Behind the success of every company, there are hard working individuals that devote endless time and effort to servicing clients more effectively. For this newsletter publication, Seitlin focuses on associate Ryland Thompson and what he has to say.
Q: Tell me a little about yourself (background, designations)
A: I have worked in the field of occupational health and safety for over 30 years. I began my career working for a large food consortium which owned several food manufacturing companies in Canada.
I graduated from college with a three year certificate in public health inspection and was hired to write GMP (Good Manufacturing Procedures) and manage a staff of 60 employees. In writing the procedures, I became knowledgeable about potential accidents associated with high-speed manufacturing equipment and the chemicals used in the maintenance and the cleaning processes.
After working for about 13 years with the company, I was recruited by the Toronto Hydro Commission to re-organize their safety department after they had a series of fatalities with their electrical linemen and were the subject of media attention and intense regulatory oversight. In that position, I created the Division of Safety and Environmental Services which necessitated the merging of their workers compensation and safety division into one unit.
Thereafter I joined the Florida Department of Labor where I managed both their Compliance and Consultation departments before leaving to work for Royal and Sunalliance insurance as a senior safety consultant. During that time I worked closely with Ned Black and when Royal and Sunalliance closed its operations in the U.S. he invited me to interview with Seitlin. Subsequently, I was hired to work in the safety division.
Over the years I have obtained a degree in safety and various professional safety and risk management designations e.g.,, CSP, ARM, CHSP, CSHM.
Q: What industries do you specialize in?
A: I am a generalist. I have worked in construction, healthcare, and now hold expertise in the field of agriculture. I fulfill the needs of a client whether it be one line of work, or all of them. Additionally, my experience before working for Seitlin exceedingly expanded my knowledge of industry and that in turn, has made me more well- rounded in what I do here at Seitlin.
Q: What are some of the safety infractions you most often see when visiting clients?
A: The number one safety infraction deals with chemicals in the workplace, most often noted as HAZCOM (Hazard Communication). Another common infraction is a fall or injury from electrical hazards.
Q: What are 3 things companies can do to be more proactive about the safety of their employees and controlling costs?
A: In general industry, the major safety violations include: Hazcom, which deal with the failure of companies to provide training and information to employees regarding hazardous chemicals in the workplace, failure to adequately guard moving parts on machinery which invariably lead to fractures and or amputations and, electrical hazards such as exposed wiring or improper LOTO procedures. In construction, there are four major hazards which annually account for about 90% of all fatalities or serious injuries. These are (i) electrical (ii) falls (iii) struck-by (iv) caught in between.
To improve safety, companies should:
(1) Obtainsenior management's commitment to the establishment of an effect safety system
(2) through a system of thorough investigation and root cause analysis can the true causes of accidents be uncovered and permanently eliminated.
Companies need to train their supervisors on the importance of safety and prevention, and be aware of cost containment. By obtaining management commitment, it becomes easier to seek the appropriate resources to develop an effective safety system.
Q: What are some of the services you provide?
A: Ultimately, I provide Safety Consulting Services, helping clients develop proactive safety systems. Services are usually geared to the level of sophistication of the client and depending on the safety systems already in place, that determines the level of service we provide for them. Specific examples of services include: Development of customized safety manuals, OSHA 10 and 30hr courses, Hazcom training, Forklift training, site audits and assistance with OSHA informal conferences, CHSP (Certified Healthcare Safety Professional) prep exams.
I assist clients with the bottom line: that prevention of any type of accident remain primordial.
For more information about these or other risk management services, contact:
Ryland Thompson
SR Consultant
Risk Management
Office: 954.903.1609
Mobile: 561.704.9217
rthompson@seitlin.com
