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Distracted Driving Awareness Month
On April 1, Governor Rick Scott issued a proclamation calling attention
to April’s designation as Distracted Driving Awareness month. The
yearly event provides an invaluable opportunity to discuss safe driving
with your employees. The United States Department of Transporta-
tion defines distracted driving as any activity that could divert a per-
son’s attention away from the primary task of driving. While cell
phone use is one of the most dangerous and widespread forms of
distracted driving, the term also encompasses driving while:
Eating or drinking
Talking with passengers
Grooming
Reading or using maps
Using other electronic devices like navigation systems or
mp3 players
Florida Department of Financial Services—Division of Risk Management
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Distracted Driving
Awareness Month
1
Distracted Driving Poster 3
Department of Education
Safety Fair
4
Fighting the Flu 6
Origami Risk Update 7
Formatting Reports in
Origami
8
What’s the Buzz on
Mosquitoes?
9
Safety and Loss
Prevention Word Search
10
Continued on next page... Page 1
ISSUE 2| VOLUME 6
MARCH–APRIL 2015
While most people have a vague awareness that distracted driving is risky, few realize how dangerous it truly is. According to the Nation-al Safety Council, vehicle crashes are among the top three causes of injury or death throughout a per-son’s lifetime. They also are the #1 cause of work-related deaths. Distractions only increase the like-lihood of an accident, particularly those distractions like texting, which demand visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text behind the wheel are three times more likely to be in-volved in a traffic accident. In 2012, 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, up from 387,000 people injured in 2011.
As a safety coordinator, it is imper-ative that you work with your ad-ministrators to develop a clear-cut policy prohibiting distracted driv-ing, and that you communicate
this policy, along with the dangers inherent in distracted driving to your employees. State agencies such as the Department of Health have emphasized their prohibition of the use of electronic devices while driving in their employee handbooks, and the sidebar to the right of this text features a wealth of information, materials, and con-tacts that can greatly aid in estab-lishing your anti-distracted driving policies. This is a serious problem, but one that can be countered by employee education and manage-rial commitment.
Mary Crew, the Department of Health’s Distracted Driving Preven-tion Liaison, says, “No single agen-cy can effectively achieve the mis-sion of injury prevention. We all must lead by example, encourage participation, and collaborate in our efforts to enact distracted driv-ing policies and other injury pre-vention initiatives. Please join us in making Florida a safer place for all to live and enjoy!”
NETSWork - Network of Employers
for Traffic Safety – free employee
safety campaign materials:
www.trafficsafety.org
National Safety Council (NSC) –
employer cell phone policy
development toolkit:
www.nsc.org
The National Institute for Occupa-
tional Safety and Health (NIOSH) –
links to other motor vehicle safety
resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/
motorvehicle/otherlinks.html
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) – free dis-
tracted driving campaign and mar-
keting tools:
www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov
NHTSA resource handouts: http://
www.distraction.gov/get-involved/
downloads.html
To request copies of the poster on
Page 3, contact Mary Crew, Dis-
tracted Driving Prevention Liaison
for the Florida Department of
Health at [email protected]
Distracted Driving
Prevention
Resources
Page 2
Page 3
On January 23, 2015, the Depart-
ment of Education (DOE) held a
safety fair in Tallahassee’s Turling-
ton building. Representatives from
a number of state agencies, organi-
zations, and businesses were on
hand to help spread the word
about many safety and security-
related topics. Here are a few pho-
tos from the event.
First Florida Credit Union shared
tips on financial safety, identity
theft, savings, and retirement, as
well as the programs they have in
place specifically for state of Florida
workers. The popcorn they distrib-
uted was also a hit with attendees.
The Tallahassee Fire Department’s
safety fair presentation featured a
demonstration of proper fire extin-
guisher use. Here, they instruct an
attendee using a digital fire extin-
guisher training system, which allows
for fire extinguisher practice indoors,
and with none of the danger of deal-
ing with actual burning material.
Continued on next page... Page 4
The Office of Safe Schools
created an informative dis-
play with timely information
on cyberbullying, child safety,
child abuse, hazing, and cell
phone usage. They also
brought along an impressive,
expressive remote-controlled
school bus.
Despite wet, cold weather, attend-
ance was solid. A great deal of val-
uable safety information (and can-
dy) was distributed. The Division of
Risk Management congratulates
The Florida Department of Educa-
tion on making the 2015 DOE Safety
Fair a success!
State Loss Prevention Program
The Tallahassee Police Department
was on hand to distribute valuable
safety and crime prevention infor-
mation. Secureflorida.org, an online
initiative of the Florida Department
of Law Enforcement, educated
attendees on staying safe online
whether at work, at home, or on so-
cial media.
Page 5
Continued from page 5
Flu immunization works by tricking
the body into believing it is experienc-
ing a full-scale invasion by a virus,
causing the immune system to fortify
its defenses. When receiving a flu
shot, a harmless version of a virus is
introduced to the body, and the im-
mune system responds by producing
antibodies to attack the weak virus.
The introduction of the flu causes the
immune system to quickly recognize
and destroy the flu virus when it ap-
pears.
Flu activity most commonly peaks in
the United States (U.S.) between De-
cember and February. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends a yearly flu vac-
cine for everyone 6 months of age and
older as the first and most important
step in protecting against this serious
disease. People should be vaccinated
soon after the flu vaccine becomes
available to ensure that as many peo-
ple as possible are protected before
flu season begins. Even if flu viruses
are circulating within the community,
it’s not too late to be vaccinated.
According to the CDC, as of February
2015, flu activity was still elevated but
continues to decrease in the U.S. The
predominance of certain flu viruses
this season has caused a significant
burden of serious disease in older
people. The flu-associated hospitaliza-
tion rate among people 65 and older
is the highest rate recorded since the
CDC began tracking data. Overall,
nearly 60 percent of flu-associated
hospitalizations have been among
people 65 years and older.
Flu vaccines are offered by many doc-
tor’s offices, clinics, health depart-
ments, and pharmacies. Visit
the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to lo-
cate where to receive a flu vaccine.
Vaccination each year provides the
best protection against influenza
throughout the flu season. It is im-
portant to receive a flu vaccine every
season, even if previously vaccinated
before, as the virus changes each sea-
son. The antibodies made in response
to vaccination with one
flu virus can sometimes
provide protection
against different but re-
lated viruses.
The flu vaccine contains
three or four flu viruses
(depending on the type
of vaccine received) so
that even when there is a
less-than-ideal match or
lower effectiveness
against one virus, the
vaccine may protect
against the other viruses.
Even when a less-than-
ideal match may result in
reduced vaccine effec-
tiveness against the virus
that is different from
what is in the vaccine, it
can still provide some protection
against influenza illness.
Flu viruses are constantly changing
and it is not unusual for new flu virus-
es to appear. These are viruses that
have small changes but have evolved
from previously circulating seasonal
flu viruses. Flu vaccines are designed
to protect against the main flu viruses
that research recommends will be the
most common during the upcoming
season.
Continued on next page...
Page 6
How can immunizations increase productivity and prevent absences?
With or without a flu shot, steps can
be taken for protection from the flu
and other viruses. Good hygiene re-
mains the most important defense
against contagious illnesses. To mini-
mize the work-related risks of catch-
ing influenza:
Wash hands often and thoroughly
with soap and water.
Use an alcohol-based sanitizer on
hands if soap and water are not
available.
Avoid touching eyes, nose, or
mouth whenever possible.
Avoid crowds when the flu is
most prevalent.
Practice good health habits. Get
plenty of sleep, exercise regular-
ly, drink plenty of fluids, eat a
nutritious diet, and manage
stress.
The annual direct costs
(hospitalization, doctors' office visits,
medications, etc.) of the flu are esti-
mated at $4.6 billion. Additionally, up
to 111 million workdays are lost due
to influenza at an estimated $7 billion
each year in sick days and lost
productivity. In the 2009 flu epidem-
ic, 8 million stricken adults took no
time off. They passed the flu to 7 mil-
lion of their co-workers and to un-
known numbers of friends, family
members, and strangers. As safety
professionals, it is important to advo-
cate for a supportive work environ-
ment that encourages flu shots and
sick days.
The Department of Financial Ser-
vices’ Division of Risk Manage-
ment transitioned from the STARS
Insurance Management System to
our new Origami system on Feb-
ruary 9, 2015, and staff is learning
the ins and outs of the program
through hands-on use. Addition-
ally, a focus group with represent-
atives from seven agencies and
universities met on April 6, 2015,
and brainstormed ideas for sys-
tem capabilities.
DRM will begin providing initial
agency/university access to Origa-
mi in June 2015. The initial agen-
cy access will provide agency-
specific data and limited report
access. An agency portal that
may provide functionality based
on feedback from the IAC focus
group is scheduled for the end of
2015.
Please direct questions regarding
the transition and/or future train-
ing needs to Juana Powell, Opera-
tions Review Specialist, at Jua-
and requests for reporting assis-
tance to Liz Sargent , Government
Analyst II, at Eliza-
To access a virtual tour of the
new system, please visit Origami’s
website at the following address:
http://live.origamirisk.tv/
OrigamiTV.
Page 7
Continued from page 6
Page 8
With the advent of the new Origami system, you may notice that the formatting
of some of your reports has changed. Dates, specifically, may look confusing.
Due to the nature of these reports, they cannot yet be reformatted before they
are released to your individual agencies.
They can, however, be reformatted very
easily upon receipt. Simply select the
letters at the top of the spreadsheet that
correspond to the date columns, right click
the now-highlighted columns, and select
Format Cells. In the popup box under Cate-
gory, select Date. Click OK at the bottom of
the screen.
With that, your dates should be for-
matted correctly. If you need additional
assistance with formatting, contact Will
Butler, Government Analyst I at
Liz Sargent, Government Analyst II at
The return of warmer, wetter spring
weather brings with it one of Florida’s
least favorite residents: the common
mosquito. In addition to their irritating
buzzing and itchy bites, mosquitoes
pose a serious safety concern as a vec-
tor for transmission of diseases such as
malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus,
several strains of encephalitis, Rift Val-
ley fever, and yellow fever. It is esti-
mated that each year more than
600,000 people across the world die of
mosquito-borne diseases. While Amer-
ica’s strong medical infrastructure lim-
its the number of fatalities we experi-
ence, many Americans are sickened by
these illnesses, particularly encephalitis
and West Nile virus, each year. Alt-
hough not generally fatal if treated
early, encephalitis has the potential to
cause serious health repercussions,
such as brain damage, in its victims.
Fortunately, there are steps that can
reduce the occurrence of mosquitoes
and the diseases they carry. State
safety and loss prevention team mem-
bers should recommend that job sites
and building exteriors are inspected for
areas where standing water may accu-
mulate—such as buckets, flowerpots,
wheelbarrows, etc.—and that these
containers are regularly emptied
whenever possible. Mosquitoes lay
their eggs on the surface of still, stag-
nant water, and the fewer places they
find to lay eggs, the fewer mosquitoes
will hatch. Female mosquitoes gener-
ally cannot lay their eggs until after
they feed, so preventing bites now lim-
its the number of mosquitoes that will
hatch in the future. Encourage your
employees to wear long sleeves and
use repellents containing DEET if they
will be outside.
While we may never eradicate mosqui-
toes and mosquito-borne illnesses,
taking a few simple steps to reduce
their numbers can have a positive im-
pact, and prevent sickness and lost
time.
We have some exciting new
features coming up in our
next issue, including safety
coordinator interviews, pro-
gram spotlights, more video,
and interactive content. If
you have any suggestions or
requests, we welcome your
input. Contact us at the link
below:
State Loss Prevention Program
Page 9
References
USA Today (January 26, 2013) Got the flu? Stay home from work: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/25/flu-sick-leave-contagious/1853629/ Centers for Disease Control (June 4, 2012) cdc.gov, SEASONAL INFLUENZA (FLU) IN THE WORKPLACE: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flu/activities.html Mayo Clinic (Oct. 04, 2014) Mayoclinic.org, Diseases and Conditions Influenza (flu): http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/in-depth/flu-shots/art-20048000 Centers for Disease Control (March 12, 2015) cdc.gov, What You Should Know for the 2014-2015 Influenza Season: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2014-2015.htm Unicef (n.d.) unicef.org, How does immunization work?: http://www.unicef.org/immunization/index_how.html
Page 10
Cell Phone
Cyber Bullying
Distraction
Driving
Encephalitis
Immunization
Loss Prevention
Safety Fair
Vaccination
Malaria
Mosquito
Origami
West Nile
Safety & Loss
Prevention
Outlook Team:
Will Butler
Managing Editor/Writer
Christia Nunnery
Staff Editor
Leah McPherson
Staff Writer
R. J. Castellanos, ARM, JD Division Director
Molly Merry, CPA Assistant Director
Shannon Segers, ARM-P Bureau Chief, Bureau of Risk Financing & Loss Prevention
Christia Nunnery, MPA
Administrator, Loss Prevention
Office of the Director (850) 413-4700
State of Florida Loss Prevention Section (850) 413-4756
Bureau of State Liability & Property
Claims (850) 413-3122
Bureau of State Employee Workers’
Compensation Claims (850) 413-3123
State Liability Claim Change Form (850) 413-4852
Safety Coordinator Appointment Form (850) 413-4756
Workers’ Compensation Claim Change Form (850) 413-4802
Florida Department of Financial Services
Division of Risk Management
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
The Safety and Loss Prevention Out-
look newsletter is for informational
purposes only. The Department of
Financial Services does not endorse
or support any websites, products,
brands, or services referenced
herein.
We look forward to your feed-
back on how we can better serve
you. To submit story ideas,
articles, and other suggestions—
or to be added to our distribu-
tion list—please contact us by
clicking on the link below:
State Loss Prevention Program
Page 11
