FAQ's
- My insurance company provides safety services, why do I need you?
- I have used other safety services but it seems like they only want to do what OSHA requires. What do you do differently?
- What happens if OSHA or an EPA inspector arrives at my site?
- What are your main steps once a business contracts with you?
- How often do you visit your clients?
- What types of businesses do you serve?
- What can you do to help me with the rising costs of workers compensation insurance?
- We use a variety of chemicals and noisy equipment at our facility. How do I know if my employees are exposed to an unsafe situation?
1. My insurance company provides safety services, why do I need you?
Most insurance companies do provide safety services, but they are on a limited basis and usually are more consultative type visits. Summit Safety specializes in developing ongoing relationships and working more on the implementation of a safety program, rather than telling a client how to implement it
2. I have used other safety services but it seems like they only want to do what OSHA requires. What do you do differently?
We will implement OSHA programs with our clients, but then go much beyond that. With profit margins getting slimmer each year, safety programs need to be designed to meet OSHA requirements but also be designed to prevent loss. We will develop and implement programs to address the specific needs of each client.
3. What happens if OSHA or an EPA inspector arrives at my site?
Since we work closely with our clients, we feel we should be there to represent our clients during all phases of an inspection. Our clients can simply give us a call and we will handle the inspection from there.
4. What are your main steps once a business contracts with you?
First we sit down with the company contact and look over past accident history. Also at that time we will review the OSHA 300 log to ensure it is filled out accurately. We will try to spot any trends in the clients accident history.
Next we look over any written safety programs or policies the client already has in place. Anything that needs to be updated or revised will be written specifically for the client.
Following the records review, we will complete a detailed safety audit at the site. A written report will follow. It will outline OSHA compliance problems, unsafe acts, and unsafe conditions observed at the time of the audit.
From there, a game plan will be developed for the next 12 months. This plan will outline needed employee and supervisor training, safety and environmental reports needed, any other item important for the development of a comprehensive program.
5. How often do you visit your clients?
Rather than just a once a year visit, we work with our clients on a monthly or quarterly schedule. During those visits we spend much time holding employee safety training meetings, safety committee meetings, performing safety and environmental audits, and staying current with the needs of our clients.
6. What types of businesses do you serve?
We work with many manufacturing and construction companies; also we work in warehousing, distribution, retail establishments. Each have their own unique needs and we can develop effective programs to address their individual needs.
7. What can you do to help me with the rising costs of workers compensation insurance?
Much of the cost of workers compensation insurance has to do with market conditions. We can help try to minimize the increases in your annual premium.
The best way to do this is accident prevention. When accidents are eliminated your experience modifier goes down and you can save money on your insurance.
We believe the secrets to accident prevention do not rest in just complying with OSHA requirements. Supervisory commitment and employee involvement are two key elements in accident prevention. Having a company safety team is important. We can help lead this team and/or chair the meetings. The best safety ideas come from the employees that perform the jobs. When employees are a part of the safety program, they are more committed to it and want to see it succeed.
We can also ensure that you are eligible for any credits that your insurance company may provide for having a comprehensive safety program.
We will also review accident history reports to spot any mistakes in reporting from your insurance company.
8. We use a variety of chemicals and noisy equipment at our facility. How do I know if my employees are exposed to an unsafe situation?
We own equipment to measure indoor air quality and to measure noise levels. After any measurements are done, we provide a written report summarizing the findings and any necessary recommendations.