POA recognized for safety conditions
Posted on Saturday, March 8, 2008
BELLA VISTA - The Bella Vista Property Owners Association has been recognized for going more than two years without a lost-time accident.
A representative from the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission presented the association with an award Friday at the Bella Vista Country Club.
The association has implemented several procedures to improve safety conditions, and two years without a losttime accident is a record for the association, Human Resources Manager Larry Shoe said in a POA news release.
In 2005, the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission declared the POA a "hazardous employer," based on the number of claims, types of incidents and time lost from work.
The record causes each POA member to pay more than one-half of one month's assessment to cover workers' compensation costs, which is money that could be used in maintaining and improving POA amenities, POA General Manager Tommy Bailey said.
POA officials decided to ask Jack McDaniel, a safety consultant recognized by the state as an Approved Professional Safety Source consultant, to establish a safety program for the POA.
Procedures and details were documented in a safety manual.
Equally as important, Shoe introduced and implemented a "restricted duty"program, working with the Arkansas Occupational Health Clinic.
As a result of that measure, injuries are pinpointed and workers are sometimes placed on "restricted duty," allowing them to be gainfully employed and successfully return to the workplace until they are released for full duty.
The POA also has a safety committee, comprised of employees and led by McDaniel, which meets monthly, inspects all facilities and makes recommendations for a safety plan based on those inspections.
Other steps include classroom training, safety talks and accident investigations.
Because of the series of steps taken and detailed documentation given, the POA's "hazardous employer "title was lifted in 2006.
The POA also introduced drug testing after accidents. Recognizing the POA's efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace, an official with the Arkansas Workers'Compensation Commission suggested that the POA might be eligible for a 5 percent discount in workers' compensation premiums. The POA applied for and was granted the discount.
At the direction of the general manager, the safety committee also looked for potential hazards to property owners and public safety at POA facilities. Hundreds of improvements have been made to POA facilities, resulting in huge savings in workers'compensation premiums.
"It's a great honor to have our efforts recognized by the state," Bailey said. "What we're doing is important, and we're going to continue to look for ways to improve."
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