Calif. State Fund Hosts Emergency Preparedness in the Workforce Workshop

California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund is holding a seminar for policyholders on emergency preparedness, aging in the workforce and responding to workplace injuries at a free seminar in Pleasanton, Calif., on September 19.

Featured speakers include Michael Alvarez, regional manager for Cal/OSHA Consultation Service; Helen Chandler, a certified industrial ergonomist for State Fund, and Cheri Brandt, State Fund’s Customer Service Center Manager.

The seminar is divided into three sections. The first part will focus on the importance of emergency preparedness in the workplace. Alvarez will show employers how to develop effective emergency plans that concentrate on simplifying decision-making during emergencies. He will also talk about how to respond to emergencies at worksites.

The second section of the seminar will address the workplace modifications to prevent injury in an aging workforce. Chandler will discuss the steps employers can take to prevent injuries at little or no cost. She will also discuss how to retain and manage a mature workforce.

The final section of the program will examine how employers can most effectively prepare to handle work-related injuries. Brandt will explain the roles and responsibilities employers have when a worker is injured, and how to ensure that an injured employee receives prompt medical attention. She will also focus on how to properly manage injury claims.

“The overall goal of this seminar is to help employers create a safer workplace on both a regular basis and in times of crisis,” said State Fund’s Brandt. “By providing employers with a thorough understanding of these important issues, we can help them prevent injuries and save money in the long run.”

The workshop is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel in Pleasanton, 7050 Johnson Drive. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be served until 8 a.m. To register, call Conchita Layug at 510-577-3113, or fax 510-577-3166. To register via e-mail: cdlayug@scif.com.

The Pleasanton seminar is among the free State Fund seminars held throughout the year to educate employers, employees, brokers and other system stakeholders about various workers’ compensation issues including how to decrease workers’ compensation costs.