STARS program assists in reducing employee injuries

HERNDON, VA — Are you concerned about costly workers' compensation claims? Do you need assistance documenting and measuring injuries and incidents in order to lower your insurance claims costs?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, the STARS (Safety Training Achieves Remarkable Success) Safe Company Program can assist you. Sponsored by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), this free program, which is open to Green Industry companies –– including landscape construction, landscape management, design/build and professional lawn care companies –– will help you bring your company's safety to a higher level so that you can reduce injury and accident costs.

STARS members receive monthly e-mail and fax updates with practical checklists, sample policies and sample forms aimed at reducing employee injuries and assisting with OSHA compliance. Members also have access to a “STARS Champions” Advisory Council, comprised of successful working safety managers at companies in our industry.

Consider these tips from the STARS Safe Company Program's Checklist for Preventing Lifting and Moving-related Injuries:

• Identify those tasks that could result in back or other lifting or moving-related injuries.
• Require employees to get assistance with objects that weigh 50 pounds or more.
• Rotate tasks that require repetitive heavy lifting among workers.
• Provide manual (dollies, carts and hand trucks) and mechanical (forklifts and skid-steer loaders) lifting devices for employees' use.
• Establish a good relationship with a local medical provider and with your workers' compensation carrier. They can assist you in managing any workers' compensation claims that do arise.

For a copy of the STARS pledge form, contact PLANET's Ilene Manster or call 800/395-2522.