This presentation explains which industries in Alaska hire the most seasonal employees, the norms for their shifts and work hours, rates of injury, and how to decrease the rate of injruy and unsafe work tasks seasonal workers will preform. This was presented by Amy VanOstenbridge at the Alaska Governor's Health and Safety Conference in April, 2018.

1. Amy VanOstenbridge
April 4, 2018
Injury Prevention for
Seasonal Workers

2. Introduction

3. Agenda
• Understanding the seasonal
employee
• Common workplace injuries
• Solutions
• Support and Audit
• Questions and Feedback

4. Which industries are using the bulk of seasonal/temporary employees
in Alaska?
• Oil and gas
• Hospitality/Tourism
• Seafood
• Construction
The Seasonal Employee
Employee
Characteristic
Year Round Seasonal
Work Conditioned ✔ X
Adjusted to the
environment
✔ X
Hands on experience ✔ X
Motivation – Short
term
X ✔
Motivation – Long
term
✔ X

5. Alaskan Seasonal Industry Norms
• 10 – 16 hour shifts
• 5-7 days a week
• Strenuous tasks
• Customs
o Communal housing
• Language
• Rate on injuries - HIGHER

6. BLS 2016 Common Non Fatal Injuries for Workers per Industry
5Antea USA, Inc.

7. 6Antea USA, Inc.

8. 7Antea USA, Inc.

9. Why do these injuries occur?
• Lack of Training
• Unfamiliar cultural norms
• Work shifts
• Limited to no work station
adjustment
• Limited task variety
• Cold, wet, slick environment
• Manual labor
• Lifting, pushing, pulling

10. The Cost of an Injury
9Antea USA, Inc.
Direct
• Workers’ comp costs
• Legal fees
• Medical fees
• OSHA fines
• Equipment, Building damage
• Loss of Production
Indirect
• Cost of replacement
• Additional supervision or admin costs
• Low morale
• Re-training
• Accident investigation time
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/safetypays/estimator.html

11. 10Antea USA, Inc.
https://business.libertymutualgroup.com/business-insurance/Documents/Services/Workplace%20Safety%20Index.pdf
The Cost of an Injury – Direct

12. Workers Comp Cost Per Body Part for Alaska
11Antea USA, Inc.
https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/workers-compensation-benefits-by-limb#
The Cost of an Injury – Direct

13. The Cost of an Injury – Indirect
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Indirect
• Cost of replacement
• Additional supervision or
admin costs
• Low morale
• Re-training
• Accident investigation time
5
95
Injury Costs
Direct Cost Indirect Cost
Investigation
10%
Training
20%
Cost of
Replacement
10%
Low Morale
Additional Supervision
10%
Misc.
25%
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs can be up
to 20 X the direct costs

14. Investing in risk reduction:
• Proactive:
o Prevention through
design
o Training
o Orientation
o Hazard recognition
o Management support
What is the Solution?

15. Prevention Through Design
14Antea USA, Inc.
Downtime planning
• Will the layout be the
same?
• Will the workforce be the
same?
• What injuries happened
last year that could be
prevented by the design?

16. When to train?
• Pre-job training
• On the job training
• After an accident
Training
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Verify the training works
• Test and shadowing
• Obtain feedback on training
• Buddy

17. Elements of an Effective Orientation
• Site specific hazards
• Hazard assessments
• REPORT HAZARDS TO SUPERVISOR
• Safety culture
• OSHA workers rights
• Reporting injuries without
retaliation
• Participation
• Emergency action plan
Facility/Site Orientation
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19. • Train on a hazard identification
o https://www.osha.gov/hazfin
der/
o https://www.osha.gov/shpgui
delines/hazard-
Identification.html
• Have an easy option for reporting
hazards
• Track reported and fixed hazards
Hazard Recognition
Implement a Solution
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20. • Document all efforts towards risk
reduction
• Maintain current documents of
training, audits, procedures, etc.
• Use matrix reporting to show
progress in injury prevention
• Gather exit information
Document, Maintain, and Improve
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21. • Safety culture starts with
management
• Data for support
• Influence without power when
needed
Management Support
Support and Audit
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22. • Audit your work
o Is the program consistent
across sites, facilities, etc.?
• Plan and execute identified
improvements
Auditing
Support and Audit
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23. Example
• 2 employees with
contusion
• $57,773 total D+ND cost
per person
• $115K total of
avoidable costs
A Case for Injury Prevention
What could you use $115K
towards?
1. Off season prevention through
design
2. Hazard recognition and
correction - Auditing
3. Workforce and program
development
4. Training
5. PPE
22Antea USA, Inc.
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/safetypays/estima
tor.html

24. What do you do now?
• Make your case for management
support
• Audit your program
• Make a plan for off season
preparation
• Be a part of the bigger discussions
on process changes
Summary
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25. Questions & Feedback

26. Additional References
1. http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/14053-new-workers-higher-
risk
2. https://www.osha.gov/temp_workers/index.html
3. http://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/factsheets/fs45.pdf
4. https://www.osha.gov/hazfinder/
5. https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/hazard-Identification.html
6. https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html
7. https://www.bls.gov/
8. https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/workers-compensation-benefits-by-
limb#
9. https://business.libertymutualgroup.com/business-
insurance/Documents/Services/Workplace%20Safety%20Index.pdf
10. http://www.dorncompanies.com/downloads/articles/cost_of_a_work_place_inju
ry.pdf