’s face it marine contractors across the world are able to find talent and get in forward motion, so the questions remains how do they do it?

Continue reading →

EEOC Reports on 2012 Charges

Posted by:

Have you recently faced an EEOC charge? If so, you’re not alone. The EEOC recently announced statistics from fiscal year 2012 that reflect over 99k charges in the private employment sector. What does that amount to for employers?

Continue reading →

This Could Effect Your Fleet!

Posted by:

How have recent regulations, weather conditions, and distractions effected your bottom line? Managing a fleet, remaining in compliance, and engaging a safety program is a lot to handle. Often times, employers lose focus on safety in the shuffle of handling multiple job responsibilities and keeping tabs on the latest regulations. How quickly can this add up?

Continue reading →

The $650B Per Year Burden For Employers

Posted by:

Following the recent recession, most employers are more cost aware than ever before. Protecting the bottom line and reducing costs has become a topic on the forefront of many employers minds and their strategic planning. Are you looking for ways to reduce costs? You cannot afford to miss out on what is costing employers an estimated $650 billion each year!

Continue reading →

20 Years of FMLA

Posted by:

Today marks the 20 year anniversary of FMLA. The Family and Medical Leave Act has caused employers across the nation to scratch their heads with questions and concerns over the past two decades. FMLA ranks as the federal statue with most questions asked in SHRM’s Knowledge Center, even after 20 years in play.  In the past few years FMLA has also become a hot topic on Social Media, prompting hundreds of groups and discussions on Twitter and LinkedIn. This mass of communication makes one thing clear, FMLA can be a confusing federal statue that leads employers and HR professionals across the country to constantly be seeking more information and clarification.

Continue reading →

Want to Retain Good Drivers?

Posted by:

Any employer knows it’s far more cost effective to maintain good personnel than it is to hire new. The costs and resources associated with employee turnover, recruitment, and training can quickly impact your bottom line and operating expenses. So how to do you hold on to those safe and professional drivers? Here are a few tips!

Continue reading →

20% Increase in Truck Occupant Deaths in 2011

Posted by:

If you employ drivers you understand the great impact that accidents and injuries have on your organization. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2011 saw a 20% increase in truck occupant deaths over the previous year. While this number is startling, some additional statistics give us some insight into the recent spike.

Continue reading →