Search CompleteMarkets

...ated to manufacturing or selling products or other goods. These claims can, a...penalty. Make sure to identify your products properly, too. For example; if yo...

...the United States Department of Agriculture is the governing authority for the... plays a vital role in keeping the agriculture industry functioning. Contac...

...personal insurance and financial products. Since an insurance carrier is gaini...sting customer purchases additional products, they're usually willing to pass ...

Many companies use "lean manufacturing" procedures to streamline production by reducing wasted time and motion. Although these changes often show up in the bottom line as black, their long term repercussions on workplace safety – higher accident rates and workers comp premiums –could put a business back in the red. "Approximately 65% of workers compensation claims are for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)," says Chris Shulenberger, Technical Director for Ergonomics with Bureau Veritas North America Shulenberger. However, many employers might not make the connection between their lean manufacturing procedures and high rates of sprains and strains, overexertion injuries, and cumulative trauma MSDs among their employees. If you streamline your manufacturing, beware of these potential pitfalls that could turn "leaner" into just plain "meaner:" Excessive Overtime. Lean manufacturing depends on a smooth supply chain. When there are glitches, workers need to pick up the slack with increased production and longer hours, both of which contribute to MSDs. Hyper-efficiency. For some employers, the drive to improve employee productivity ignores human limitations. Removing the waste from jobs eliminates essential time for workers' bodies to restore themselves, which can reduce disabling MSDs. Working through pain. Some supervisors in lean manufacturing facilities are slow to respond to worker reports of fatigue, discomfort, and/or pain: the earliest symptoms of an MSD. In other cases, there’s "working through pain" culture which encourages employees, like high-performing athletes, to ignore early symptoms – which can easily lead to a MSD. Make sure that your workers report any MSD symptoms and supervisors know how to respond to these complaints. Micromanagement. Increasing the intensity of work reduces employees’ control about how they do their job – a proven risk factor for MSDs. Our risk management professionals would be happy to review the potential impact of your manufacturing procedures on workplace safety.

Employers and employees aren't seeing the health and productivity boosts of using their vision plans, especially with an aging workforce. According to Transitions Optical, Inc., nearly half of workers fail to take advantage of their vision benefit, either by not enrolling (24%) or not using their benefit to get an eye exam (32%). That’s unfortunate, because helping employees see well offers a number of benefits: Good eyesight boosts productivity. Nearly 35% of people age 40+ have trouble seeing print or numbers on reading materials, or signs, even with glasses, One in four employees age 45 or older take breaks to rest their eyes at work, because of fatigue or eyestrain. Uncorrected vision (so slight that an employee might not notice) can reduce productivity up to 20%. Mental health and eye health are connected. Vision problems can worsen mental decline. Older employees with poor vision are five times more likely to develop cognitive decline than their peers with good or excellent vision. Untreated poor vision in the elderly is also linked to dementia; older adults who have poor vision without intervention (such as eye care visits and cataract surgery) are almost 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Glare bothers most workers. Almost all people say glare affects their vision outdoors, and seven in ten agree that their eyes are sensitive to light. Glare due to reflections from a lens surface can also be present indoors, leading to eye fatigue. The right eyewear can help employees overcome their discomfort. Employees think vision plans are important. More than 90% of employees that agree this benefit will be more important to them as they age. To learn more, just give us a call. We’re here to serve you.

An increasing number of employees in the "Sandwich Generation" are looking for benefits to help them manage the demands of caring for parents and children alike. A recent nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center found that nearly half of respondents in their 40s and 50s have a living parent and are either raising a young child or supporting a grown one. "There's an emerging recognition of the impact of caregiver stress on working parents' ability to be productive at home and at work," says David Lissy, CEO of Bright Horizons, a provider of dependent back-up care services. "Particularly as families wait longer to have children, there's more at stake in their careers and they're pulled in many directions, dealing with the realities of their aging parents." On average, access to Bright Horizons allowed employees to work six days during the past six months - productive time that otherwise would have been lost - and nearly 70% of these workers used the service for adult care. Care.com, another provider of backup care services for employees, saw a three-fold increase last year in the number of clients that added senior care planning. IRobot, Inc. chose Care.com as an employee benefit because "we value our employees and want to support them in managing the demands on their personal lives," says benefits analyst Cathy Blanchard. Since adding the service, iRobot has seen a 15% month-to -month increase in using the program, which has boosted productivity by reducing costs from care-related absences and distractions. If you'd like to learn more about offering day care for adults and children as an employee benefit, just give us a call.

Saturday August 15, 2015 8:00pm  11:00pm Musicscool Productions; and Guitars, not Guns present a fabulous concert of top local musicians pooling forces to recreate the classic Stones albums "Exile on Main street",  and "Sticky Fingers" ! The group features members and former members of acts like Doobie Brothers, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Moby Grape, Destroy the Night, White Album Ensemble, Steve Marriott, Le Strange, Tsunami, and many more. This will be a show by the same production team, and in the grand tradition of the White Album Ensemble, and Destroy The Night featuring James Durbin, both sold out Rio Theatre shows. . The accent is in "nailing the vibe" of the music, not the trappings- of the “ World's Greatest Rock and Roll Bands” ‘  greatest records ( in many opinions) in their original form.  A raffle at intermission will benefit Guitars, not guns, a pro youth, anti violence non profit org. BUY TICKETS

...s of additional jobs supporting agriculture: the truck drivers, packers and pr...

...lp people, rather than just sell products and services, can create some valuab...

More and more, people are vacationing in their own backyards. If you have turned yours into a “staycation” hot spot, here are some safety tips to consider to help keep your oasis fun and free of danger. The Pool The pool can be a refreshing way to get some relief from the hot sun. But it can also be dangerous. Get your pool swim-ready by understanding some of the most common ways accidents occur, and then learning more about proper swimming pool safety and maintenance to help prevent them: Unsupervised access or swimming, either by lack of close supervision or by failing to properly secure the pool to prevent entry. As a pool owner, you are responsible for making sure that access is restricted and people cannot enter pool areas unattended. Injury by diving or jumping improperly, or from water around the pool or deck area that may cause someone to slip and fall. Defective or broken spa or swimming pool components. Drains are often a dangerous pool part that can cause circulation entrapment if not properly covered. Faulty pool equipment and old pool lighting can also cause electrical shock. Prevent swimming pool accidents before they occur. Learn more about swimming pool safety. The Grill During warmer months, you might enjoy having a backyard barbecue. But according to the latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, gas and charcoal grills have been involved in an average of 8,800 home and outside fires per year. Some of the main causes of grilling fires are: Placing the grill too close to combustibles, such as siding or an overhang. Failure to keep the grill clean. Grease or fat buildup can catch and spread fire quickly. A leak or break in the grill’s gas hose. Leaving equipment unattended. Misuse of material or product, including using incorrect starter fluids. Cook safely outdoors this summer by reading our grilling safety tips. Trampolines Trampolines can be fun for kids, but according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, they are the cause of nearly 100,000 injuries each year.  Avoid being a statistic: Limit the number of jumpers to one at a time. Supervision is needed for children at all times. Remove trampoline ladders after use to prevent unsupervised access by young children. Anchor the trampoline and enclosure to the ground by using a trampoline anchor kit. Playsets Playsets can be enjoyed by children of all ages, but damaged or weather-worn playsets can cause accidents. Stay safe by: Supervising children. Regularly checking for sturdiness, rusty bolts and wood rot, and making necessary repairs. Ensuring playsets do not have openings between pieces that could trap a child’s head or neck. Placing playsets securely on level ground and on wood chips or other soft materials to cushion falls and help prevent injuries. Fire Pits Warm nights are the perfect time to roast marshmallows. But out-of-control fires can cause injury. Be smart: Place the fire pit in a safe spot away from your home, backyard deck or low-hanging tree branches. Always require adult supervision around the fire pit while it is in use and until it has cooled off. Never leave the fire unattended. Use sand to fully extinguish the fire. Let the coals cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container. Lawn mowers During the spring and summer months, lawn mowers can easily cause injury. Follow these tips for safety: Read the mower’s manual, heed safety and operating instructions and learn the controls. Do not allow children to ride as passengers on a lawn mower, and be sure to keep children out of the yard while mowing. Clean up toys and other objects, such as rocks, from the yard to help prevent injuries from flying objects. Never leave a running mower unattended. Never operate the mower in an enclosed place where carbon monoxide can accumulate. Never unclog or work on a lawn mower while the engine is on or when the spark plug is connected. Wear non-slip shoes (no open toes or heels), long pants and hearing and eye protection. Grilling Fires: http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/outdoors/grilling Trampolines: https://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/137868/085%20Trampoline%20Safety.pdf