Elizabeth Wingo, director of risk management for Sedgwick County, outlined the county’s employee safety programs and training efforts, saying they include CPR and first-aid instruction, ergonomic assessments, bloodborne-pathogen training, fit testing and defensive-driving classes.

Wingo told meeting attendees that these programs are aimed at reducing both minor and serious workplace injuries. “We promote safety because we want everyone to go home at the end of the day, just the way they came to work,” she said.

Wingo listed specific training and prevention activities the county offers. She said risk management oversees CPR and first-aid training and monitors procedural details during resuscitation practice, telling the group, “I didn't see the chest rise, so you gotta reposition.” She also described ergonomic assessments to ensure employees are seated correctly at their desks, bloodborne-pathogen training, fit testing and defensive-driving classes.

Wingo said workplace accidents in the county range from “really minor things like getting your hand caught in a door” to more serious incidents such as motor-vehicle accidents or equipment malfunctions. She said that, because of Sedgwick County’s safety procedures and protocols, the county has “really low injury rates,” a point she said the office is proud of.

On the county’s approach to safety, Wingo said the programs evolve as technology and equipment change. “Workplaces are definitely a lot safer than they used to be, and I definitely think workplaces continue to change as we bring in new types of technology and equipment. So what we do is constantly evolving, making sure that we're keeping up on new safety trends and standards,” she said.

Wingo provided a contact telephone number during her remarks for follow-up: (202) 122-2324. She concluded by saying the county will continue to implement safety measures to protect employees.