perspective - acwa jpia talk on how to preserve ... bob kuhn, san gabriel basin wqa; ... the...

PerspectiveACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority Vol. 29 No. 6 November/December 2008

Inside This Issue ...4 2009 Calendar of Meeting Dates

4 How To Reach The JPIA

5 Holiday Season Safety

6 Lending Library Update

8 JPIA Professional Development Program Completions

2 Time to Review Property Schedules

3 Good Risk Transfer Saves JPIA Members Money

3 ACWA/JPIA Mission Statement

4 JPIA Training Department Adds Another Fantastic Employee

8 De-Stress Yourself

10 Fire Safety Planning and Preparedness

12 The H.R. LaBounty Safety Award Program Has Been Expanded to Include All JPIA Members

JPIA Holds First WebinarOn October 15, sixty-five districts

attended the presentation “The World of Electronic Litigation,” an informative talk on how to preserve electronically stored information. What was unusual about the pre-sentation was that nearly 100 of the participants weren’t even in the room. Fifty districts joined in on the presentation via the web. They were able to hear the presenter and view the slides as he talked to the group (representing fifteen districts) in per-son in Sacramento.

Neal Meyers of Daley & Heft LLP informed the attendees of what is expected of agencies in regards to proper retention and storage of elec-tronic information. With nearly 800 megabytes of data being produced by each person each year, it is im-portant for organizations to keep up to date on the related laws.

It was appropriate that JPIA’s first webinar, which is defined as the live delivery of training via the web, was on the topic of electronic evidence. Computers have become a critical part of conducting our business – from gaining information to prop-erly storing it.

Those that attended the presen-tation via the web felt it was a great way to learn and participate in train-

ing, which they could not attend in person. This method expands the learning opportunities for all agen-cies, no matter their location, and at a savings compared to traveling to a training site.

JPIA hopes to deliver more train-ing in this manner, so check our web site (www.acwajpia.com) often for updates.Written by: Patricia Slaven, Training Specialist

Automated Claims Reporting Now Available Online

JPIA members can now use the JPIA’s web site to report general li-ability, auto liability, and first party property damage claims to the JPIA Claims Department. JPIA members simply log onto the JPIA web site, (www.acwajpia.com) click on the Coverage Programs bar and then select Claims from the pull-down menu in order to access the auto-mated claim reporting forms.

JPIA members can report a gen-eral liability claim by selecting the Claim Incident Report Form and an auto accident liability claim by selecting the Claim Incident Report Form (Auto Only). Both forms can be found under Liability Program Claims Information. JPIA members can report a first party property damage claim by selecting the Claim Incident Report Form and a first party auto damage claim by select-ing the Claim Incident Report Form (Auto Only) under Property Pro-gram Claims Information.

Continued on page 11

Neal Meyers of Daley & Heft prepares to conduct the webinar.

Perspective 2 November/December 2008

The Perspective (ISSN 1073-5380) is published bi-monthly for its membership for a fee of $10 each by the ACWA/JPIA, 5620 Birdcage Street, Suite 200, Citrus Heights, CA 95610-7632. Periodical postage is paid at Citrus Heights and additional Offices. It is produced and edited by Sylvia Robinson, ACWA/JPIA’s Conference & Publications Coordina-tor. Prior written permission from the ACWA/JPIA is required for any whole or partial reproduction of this newsletter.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to Perspective C/O ACWA/JPIA, 5620 Birdcage Street, Suite 200, Citrus Heights, CA 95610-7632.

OFFICERS: President: Wes Bannister, Orange CWD; Vice President: Joan C. Finnegan, MWD of Orange County; Chief Executive Officer/Secretary/Treasurer: Dan Klaff, CEO; Assistant Treasurer: Walter “Andy” Sells, CF&OO; Auditor/Controller: Eldon Boone, Vista ID

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Chairperson: Wes Bannister, Orange CWD; Vice Chairperson: Joan C. Finnegan, MWD of Orange County; Merle J. Aleshire, Valley Center MWD; Tom Cuquet, South

Sutter WD; Joseph Dion, Citrus Heights WD; Mary Gibson, Mission Springs WD; Jerry Gladbach, Castaic Lake WA; Paul Kelley, ACWA Vice President; W.D. Bill Knutson, Yuima MWD; Lou Reinkens, Tahoe City PUD

PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Chairperson: Wes Bannister, Orange CWD; Vice Chairperson: Joan C. Finnegan, MWD of Orange County; Mary Gibson, Mission Springs WD; Jerry Gladbach, Castaic Lake WA; W.D. Bill Knutson, Yuima MWD

FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE: Chairperson: Eldon Boone, Vista ID; Mark Gardner, Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa WSD; Michael Grandy, El Toro WD; Suha Kilic, Pebble Beach CSD; Dennis Michum, Glenn-Colusa ID; Steve Ruettgers, Kern CWA; Tom Scaglione, Vallecitos WD

RISK MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE: Chairperson: Joan C. Finnegan, MWD of Orange County; Vice Chairperson: Merle J. Aleshire, Valley Center MWD; Fred Bockmiller, Mesa Consolidated WD; Greg Hoyle, Valley Center MWD; Sanford Kozlen, Carmichael, WD; Bob Kuhn, San Gabriel Basin WQA; Ulrich Luscher, Sierra Lakes CWD; Kevin McKenny, Humboldt CSD; Charles Muse, Helix WD

LIABILITY SUBCOMMITTEE: Chairperson: Jerry Gladbach, Castaic Lake WA; Vice Chairperson: Joseph Dion, Citrus Heights WD; Everett Ascher, Coastside CWD; Roy Coox, Vista ID; Gary Enos, Provident ID; Don Groundwater, Bella Vista WD; John E. Hoagland, Rancho California WD; Bertha Underhill, Calaveras County WD; Bob Van Wyk, Fresno Metropolitan FCD

PROPERTY SUBCOMMITTEE: Chairperson: Mary Gibson, Mission Springs WD; Vice Chairperson: Tom Cuquet, South Sutter WD; Guido Colla, Solano ID; Jack Cunningham, Goleta WD; Ken Deck, Rowland WD; Mark A. Gilkey, Tulare Lake Basin WSD; Ed Muzik, Hi-Desert WD; Robert Noonan, Orchard Dale WD; Jace Schwarm, San Dieguito WD

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SUBCOMMITTEE: Chairperson: W.D. Bill Knutson, Yuima MWD; Vice Chairperson: Lou Reinkens, Tahoe City PUD; Steve Curnow, Suisun Solano WA; Rick Gilmore, Byron-Bethany ID; William Kassis, Scotts Valley WD; Boyd Lypka, Orange CWD; Robert Moore, South Coast WD; Wayne Nygaard, Palm Ranch ID; Andy Rutledge, Antelope Valley-East Kern WA

Statement of Ownership, Management & CirculationThe Perspective (0883-7651) is published bi-monthly (six times) during the Association of California Water Agencies

Joint Powers Insurance Authority’s fiscal year. It is printed for the benefit of the members of both the Association of Cali-fornia Water Agencies (ACWA) and Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA/JPIA), their board of directors, and related personnel.

The headquarters for Perspective are at the ACWA/JPIA’s Office: 5620 Birdcage St., Ste 200, Citrus Heights, CA 95610-7632. Chief Executive Officer, Daniel N. Klaff, and Editor, Sylvia Robinson, are also located at this address.

The Perspective owners are the members of the ACWA/JPIA, a non-profit public agency, whose offices and facilities are located throughout the State of California. Each member contributes $10 of deposit premium to the publication of the Perspective. No change in the ACWA/JPIA’s purpose, function, or non-profit status has occurred in the past 12 months.

During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, on average 2,200 issues were printed bi-monthly. Of those issues printed, on average 1,490 were for mail and paid subscriptions; on average 433 were distributed at no charge, and on average 277 remained for internal use. The total average distribution was 1,923 issues. For the previous publication of this issue, 2,200 issues were printed. Of those issues printed, 1,471 were for mail and paid subscriptions; 435 were distributed at no charge, and 294 remained for internal use. The total distribution was 1,906 issues.

Time to Review Property Schedules

Every year, the JPIA sends to the members of the Property Program a copy of their current schedule of covered property. It is critical that members take the time to carefully review the schedule and update it for any changes that have occurred.

The Memorandum of Property Coverage (MOPC) provides automatic coverage for newly acquired prop-erty with values under $5,000,000 and automatic cover-age for newly constructed property with values under $10,000,000. However, there is no coverage provided in subsequent coverage periods unless the property has been reported to the JPIA and is included in the member’s Schedule of Values. To avoid having an un-covered loss, members must review their schedule and add any new buildings, equipment, personal property, or vehicles. Also, they should be sure to delete from the

schedule any items that have been disposed of.The MOPC gives replacement cost coverage on build-

ings, fixed equipment, and personal property. Vehicles and mobile equipment are valued at their actual cash value. The JPIA’s Cost Estimator, Chuck Wagenseller, is available to assist members with valuation questions. The JPIA provides members with replacement cost valuations on buildings and fixed equipment at no ad-ditional cost.

Although the Property Program renews on April 1, 2009, in order for the JPIA to process the nu-merous changes and update the Schedule of Values in a timely manner for the renewal, we are asking for your help to forward any changes to the JPIA at your earliest opportunity.Written by: Chuck Wagenseller, Cost Estimator


Good Risk Transfer Saves JPIA Members Money

The JPIA Liability Claims staff has been able to suc-cessfully tender the defense of JPIA members to other responsible parties in significant claims largely based upon the contractual risk transfer efforts of the JPIA members. The result is that JPIA members have saved themselves millions of dollars in claim payments over the last thirteen years.

In one case, a young man became a quadriplegic as a result of a single car auto accident at a member’s job site. The member had entered into a contract with the gen-eral contractor on the job in which there was effective risk transfer language and the provision for the member to be named as an additional insured on the general contractor’s liability insurance policy. The JPIA tendered the district’s defense and indemnity to the general con-tractor’s carrier who accepted the tender and eventually paid in excess of $10 million to settle the case. The mem-ber paid nothing.

In another case, an employee of a sub-contractor was electrocuted to death at a member’s facility. The member once again had the appropriate contract in place with the general contractor to include additional insured sta-tus on the general contractor’s general liability policy. The contractor’s carrier accepted the JPIA’s tender of the member’s defense and indemnity and paid $1.2 million to settle the case. The member paid nothing.

If a JPIA member ever experiences a claim wherein it looks like risk transfer issues may be involved, it is prudent for the member to report the loss to the JPIA immediately. In addition to the claim incident report, the member should include copies of the following docu-ments: • signed contract between the member and the general

contractor,

• signed contract between the member and sub-con-tractors if applicable,

• signed contracts between the general contractor and sub-contractors if applicable,

• the certificates of insurance from the general contrac-tor and sub-contractors that show the member as an additional insured on their insurance policies,

• the additional insured endorsements from the gen-eral contractor and sub-contractors that name the member as an additional insured on their insurance policies, and

• any encroachment or other permits that may have been taken out by the contractor, sub-contractor, and/or the member on the project.Once the JPIA Claims Examiner has the requested

information, he/she will review the documents to see if it is appropriate to tender the member’s defense and indemnity to the general contractor or sub-contractor. If it is appropriate to do so, the JPIA Claims Examiner will send a letter to the general contractor, sub-contrac-tor, their insurance brokers, and their insurance carriers demanding that they accept the member’s defense and indemnity based upon the contract and the member’s status as an additional insured. The member will receive a copy of the letter.

The JPIA Claims Examiner will notify the member once the insurance carrier has accepted the tender of defense and indemnity. If litigation is involved and the JPIA Claims Examiner deems it appropriate, there may be an attorney assigned to monitor the litigation.

If there are any questions about risk transfer, contact the JPIA’s Member Services staff at (800) 231-5742. To arrange for risk transfer training at your agency, please contact Chris Young at (800) 231-5742, extension 3147.Written by: Dick Damon, Liability/Property Claims Manager

ACWA /JPIA Mission Statement

The ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority is dedicated to consistently and cost effectively providing the broadest possible

affordable insurance coverages and related services to its member agencies.


2009 Calendar of Meeting DatesJan 29 – Finance & Audit CommitteeJan 29 – Property Program SubcommitteeJan 30 – Executive CommitteeMar 19 – Finance & Audit CommitteeMar 20 – Executive CommitteeMay 18 – Workers’ Compensation Program Subcommittee (spring 2009

conference - Sacramento) (tentative)May 18 – Risk Management Subcommittee (spring 2009 conference -

Sacramento) (tentative)May 18 – Executive Committee (spring 2009 conference - Sacramento)May 18 – Board of Directors (spring 2009 conference - Sacramento)Jul 16 – Finance & Audit CommitteeJul 16 – Liability Program SubcommitteeJul 17 – Executive CommitteeSep 17 – Executive CommitteeNov 30 – Workers’ Compensation Program Subcommittee (fall 2009

conference - San Diego) (tentative)Nov 30 – Risk Management Subcommittee (fall 2009 conference - San

Diego) (tentative)Nov 30 – Finance & Audit Committee (fall 2009 conference - San Diego)

(tentative)Nov 30 – Executive Committee (fall 2009 conference - San Diego)Nov 30 – Board of Directors (fall 2009 conference - San Diego)

JPIA Training Department Adds Another Fantastic Employee

The JPIA is pleased to announce the latest addition to its amazing staff. Patricia Slaven joined the staff in May 2008 as the new Training Specialist. This is a newly created position that is designed to provide professional training expertise, oversight of the training function, development of new curriculum and classes, and delivery of training classes both on-sight or via the web.

Patricia brings to the JPIA a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Redlands, a Master’s of Business Administration from California State University Sacramento with a concentration in Human Resources, the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certification from SHRM (Society of Human Resources

How To Reach The JPIA

Phone:916.535.7500 or

800.231.5742

Voice Mail:916.535.7510 or

800.535.7899

Fax:916. 965-6847 or

916.535.7517

E-mail: [email protected]@acwajpia.com

[email protected]

Web Site:www.acwajpia.com

Address:5620 Birdcage Street

Suite 200Citrus Heights, CA 95610-7632

Patricia Slaven, JPIA’s Training Specialist.

Management), membership in ASTD (American Society of Training and Development), and over ten years of professional experience in the train-ing arena.

Patricia has been very busy learn-ing about the JPIA and its members, accompanying trainers and deliver-ing training, overseeing the new Prevention Link program and the very first webinar, and providing assistance and expertise to staff to enhance the JPIA’s training program! Please join me in welcoming Patricia to the JPIA staff. Feel free to call her with any questions, suggestions, or concerns at (800) 231-5742, extension 3145.Written by: Nancy Stangel, Director of Administration


Holiday Season Safety

Did you know that you are more likely to have an accident during the holiday season than any other time of the year — on the job, at home, or on the road? You may find your-self taking on extra physical risks by hanging lights on the roof, lug-ging boxes of decorations around, or driving more. When roads and freeways are jammed, the number of auto accidents increases. Remember, it is a good time to drive defensively.

Sometimes, the worst thing about the holidays is getting ready for them! Once they arrive, they are lots of fun — so don’t let an accident get in your way! If you keep in mind that the holidays can be stressful and may put extra pressure on ev-eryone this time of the year, it may help keep you and your loved ones accident-free. Here are some simple checklists that may help keep your holiday season safe.

Christmas Trees and Wreaths • Before purchasing, check for

freshness to minimize the fire hazard of dry needles and leaves.

• Before bringing a Christmas tree inside, has its base been freshly cut so it can absorb water?

• Is the water level checked and refreshed every day?

• Are trees and plants placed away from fireplaces and other heat sources?Check out how fast a dry tree can

catch fire and ruin your holiday sea-son at www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/treefire.shtm

Decorations • Are lights Underwriter's Labora-

tory (UL) approved? • Are lights checked for frayed

wires, loose plugs, and broken plugs?

• Are electrical cords for lights not

placed under rugs or in traffic areas?

• Before leaving the house or going to bed, are lights turned off?

• Are lighted candles placed away from combustible materials?

• Before leaving the room or going to bed, are lighted candles extin-guished?

Fire and Carbon Monoxide Safety • Do you know where emergency

exits are and practice fire drills in the home and at work?

• Are smoke detectors and CO alarms in working order and tested regularly?

• Have fireplaces been inspected and cleaned as necessary?

• Are matches and lighters kept out of children's reach?

• Are electrical outlets not over-loaded?

• When cooking, is the stove not left unattended?

• Are manufacturers' recommen-dations followed for safe opera-tion of heaters and turkey fryers?

• Is there a fire extinguisher avail-able for use in case of an emer-gency?

Hosting a Party • Are rides provided for guests

that become in-toxicated?

• Are snacks and food provided when alcohol is served?

• Are non-alco-holic beverages provided for guests and des-ignated drivers?

• Are ashtrays or smoking areas provided for smokers?

• Are smoking materials extin-

guished before throwing them into trash containers?

Hanging Lights and Decorations • Are ladders inspected for loose or

missing screws, hinges, bolts, and nuts before use?

• Do ladders extend at least three feet past the edge of the roof?

• Are non-metal ladders used around electricity?

Spotting Drunk DriversIntoxicated drivers give off nu-

merous clues to their dangerous con-dition. Learn to spot them and avoid them in traffic. Look for drivers that are: • Weaving • Swerving • Straddling the lines that mark

lanes • Turning with too wide a radius • Drifting around within their lane • Almost hitting or running into

something • Driving very slowly

Many law enforcement agencies encourage you to call 911 to report these drivers if they cross your path during the holiday season.Written by: Peter Kuchinsky II, Senior Risk Management Consultant


Lending Library Update

JPIA has added 16 new programs to its ever-growing Lending Library. Members are welcome to view these new programs; call Jody Murphy at the JPIA, (800) 231-5742, extension 3156, or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Office Manual Handling: the New Approach 190.01.1 (Vocam) (17 minutes) (DVD) Back structure and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are explained and methods for identifying, assessing, and con-trolling manual handling risks relat-ed to MSD are covered. Case studies with solutions applicable to typical office manual handling problems are used to illustrate correct manual handling procedures. Correct manu-al handling is vital to eliminate long term health problems when manual handling practices are not carried out correctly.

Anthrax: Remediating the Effects of Bioterrorism 170.26.1 (Environ-mental Response Team) (24 minutes) (DVD) This video cov-ers the response and clean-up deci-sions for the anthrax contamination in Florida, New York, and Washing-ton, DC. Sampling, decontamina-tion, and future research for this type of bioterrorism are discussed.

Worker Protection Standards 250.39.1 (Environmental Response Team) (23 minutes) (DVD) When Superfund was reauthorized in 1986, the EPA was required to develop a set of regulations for protecting worker safety. This video describes this regulation (HAZWOPER) and presents details of the regulation’s requirements.

Understanding Safety in the Of-fice 350.01.1 (Vocam) (21 minutes) (DVD) Potential hazards in the of-fice can be avoided by taking simple precautions. If you think office work is completely safe, think again. Ev-ery year thousands of office workers are involved in incidents and ac-

cidents that result in long term inju-ries. Poor health and safety practices can increase costs and decrease your organization’s productivity.

Digging Dangers I-IV 110.12.1 (Underground Focus) (57 minutes) (DVD)

Digging Dangers I: Operator Interviews andUse of Markings. Includes on-site interviews with equipment operators describing their worst accidents and how they might have been avoided. Dem-onstrates how signs, flags, paint, and marking tape are used to alert excavators to the presence of under-ground lines.

Digging Dangers II: Vacuum Excavation, Directional Boring, Ac-cident Footage. Viewers like the demonstrations of vacuum excavat-ing and directional boring. This program also includes actual footage from a tragic accident where a road grader operator was killed when he struck a gas pipeline, plus several other fatal accidents.

Digging Dangers III: Anatomy of an Accident. This program has been described by many viewers as the best safety program they’ve ever seen. This DVD features a contractor whose crew was involved in an ac-cident that killed three people. His insights are incredible.

Digging Dangers IV: Accident Avalanche. This DVD dramatizes the magnitude of the incredible number of accidents involving damage to underground lines by excavators.

Digging Dangers V-VIII 110.18.1 (Underground Focus) (57 minutes (DVD)

Digging Dangers V: Taking the Offensive. This 15 minute DVD gives excavators steps they can take to avoid damaging underground lines. It specifically focuses on what excavators should do when digging around marked lines.

Digging Dangers VI: Under-

ground Lines, Above Ground Disas-ters. This 15 minute program fea-tures the Edison NJ and Allentown, PA pipeline accidents that sparked Congressional pipeline safety ac-tion. Accidents in Madison, NE and Green River, WY are also covered. Diagrams are used to help viewers see exactly what caused the acci-dents and how they could have been avoided.

Digging Dangers VII: Hits and Misses. A directional boring ac-cident that damaged or destroyed 86 homes in Westminster, MD is covered in this 15 minute DVD. Also covered is a major phone cable cut in Odessa, TX and a sewer collapse in Minnetonka MN. New technol-ogy to help excavate more safely is presented in the form of a soft tren-cher vacuum excavator that is faster than a backhoe in some applications. Better understanding of the capa-bilities and limitations of locating instruments is another benefit of this program.

Digging Dangers VIII: Accident Ambush. This 12 minute DVD cov-ers two cases of excavator damage to water mains and three cases involv-ing gas lines. A water main hit that flooded downtown Buffalo, NY con-sists of footage that was shot by the contractor involved.

Digging Dangers Collection: IX-XII 110.17.1 (Underground Focus) (37 minutes) (DVD)

Digging Dangers IX: Fire, Water, and Fiber. The infamous Indianapo-lis gas explosion that damaged or destroyed 86 homes and killed one resident is illustrated in this DVD.

Digging Dangers X: Deadly Sur-prises. This DVD covers 12 accidents involving excavator damage to un-derground lines within a 12-month period.

Digging Dangers XI: Hidden Hazards. This program covers some of the worst accidents of 1999, in-


cluding a gas explosion that killed three people.

Digging Dangers XII: Tragic En-counters. This DVD features nine accidents that happened in the year 2000.

Digging Dangers XIII: Digger Nightmares 110.13.1 (Underground Focus) (7 minutes) (DVD) Digging Dangers XIII features accidents that happened in 2001 in Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, North Caro-lina, Maryland, New Jersey, and Nevada. Included is a North Carolina ac-cident where a 23-year-old worker was killed when his auger hit a gas main. The 1999 Bellingham, WA trag-edy is revisited with an update of legal action resulting from the ac-cident.

Digging Dangers XIV: Underground Traps 110.14.1 (Under-ground Focus) (12 min-utes) (DVD) Digging Dangers XIV features excavation accidents which occurred during 2002 in Tennessee, Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, In-diana, Ohio, and Canada. Included is an accident near Edmonton, Al-berta, where an elderly couple was killed in a gas explosion after the man drove a steel stake through his home’s gas service line while build-ing a retaining wall. A 1997 India-napolis accident is revisited, which involved a 20-inch gas pipeline that was damaged by a directional bore. One person was killed and 80 homes were destroyed when the escaping gas ignited. The fire footage is spec-tacular.

Digging Dangers XV: Digger Nightmares Continued 110.15.1 (Underground Focus) (15 minutes) (DVD) Accidents occurring during 2003 are covered by this DVD. The worst accident depicted killed seven people when a strip mall in Toronto

was leveled by a gas explosion after the mall’s unmarked service line was damaged by an excavator. This pro-gram also revisits a 1988 accident in Attleboro, MA. The families of two city workers killed in a gas explo-sion there received the highest cash settlement in Massachusetts history.

Digging Dangers XVII: Boom! 110.19.1 (Underground Focus) (15 minutes) (DVD) This DVD un-derlines the importance of safety when dealing with the aftermath of

underground utility damages. High-lighted are excavation accidents oc-curring from late 2004 through the end of 2005. These accidents will help construction workers, utility personnel, and first-responders un-derstand the first-hand effect of not following safety precautions, partic-ularly when faced with leaking gas.

Digging Dangers XVIII: Disaster Prevention 110.16.1 (Underground Focus) (20 minutes) (DVD) This DVD features accidents from the last four months of 2005 and the first seven months of 2006. Discus-sion covers the difference between preventing damage and preventing a disaster. Learn how the response to an accident can cause resolution or havoc. This program stresses the importance of a well-planned and orchestrated response to a digging accident.

Digging Dangers XIX: Judgment

Day 110.20.1 (Underground Focus) (15 minutes) (DVD) This is the new-est DVD in the Digging Dangers series. This DVD features accidents from 2007. The series explores the issue of the responsibilities all stake-holders share during excavation and how those responsibilities relate to business ethics.

Poison Oak & Ivy Training 540.09.1 (Tech Laboratories) (11 minutes) (DVD) This DVD makes plant identification, prevention, and

treatment of poison oak and ivy easy to understand and simple to put into ac-tion. The suggestion for preventing a rash, early identification, and treatment of symptoms will help reduce worker lost time and misery.

Handle with Care: Forklift Safety Training 230.13.1 (Aurora Pictures) (21 minutes) (DVD) This DVD will edu-

cate your employees on the most common type of equipment the sit down, counter balanced forklift. This informative video covers fork-lift inspections, stability concerns, safe operating procedures, and the loading of trucks and trailers.

Hand Safety: It’s in Your Hands 240.02.1 (Coastal) (15 minutes) (DVD) Pinched. Burned. Irritated. Cut. Sliced. These are just some ways hands can be injured. Get a firm grip on hand safety and pre-vent these accidents. Avoid the two types of hazards-machine and chemical-and understand the factors that determine the ideal PPE for a job. Make sure that employees know the glove types as well (leather, fab-ric, and insulating gloves) and when they are used and how they are to be checked, inspected, and cared for.Written by: Jody Murphy, Administrative Assistant II


De-Stress Yourself

Stress surrounds us. It is part of everyday life. But, stress is neutral – it happens – but how we react to the stress in our life determines how it will affect us. By un-derstanding our own reactions and learning how to alter them, we can mitigate the impact stress has on our life.

Every living organism experiences some form of stress at some time – flowers lacking water, trees pro-ducing a bumper crop of fruit, a deer avoiding a preda-tor. Humans are no exception. We are designed to re-spond with a fight or flight instinct, which allows our body to “kick” into gear and confront or run. When this occurs, our heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and adrenaline surges. All these responses are appropri-ate and necessary for fight or flight – but they are not needed when we are stressed by our workload, relation-ship issues, or being unable to pay our bills.

And that is where our problems begin. When our bodies are constantly in this stressed state and we have no opportunity to slow down, chronic health problems develop – high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, and more. We can’t eliminate stress in our life, but we can choose how we react to it. Since stress causes our body to shift into overdrive, we must find ways to shift back down to normal levels. Focusing on three areas – diet, relaxation, and laughter – can greatly reduce the nega-tive impact of stress on our bodies.

Diet is a hot topic wherever you look. Magazines tout the latest fad diet, internet sites explain how to eat better, and celebrities endorse new diet products every month. But before we can determine what our diet should be, it is critical to understand that any level of stress can deplete our body of needed vitamins and min-erals and jeopardize our immune system. During times of stress, we must focus on replenishing those things that stress sucks out of us. Eat foods rich in vitamins B, C, and E and Zinc and Magnesium during stressful times. Examples of foods that counteract the affects of stress are spinach, tomato juice, chicken, shellfish, pep-pers, whole grains, tofu, and lean meat. See the chart on the next page for a more comprehensive list.

Relaxation is the complete opposite of stress, so the more we can reach a state of true relaxation the better it is for our bodies, our minds, and our disposition. True relaxation (which does not include sitting in front of the television or computer) allows our bodies to regenerate all the things that stress removes from them. This is why sleep is so important. Look for opportunities to escape from your everyday surroundings and those things that create stress for you. Sitting alone in a car (not running) or a room and simply focusing on the body as it takes air in and out, in and out, can reduce blood pressure;

JPIA Professional Development Program Completions

The first Supervisor Certification Program partici-pant enrolled in 1999. Now, nine years later the Profes-sional Development Program (PDP) has proven to be a valuable tool in keeping costs and claims down, equip-ping members with information that they can use daily, and providing members with information to keep them safe and even save their lives.

Today the Professional Development Program has 618 participants with 210 completions and that number is still growing. Joining the ranks of successfully com-pleting their PDP specialty areas are:

Nicole Snyder, Administrative Aide, Placer CWA; David Garcia, WQ/Production & Storage Manager, Walnut Valley WD; Randy Toepher, Construction Man-agement Supervisor, Western MWD; Michael Martinez, Utilities Coordinator, San Juan WD; Jim Sampson, Con-tract Coordinator, Moulton Niguel WD; Lynette More-no, Assistant GM, Carmichael WD; Randy Wilhelm, Distribution System Supervisor, South Coast WD; Anne Shogan, Senior Human Resources Analyst, Helix WD; Jennifer Spindler, Office Manager/Board Secretary, Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency; Mitch Curtis, Human Resources Manager, West Valley WD; Cynthia Berndt, Office Assistant, Sweetwater Authority; Fred Scheafer, Maintenance Worker III, and Jim Sykes, Con-struction Inspector/Water Quality, both from Laguna Beach CWD.

Congratulations to everyone for all your tenacity and hard work!

The JPIA invites everyone to enroll in one or several of the PDP specialty areas: Supervisor Basics, Human Resources, Risk Management, and Operations Certifica-tion Programs. We also encourage you to continue to attend the JPIA classes even if you have completed your specialty area. There are new classes on the horizon and the “old standards” are constantly being updated and improved.

If you are interested in the JPIA Professional Devel-opment Program or have any training concerns, please contact Chris Young at the JPIA, [email protected] or (800) 535-7899, extension 3147.Written by: Chris Young, Administrative Assistant II


Vitamin/Mineral

Function Source

B1 – Thiamin Supports energy and nerve function; needed for strength and mental acuity

Spinach, tomato juice, watermelon, lean pork, soy milk, whole grain cereals (Total, Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran), wheat flour, baked potato

B3 – Niacin Needed to build nervous system and for protein synthesis

Spinach, tomato juice, lean ground beef, chicken breast, tuna, whole grain cereals (Total, Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran), dried beans, peanut butter

B6 Breaks down fatty acids, helps in red blood cell production, wards off depression

Bananas, watermelon, tomato juice, spinach, chicken breast, white rice, potatoes, avocados

B12 New cell production, nerve cell maintenance

Meats, poultry, fish, blue cheese, shellfish, milk, eggs

Vitamin C Immunity, antioxidant

Red bell peppers (but all peppers have some), kiwi, mango, strawberries, broccoli, spinach

Vitamin E Antioxidant, cell creation, reduces cardiovascular disease risk

Polyunsaturated plant oils (soybean, corn, canola), sunflower seeds, tofu, avocado, sweet potatoes, shrimp

Magnesium Protein building, muscle contraction, immunity

Pinto beans, black eyed peas, sunflower seeds, tofu, halibut

Zinc Wound healing, production of genetic materials, transports vitamin A, contributes to sense of smell and taste

Spinach, broccoli, tomato juice, oysters, shrimp, dark meat turkey, lean ground beef, lean sirloin steak, tofu, ricotta cheese

NutritionWhen you are stressed, nutrition can either help or hinder you. Stress causes the body to use up nutrients such as vitamins B, C, and E and minerals such as Magnesium and Zinc. By focusing on replenishing these nutrients, you can help to mitigate the physical ailments caused by chronic stress.

enjoying the sound of relaxing mu-sic (rap does not qualify), a water fountain, or wind chimes can calm nerves. Taking five minutes to truly relax several times per day can slow your breathing, strengthen your im-mune system, and give you a better outlook overall.

Did you know a strong, deep bel-ly laugh is just as beneficial to your body as time on a rowing machine? It’s true! Take time each day to laugh off problems, laugh at the driver that cut in front of you, or laugh when tension is high. Laugh with a hardy laugh from deep in your gut and it will send those wonderful endorphins into your blood stream, which will improve your mental state – and burn calories, too. Rent a funny movie, visit a comedy club, or just laugh about your day’s chal-lenges; it has a great healing effect.

Studies show that the holiday season creates additional stress on many people as we struggle to con-tinue family traditions, purchase gifts for loved ones, budget our time and money, and feel the loss of those no longer with us. During this time of year, it is even more critical that we make the effort to mitigate the stress we feel. Besides the ideas presented above, here are some easy ways to do that: • Take a walk, no matter the

weather • Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night • Reduce caffeine intake • Drink lots of water • Get a massage • Volunteer at a food bank • Play board games or construct

puzzles • Stop and take a deep breath

when emotions run highBy just practicing a few of the

ideas presented here, you can have a more enjoyable holiday season and in the long run, a longer more enjoy-able life. So de-stress yourself!Written by: Patricia Slaven, Training Specialist


Fire Safety Planning and Preparedness

Every day, a fire can break out at an office when electrical wires spark a flame or at a laundry facil-ity when lint ignites in a duct or in a field when welding operations ignite vegetation. The true test of your Life Safety Plan is based on how well you equipped your facilities and op-erations with equipment and devic-es and the way individuals respond to these emergencies.

The Fire Equipment Manufac-turer’s Association (FEMA), put together “Seven Simple Steps to Life Safety” to increase your chances of saving lives and protecting property.

1. Know the Building and Fire Codes

Good life safety planning typi-cally is the role of a building owner, business manager, or security/fa-cilities manager. These individuals should be providing their occupants with the highest level of safety and security possible. The responsibility is on building occupants to be aware of their surroundings and to know what life safety equipment is avail-able so they can become advocates for life safety, if their building does not follow this Life Safety Guide.

2. Assess the BuildingThere are many differ-

ent hazards associated with different types of buildings or occupancies. Every work area, every piece of equip-ment involved, and every individual (whether em-ployee or visitor) needs to be considered when planning for life safety. Know and understand the functions of your building. When design-ing an effective Life Safety Plan for your building or facility, you need to consider what type of building it is, what it is used for, and how it was built.

Here are some important questions to ask: • What types of people

come into this building? Are there elderly, handicapped, or children on the premises?

• Does the building contain flam-mable or combustible materials?

• Does the building contain tele-communications, data centers, or other storage rooms?

• Does it have commercial cooking appliances in a kitchen or eating area?

• Is the building constructed with a steel or wood frame? • How many floors does it have? Does it have a basement with laundry or other large piec-es of equipment?

3. Check Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers are intended as a first line of defense to cope

with fires of limited size. When it comes to fire extinguishers, mainte-nance is critical. On a monthly basis, the pressure gauge should be moni-tored to ensure that the extinguisher is pressurized (i.e., “in the green”) and the unit is free of cracks, leaks, or vandalism. Additionally, a li-censed contractor should conduct an annual inspection and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers.

4. Inspect Standpipe and Fire Hose Stations

Standpipe fire hose stations are comprised of a fire hose, rack, and nozzle and typically secured on the wall in hallways and stairwells. The standpipe station works to allow a fast response to fire before the fire has time to spread. This equipment is needed in buildings such as of-fices, dormitories, schools, airports, hotels, hospitals, and anywhere else where fire department response time may exceed five minutes.

Key personnel must be properly

trained according to their specified

responsibilities and all training

documentation must be kept on file.

While fire protection training is a key

component of a Life Safety Plan, other

training should also be included ...


Once the JPIA member has selected the appropri-ate form, he/she simply fills in the blanks as prompt-ed by the automated system. The fields that contain a red * indicate information that is required in order to file the claim on-line. The member will have 20 minutes to complete the form or he/she will have to start over. The claim form is automatically sent to the JPIA Liability Claims Department once the fourth and final page is complete. The JPIA member is able to obtain a written confirmation of the claim form transmittal as the last step of the process.

The JPIA Liability Claims Staff will contact you within 48 hours of receipt of the completed claim form. If quicker contact is required, please call either Dick Damon or Cece Wuchter at (916) 535-7500, extension 3130 or 3134.Written by: Dick Damon, Liability/Property Claims Manager

5. Understand Fire Suppression SystemsA pre-engineered fire suppression system is man-

dated by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards in special hazard situations. Fire suppression systems provide fast, on-site protection at the earliest stage of a fire. Since fire suppression systems activate automatically, their operation is safe for all employees and do not require human intervention. However, they can be manually activated if needed in an emergency. Some examples of places where pre-engineered systems are mandated by NFPA include the following: • Paint spray operations involving flammable or com-

bustible materials • Electrical hazards such as oil-filled transformers or

circuit breakers • Textile operations subject to flash surface fires • Restaurant and commercial hoods, ducts, and associ-

ated cooking appliance hazards such as deep fat fry-ers

• Data centers and electrical storage rooms

6. Evacuation PlanExit signage and emergency communications are im-

portant components of escape planning. Every building should have well lit and visibly placed signs to indicate where exits are located and building occupants should practice escape planning regularly – from knowing where the primary and secondary exits are located to learning how to crawl on the floor to avoid toxic smoke. Some important things to remember include practicing the evacuation and using the stairs, staying low to the ground to avoid smoke, staying by a window to protect yourself from smoke, and signaling to firefighters with a light or colored cloth so they know where you are lo-cated.

7. Training and EducationKey personnel must be properly trained according to

their specified responsibilities and all training documen-tation must be kept on file. While fire protection training is a key component of a Life Safety Plan, other training should also be included such as CPR and first aid, which can often go hand-in-hand with fire protection pre-paredness. There are several ways to go about education and training for building occupants and employees. One is to host in-house safety seminars by manufacturers for building engineers to educate your team on exactly what should be done on a daily basis. Another option is to bring in the local fire department for hands-on fire extinguisher training or evacuation plan safety tips.

If your agency cannot dedicate the time or resources to holding an event, there are numerous sites online where education and training can be found. For fire ex-

tinguisher training, visit www.fireextinguisher.com and for an overview of standpipe fire hose operation and procedures check out www.rackhosetraining.com.

Suppression system information can be located on the FEMA web site at www.femalifesafety.org. NFPA’s web site (www.nfpa.org) includes an abundance of fire safety materials that could be helpful when you are training employees or designing a Life Safety Plan per-fect for your specific needs.

When it comes to saving lives and protecting prop-erty, a sound Life Safety Plan with these seven easy steps is a simple starting point to design a solution for your fire protection needs. One very basic and impor-tant premise to remember -- while code requirements may exist for your building, it is important to rethink the equipment and devices that are currently available to provide visitors, employees, guests, and others with more than “just enough” to survive a fire.

Tragedies - such as fire – happen by accident, but life safety does not. Life safety depends on advance prepa-ration that is thorough, well planned, and practiced regularly over time. No one ever has any advance notice before a catastrophic event. It could happen at any given moment and, as they say, a little preparation today can go a long way tomorrow.Written by: R. Scott Wood, Risk Management Consultant

Automated Claims Reporting Now Available Online

Continued from page 1


PerspectiveACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority5620 Birdcage Street, Suite 200Citrus Heights, CA 95610-7632

Periodical Postage Paid

The H.R. LaBounty Safety Award Program Has Been Expanded to Include All JPIA Members

The JPIA is happy to announce that participation in the H.R. LaBounty Workers’ Compensation Safety Award Program is no longer limited to just members of its Workers’ Compensation Program. The award pro-gram is now available to all JPIA members and has been re-named the “H.R. LaBounty Safety Award Program.”

This program is designed to promote safe workplace and operations practices and reward those employees who demonstrate safe behavior, take part in recogniz-able proactive activities, or participate in risk-reducing actions. As such, the program gives members another way to foster a safety culture that reduces the potential for workers’ compensation, liability, and property losses.

Employees may be nominated by their co-workers, supervisors, or managers. Nominations should be based on observable behavior, demonstrable activities, or par-ticipation in or development of safety related programs. Some examples would be: • Using appropriate personal protective equipment as

needed • Correcting unsafe conditions that impact district per-

sonnel or the public • Volunteering to conduct safety training • Seeking information for ensuring compliance with

safety programs

• Initiating safety or security suggestions • Recommending enhancements to safety or security

procedures • Designing safe work practices or devices • Writing safe work procedures or practices • Volunteering for safety committee work

Nominations must be completed on forms supplied by the JPIA. A copy is available on the JPIA’s web site (www.acwajpia.com). The participating member coordi-nates the collection of the nominations, verifying com-pleteness, and forwards them to the JPIA. The program is intended to be on going; therefore, members are en-couraged to submit nominations as they occur.

JPIA staff will receive the nominations from partici-pating districts and, twice a year, select nominees who have contributed to their respective agencies through some significant action or behavior. JPIA staff and the chairpersons of the Executive Committee and Risk Man-agement Subcommittee will evaluate the nominations and assign cash awards to selected nominees.

The names of all award recipients will be announced at the spring and fall conferences and published in the Perspective and Risk Control Bulletin.Written by: John Haaf, Senior Risk Management Consultant

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