Connecting Through Member Visits

ICRMA staff recently hit the road to meet and connect with our member Cities face-to-face.  Through these meetings we are able to strengthen our relationships and provide personalized support. Together, we are able to deep-dive into City questions and concerns and offer expert guidance to take full advantage of ICRMA resources. During the meetings ICRMA listens and gathers feedback to gain a deeper understanding of each City’s unique needs and challenges. This enables us to enhance the solutions, services, and offerings we bring to the table.

In addition to listening, we also review educational resources, training, and experts available to the City through ICRMA. This includes sharing industry insights, best practices, and updates on regulatory changes that may impact the program. By equipping Cities with the knowledge and tools needed, we hope to empower you to make informed decisions as you navigate the complexities of city risk management. 

To schedule your member visit, please contact Amber Anderson at amber_anderson@rpadmin.com. 
 

RISK MANAGEMENT CORNER: EYE SAFETY AWARENESS

Preventing eye injury

More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day. About 1-in-10 injuries require one or more missed workdays to recover. Of the total amount of work-related injuries, 10-20% will cause temporary or permanent vision loss. 

There are three things you can do to help prevent eye injury:

1. Know the eye safety dangers at work by completing an eye hazard assessment.
2. Eliminate hazards before starting work. Use machine guarding, work screens, or other engineering controls.
3. Use proper eye protection.

Safety eyewear protection includes:

• Non-prescription and prescription safety glasses
• Goggles
• Face shields
• Welding helmets
• Full-face respirators

Common causes for eye injuries are:

• Flying objects (bits of metal, glass)
• Tools
• Particles
• Chemicals
• Harmful radiation
• Any combination of these or other hazards

The type of safety eye protection you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace. If you are working in an area that has particles, flying objects, or dust, you must at least wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). If you are working with chemicals, you should wear goggles. If you are working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics) you must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task.

Cal OSHA Title 8, Section 3382
Employees working in locations where there is a risk of receiving eye injuries such as punctures, abrasions, contusions, or burns as a result of contact with flying particles, hazardous substances, projections or injurious light rays which are inherent in the work or environment, shall be safeguarded by means of face or eye protection. Suitable screens or shields isolating the hazardous exposure may be considered adequate safeguarding for nearby employees. Employers must provide and ensure that employees use protection suitable for the exposure. https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3382.html.

CA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION UPDATE

In the last quarter of 2023, Governor Newsom vetoed a few key workers’ compensation bills on Independent Medical Review, PTSD presumptions, and skin cancer. He also approved bills extending PTSD presumption for Safety Members, extending death benefits to state firefighters, and imposing workers’ comp reporting requirements on contractors. 

Vetoed bills

• AB1213 This bill proposed that when: 1) Utilization Review (UR) denied medical care, and 2) Independent Medical Review (IMR) or the WCAB overturned the denial, any Temporary Disability (TD) benefits owing from date of the UR Denial through the date of IMR would not count toward the 104-week cap on TD benefits. This would have essentially extended the 104-week cap for TD benefits. The bill was vetoed.
• AB1145 This bill would have extended PTSD presumption to State Medical Providers working for Dept. of Corrections and Rehab and State Developmental Services, including Registered Nurses, Psych Techs, and other Social Service providers. The bill was vetoed.
• SB391 This bill would have extended skin cancer presumption to Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation departments. The bill was vetoed.

Approved bills

• SB623 Extends the expiration of PTSD Presumption for Safety Members from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2029.
• AB621 Removes limitations for death benefits for specific workers in the Department of Forestry and Fire. Families of state firefighters can now collect both work comp and PERS death benefits.
• AB336 Requires contractors to submit their work comp coverage application and classification codes to the state’s Contractor State License Board. This is intended to prevent contractors from intentionally misclassifying their workers.

OUT & ABOUT

ICRMA was recently present at Public Agency Risk Management Association (PARMA) and Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP) annual events.

PARMA celebrated its 50th anniversary in Indian Wells, California in February during its annual conference. The event included informative educational programming and great networking. 

ICRMA representation included:

• Pam Mackie, ICRMA Board Member & Claims Committee Chair, City of Fullerton;
• Veronica Gutierrez, ICRMA Board Member, City of Fullerton;
• Rigo Gutierrez, ICRMA Board Member & Claims Committee Member, City of El Monte;
• Rita Wendling, ICRMA Board Member, City of Glendora and, 
• Thurman Green, ICRMA Board Member, City of South Gate.

Members were joined by ICRMA’s Assistant Executive Director Amber Anderson and Program Administrator Nilsa Quandt.

AGRiP‘s annual Governance and Leadership conference was held in March in Nashville, TN. The conference included over 800 pooling professionals from around the country. Session highlights included expected industry disruptors from AI and a keynote session on hugging your haters--or learning the most you can from your most dissatisfied constituents. Representing ICRMA at the event were:

• Ernie Hernandez, Board Member, City of Lynwood; and 
• Patrick Matson, Board Member, City of Lynwood. 

Members were joined by ICRMA Executive Director Dani Rogacki and Assistant Executive Director Amber Anderson.

Patrick Matson, City of Lynwood, enjoying Music City during AGRiP’s Governance & Leadership conference.