SMART News

Kathy Kimbel Joins the SMART Team

In 1975, the Department of Labor and Industries managed workers’ compensation claims through paper files. All injured worker claims were contained in file jackets which contained all medical reports, letters, medical bills and benefit payment slips. Paper files were delivered to claim managers on carts each day to be worked. Medical bill payments were documented in the paper file in one color; another color was used to document time loss payments and another color for permanent impairment payments. Thank goodness for modern technology which has steam lined this process.

I first went to work for the Department of Labor and Industries in 1975 as a clerk typist to assist with meeting the needs of managing claims. I ultimately rose through the ranks within the different levels of claims management up to the Manager of the Retrospective Rating Program for 10 years and on to the Manager of Employer Services for over 10 years. Retiring from the Department of Labor and Industries in May of 2006, my new opportunity presents itself:

Enter SMART Executive Director –I am pleased to accept the position as Executive Director for the SMART Association. I eagerly accepted the position and look forward to working to continue to meet the needs of the SMART Association.

Plans for 2008 are underway to begin providing more educational and training coursed in the new Lacey office which will be located at 975 Carpenter Lane. In addition to our valued safety education courses offered, plans are underway for new courses such as the following and more:

- Kept on Salary (KOS) – why should I keep my injured worker on salary when they can get time loss benefits?
- How are My Industrial Insurance Rates Calculated – how do I read and understand the information on my experience rating calculation sheet each year
- Early Return to Work – what exactly does this mean? Who can help me be sure that it’s okay for the worker to come back to work?
- Monthly Brain Trust Sessions – allowing safety and claims professionals the opportunity to brainstorm tough claims situations sharing valuable resources

I am excited about the new information sharing and educational opportunities that we will be bringing you in 2008. We are also excited about our new location in Lacey which will be the location of some additional training courses.

Be sure to keep an eye on your SMART newsletters for new and exciting helpful information; who to contact for any assistance you need and also the offerings of our new training opportunities at your new office.

I look forward to working with you and openly welcome your input to ensure that your needs are met.

Thank you,
Kathy Kimbel

Safety Tips for a Joyous Holiday Season

The holiday season is always a fun and festive time filled with celebrations, shopping, and visits with friends and families. With all the holiday frenzy, it is easy to overlook some simple steps you can take to keep your loved ones safe during the holidays. Nothing ruins holiday cheer faster than becoming the victim of a crime or accident. Rather than taking a break for the holidays, criminals and fraud artists prey on distracted shoppers and target homes or cars filled with toys and goodies.

By using a little caution and common sense, you can protect yourself and your loved ones and enjoy a joyous holiday season. Consider these tips:

- Be a savvy “holidayer”. To make your home less appealing to Grinches and thieves alike, be sure to keep presents away from windows and doors and lock up every time you leave the house. If you are headed out of town, remember to stop delivery on your mail or get someone to pick it up for you to make sure that identify thieves don’t get it. Also, consider setting your lights on an automatic timer to make your home appear occupied.
- Be a smart shopper. Stay safe while buying those last minute gifts and checking out the New Year’s sales by shopping daylight hours whenever possible. If you do shop at night, take a long a friend or family member. Park and walk in well lighted areas and lock valuables and packages in the trunk rather than leaving them out where thieves may see them.
- Remember that scam artists don’t take a holiday. Many con artists try to take advantage of preoccupied holiday shoppers or prey on people’s charity this time of year. Always be aware of your surroundings and protect your wallet and access to your credit or debit cards when in public. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
- Be careful with your tree. If your holiday celebrations include a tree, be sure to secure it properly in a stand and place it away from doors, pathways, fireplaces or radiators. Keep the tree well watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. If you get an artificial tree, be sure that it is labeled “Fire Resistant”. Also keep ornaments that could shatter into dangerous fragments well out of reach of pets and children.
- Don’t let your holiday lights burn too bright. Holiday lights can be the most difficult holiday decorations. Never overload a socket with too many light plugs and never pull or tug at lights to remove them. Don’t use electric lights on a metallic tree since the tree can become charged with electricity from poorly made lights. Don’t leave a burning fire or candle unattended, and keep flammable decorations such as your tree away from open flames. Before putting lights outside, check the label to be sure they are certified for outdoor use. Always turn off your holiday lights when you leave home.

MOST OF ALL – HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!

Minimum Wage to Increase

Washington’s minimum wage will increase 14 cents per hour to $8.07 per hour beginning January 1, 2008. The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recalculates the state’s minimum wage each year in September as required by Initiative 688, which was approved by Washington voters in 1998. The law requires that the state minimum wage be adjusted each year according to the change in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the 12 months ending each Aug. 31.

The CPI-W is a national index covering the cost of goods and services needed for day-to-day living. It increased 1.8 percent during the 12‑month period ending in August, compared to a 3.9 percent increase during the same period in 2006, which led to a 30‑cents-an-hour increase in the 2007 minimum wage.

The 1.8 percent increase, applied to Washington’s current minimum wage of $7.93 an hour, generated a 14-cent increase in next year’s minimum wage. Washington’s minimum wage applies to workers in both agricultural and non-agricultural jobs, although 14‑ and 15-year-olds may be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage.

In 2007, Washington has the highest state minimum wage. The next highest are Oregon ($7.80), Connecticut ($7.65), and Vermont ($7.53).

Although not a requirement, L&I recommends that businesses post the Washington State Minimum Wage poster. To download a free minimum wage poster or find more information on Washington’s minimum wage, click here!

Staying Warm Safely

No cold weather is going to stop you from working and finishing those jobs! With new construction projects underway this winter, heating and staying warm becomes an issue and portable heaters fueled by propane are generally the most used source of that heat.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is produced from kerosene space heaters (salamanders), as well as portable heaters fueled by propane. Outdoor use of any of this equipment is not usually hazardous, but in buildings or enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can quickly build up to dangerous and even deadly amounts.

It doesn’t take much CO to cause problems. At lower levels, people sometimes mistake the symptoms of CO exposure for the flu, or do not associate their severe headache and nausea with carbon monoxide exposure.

If your worker(s) have any symptoms of CO poisoning, stay calm but act quickly.

- Leave the area and get fresh air immediately. Turn off the carbon monoxide source, but only if you can do so safely without endangering yourself or others.
- Call 911 or your local emergency medical service (EMS).
- Start CPR if someone has stopped breathing and do not stop until he/she breathes on his/her own or someone else can take over. If you can, have someone call 911 right away. If you are alone, perform CPR for one minute and then call 911.

To avoid the potential for heater-related mishaps, remind your workers to use safety precautions as indicated by the manufacturer. For more information, click here!

Thank You Rhett!

As our year draws closer to an end, new beginnings are right around the corner. We recently learned that our Summit facilitator, Rhett Carpenter will be leaving us to further pursue his career. He has been facilitating at our Summit meetings for the past year and a half and has done a wonderful job. He showed great interest in the Steering Committee and Summit meetings and always took the time to make sure he was giving it his all. He brought such a contagious energy to the room that would rub off on those around him, creating a great environment to learn in. We have appreciated his time spent with us at our Steering Committee meeting breakfasts and at our Summit meetings and wish him the best of luck! We will miss you, Rhett!

Congratulations to our 2007 award winners!

The University of Washington Minority Business of the Year Awards recognizes Washington's largest and fastest-growing minority-owned businesses. Three of our Dream Team retro group clients received awards for the 2007 year that we wish to recognize:

- William D. Bradford Minority Business of the Year Award, Apollo Inc. in Kennewick
- Distinguished Business Achievement Award, Marpac Construction LLC in Seattle
- Emerging Business Award, Synergy Systems in Redmond

For the past 13 years, Pacific Lutheran University has recognized and supported local, family-owned businesses and promoted family enterprise within the Pacific Northwest. This year, 14 finalists were chosen from 290 nominees as the Best in the Northwest. One of our Advantage retro group clients, Car Wash Enterprises dba Brown Bear Car Wash, was selected as a finalist in both the Large Business and the Heritage Business categories.

We offer our congratulations and best wishes to all of them for the future!