The Bull Stops Here Blog

The other day my 18-year old daughter was white-hot mad at our our dog Captain Jack.  Jack, being a red-blooded Jack Russell terrorist, ‘er terrier, had discovered her new pair of jeans and decided that these would make a good snack.  Kelli found them under the dining room table with fresh holes and teeth marks that seemed to match the teeth of aforementioned canine.

Kelli was ready to send the dog to the proper obedience training at the highest cost available.  I asked Kelli, “So, the dog went into your room, opened up your closet, picked out these jeans, left your room and closed the door behind him.  He then proceeded to make Swiss cheese out of the jeans and didn’t bother to put them back where he found them.  Is that right?”  Kelli didn’t find my line of questioning amusing.

Here’s the deal - the safety of your employees, the housekeeping of your business, the maintenance of your fleet - it’s all on you.  Like Kelli with her jeans, you are responsible for 95% of your risk management.  The other 5% is chance.  So many accidents can be avoided by making sure your employees are well trained.

Ever have someone trip over an object that seven other people walked by and didn’t pick up?  Ever see a safety sign in your yard or job site obstructed by something and left like that for weeks or months?

Learn the lesson Kelli did.  If you want to keep something safe put it away.  Train your employees on teamwork.  Make sure everyone in your organization understand that their jobs may be predicated on well your business functions.  Claims will kill a business in this environment.  Do everything you can to avoid them.  In other words, don’t let the dog bite you in the rear!

Stay safe…

Do you remember the scene in the film Remember the Titans, when Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) berated a player named Blue for wanting water.  His words were “water makes you weak,” was meant to motivate and make his player tougher.

Memo to all coaches, high school, college, pro, or Little League - we don’t live in the movies.

By now, you’ve heard or seen the tragic story out of Louisville where a high school football coach is being sued for the wrongful death of one of his players.  It came as a result of heat stroke and the refusal of the coach to grant his players water.

Coaches - this isn’t “old school” any more.  This is a reminder that your utmost duty is to your athletes.  Wins and losses off the field are more important than on the field.

To read the entire story, click here…

Stay safe…

Dan

Last Thursday night, I was staying in a nice hotel in Warwick, RI for a workshop.  As I was fast asleep, at precisely 11:45pm, the fire alarm blared.  My first thought as I came to my senses in the pitch black was, “Is this just my room or the whole hotel?”  Turns out it was the entire hotel.

I peeked out the door, along with every other person occupying rooms down either side.  The irony is we all looked at each other, with the fire alarm blaring, and a pungent smell of smoke in the air, saying to one another, “Do you think we need to leave?”

Turns out that a plant inside the lobby mysteriously caught on fire (with a cigarette butt right next to it).  All was okay and we were back in our room shortly.  The hotel was well prepared and the fire department well trained.  Wish I could say the same for me and many of my fellow guests!

Maybe it was the bitter cold temperatures that made us think twice…I don’t know.  The reality is that we were taught all the way back in grade school how to react in a fire drill.  Get out now!  Heck, I was even a volunteer fire fighter for a couple of years. You’d think I would know better!

Do your employees know what to do in case of an emergency - a fire, hazardous spill, or an earthquake as examples?  They may know it in their heads, but will they respond well when it happens?

As we begin a new calender year, make emergency preparedness a safety meeting topic and drill in your procedures.  That way, they won’t be as unprepared as I was when the fire drill goes off for them.

By the way, I left in basketball shorts and a pullover to stand outside.  Smart guy!

Stay safe.

Dan

I’m getting my 2009 started in style.  I’m heading to the chilly Northeast - Rhode Island to be exact - for some good old educating.  I’m excited to be attending a workshop being presented by the “Rock Star of Consulting” Alan Weiss.  It will improve my game and career.

What about you?

Are there ways you can improve your game?  What kind of education will give you the ROI that your business needs?  Start 2009 off the right way - educate yourself on ways to improve your business and you will be preparing for a banner year.

Dan

Want to save money on your total cost of insurance?  What if you could do it in only about 2 months?

Have you ever heard of improving by 1% a day?  If you improve by 1% a day, in just 70 days you’ll be twice as good.

OK, I’m no mathematician so you can do the math.  I’ve heard this principle many times and I believe it.  How does this apply to you as a business owner?

If you commit to improving your risk management by just 1% a day, your program will be twice as good and you will save money on your total cost if insurance.  What are some ways you can improve?

• Commit to more frequent safety meetings.  They don’t have to be long (5-10 minutes). They just have to add value.
• Make sure your office and staff are first aid/CPR trained.
• Make sure your employees know how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Get an unbiased review of your insurance policy by an insurance professional.
• Bid out your insurance.
• Meet with your agent to go over your policy.
• Find out what your workers compensation experience mod factor is.
• Inspect the housekeeping at your business.

These are just a few ideas.  You can probably think of more.  The better you get at risk management, the less you will pay for insurance and the expense that comes from unwanted claims.

Are you ready to improve by 1% starting today?