(TOWSON, Md.) - This week marks the kickoff of Workplace Safety Month forWomen in Maryland, a public outreach initiative sponsored by IWIF Workers’ Compensation Insurance. IWIF chose to focus on women worker safety issues due to the
fact that nearly 9,000 women in Maryland suffered on-the-job accidents last year that required time away from work, according to the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MOSH). IWIF’s claims data revealed that 35 percent of private sector claims and 53 percent of State claims were filed by female workers in 2008.
“Many injured women suffered serious back, knee and hand injuries,” says Joe Gillian, IWIF Loss Control Director. “Among IWIF claimants last year, those women who were injured most often worked in nursing homes, colleges and schools, clerical offices, and retail shops and restaurants.”
While there is a great deal of injury prevention information and resources for male-dominated industries like construction, not as many resources exist for women.
Adrienne Kaspar, IWIF loss control supervisor, says, “There is a perception among employers that they don’t need to worry about their female employees because they have ‘easy’ jobs and they can’t get hurt working in an office, for example. While it’s true that women have fewer fatal and nonfatal injuries than men, women run a much greater risk of developing certain types of injuries, such as musculoskeletal disorder, injuries due to overexertion, and trips and falls.”
IWIF’s public outreach initiative titled “SHE Works” stands for Safety & Health Every day. It will strive to educate policyholders, agents and brokers, and Maryland business owners and their employees about workplace hazards facing women. Initiatives include public service announcements, a free safety information kit for employers, a safety poster, and several safety tip sheets. Information is free and can be order by visiting IWIF’s website at www.iwif.com.
Adrienne Kaspar, IWIF loss control supervisor, says, “There is a perception among employers that they don’t need to worry about their female employees because they have ‘easy’ jobs and they can’t get hurt working in an office, for example. While it’s true that women have fewer fatal and nonfatal injuries than men, women run a much greater risk of developing certain types of injuries, such as musculoskeletal disorder, injuries due to overexertion, and trips and falls.”