Loss-control rep outlines monthly safety topics and plans for ergonomic assessments

Laura Brasch, the trust’s loss-control representative, told the Grundy County Insurance Trust about recent and planned safety and training topics provided to county departments.

Brasch said the safety committee provided monthly reminders and guidance: July topics covered microaggression, implicit-bias, stress and loneliness; August focused on office safety data sheets; a recent session covered ergonomic concerns. She said the committee will coordinate ergonomic workstation assessments for interested employees and is planning additional sessions next quarter, including October topics on fire safety and chainsaw/wood-chipper safety for the highway department, November sessions on health emergencies and defensive driving, and December topics on winter driving safety.

Brasch said the safety committee is updating facility contacts, reviewing active-assailant training best practices, and exploring de-escalation training such as verbal judo and adherence to ANSI guidance when evaluating active-assailant programs. She invited departments to submit requests for training topics for the next policy period and said the committee will schedule ergonomic assessments and possibly another defensive-driving class.

Her report was informational; trustees did not take formal action at the meeting on the training program.