William Hill Manor
Retirement Community Recognized
With IWIF's Safety Saves Partnership Award

L to R: Larraine Long, Cheryl Hudson, Kenny Corkell,
Donna Taylor, and William Mitchell.

"A safe workplace, does not happen by accident.
It takes planning, training and constant monitoring."
says Donna Taylor.

Taylor is executive director of the William Hill Manor retirement community in Easton, MD, which was recently honored as a winner of the "Safety Saves With IWIF" Premier Partnership Award for 2002. They were chosen from more than 2000 IWIF policyholders from the Eastern Shore of Maryland. With about 200 employees and 245 residents, William
Hill Manor offers independent living, assisted living, and comprehensive
nursing care.

Their insurance agent, Kevin LaTulip, CPCU and President of Avon Dixon Insurance Inc. added, "William Hill Manor has always been in the forefront for the safety of their employees. They know it is a good business decision to protect their employees, which ultimately helps to reduce their comp costs."

Larraine Long, IWIF Loss Control Consultant who helped develop the workplace safety programs in partnership with Taylor and the William Hill Manor staff, describes the facility as a "sterling example of how such programs should be shaped." Besides helping design the program, she recently conducted an Accident Prevention In-service Seminar for all employees.

"They're doing all the right things to promote the safety of their employees and residents," Larraine says. Long cites the formation of an active in-house safety committee as a major step in this direction. Headed by Kenny Corkell, Director of Ground Maintenance at William Hill Manor, the committee meets monthly to exchange ideas and to discuss safety issues needing attention.

After each meeting, Corkell explains, the six-member committee does a walk-through inspection of the premises in search of possible hazards - hallway obstructions, wet floors, electrical fixtures needing repair, etc. Also covered in the inspection is equipment used in assisting residents and patients, such as Hoyer lifts for helping get them into and out of bed.

At year's end, an awards program is sponsored to recognize employees with records of outstanding contributions to William Hill Manor's workplace safety culture. Other safety practices include a pre-employment, random and post-accident drug testing program.

"When word gets around that you have a drug testing program, questionable candidates don't even apply, saving you time and expense in handling applications," Taylor says. "It has given us a better quality of employees." In addition to its prevention aspects, the William Hill Manor safety program includes steps for the prompt reporting of accidents and early treatment of injuries by a quality medical provider. Referring to the need for early response to accidents, Taylor added, "I know how important it is to report injuries ASAP. IWIF's new online employer's first report of injury is a wonderful service." William Hill Manor's commitment to workplace safety is an example for all Maryland employers to embrace.

November, 2002