Yesterday, the World Health Organization announced that the H1N1/Swine Flu pandemic is officially over, which left a lot of people worrying if they still needed to get a seasonal flu vaccine. Short answer?
Yes, you still need a flu shot!

A Colorado newspaper posted this great article yesterday encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, despite the end of the H1N1 pandemic.

The Baltimore Sun is points out the CDC’s latest recommendation for everyone 6 months and older to get the seasonal flu vaccine.

Since the demand will be greater this year, the supply is expected to be plenty. We have already received our first shipment of vaccine here at KWC, and are ready to help you and your staff protect yourselves during the upcoming flu season. To reserve shots or schedule and on-site clinic, call us at (937) 293-7770.

When the heat index is 100+ degrees (like today), you probably aren’t thinking about blustery days and the flu season that cooler weather brings along.

It’s never too early to start thinking about vaccinating your employees against the flu. We normally start reminding our customers in August to get an idea of how many they may need for their employees, since flu season can begin as early as October. When an employee comes down with the flu, it typically results in a three day absence from the job, sometimes more.

The months of September through December are the ideal months to get yourselves, your employees, and your family vaccinated against the flu. This year’s shot will provide protection against both the seasonal and the H1N1 viruses.

According to the CDC, the following people should get a flu shot:

1. Pregnant women
2. Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
– Health care workers
– Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
– Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Not only can Kettering Workers’ Care provide your company with flu shots, but we can come to you. Every year, we provide hundreds of local companies with on-site vaccinations to help save you time and money. If you want to make sure your staff is protected from this year’s flu bug, call our Central office at (937) 293-7770.

Starting this year, the Department of Transportation will be doing 20% more audits on DOT employers, with the help of online access to the DOT long forms.
We’ve also heard from several companies that the Highway Patrol has been cracking down on drivers without the appropriate medical clearances. Trust us – just being ticketed is getting off easy. You can be heavily fined, or even have your drivers pulled off the road until they all meet the proper requirements.

It’s a common misconception that the only employees in need of a medical card are semi-truck drivers. While your driver might not be considered DOT, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t need to be cleared for duty. This could possibly include (but isn’t limited to) dump trucks, salt trucks, landscaping vehicles or mulch trucks, many flat bed trucks, tow trucks and buses.

We found this on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website, and it helps clear up what your requirements are:

How do I determine whether I am subject to FMCSA’s safety regulations?
If you operate any of the following types of commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce you must comply with the applicable U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) safety regulations concerning: CDL: controlled substances and alcohol testing for all persons required to possess a CDL: driver qualifications (including medical exams); driving of commercial motor vehicles; parts and accessories necessary for safe operations; hours of service; and inspection, repair and maintenance.
(1) A vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating (whichever is greater) of 4,537 kg (10,001 lb) or more;
(2) A vehicle designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation;
(3) A vehicle designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers; or
(4) Any size vehicle used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the purposes of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) and which require the motor vehicle to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR chapter I, subchapter C).

We encourage you to visit the FMCSA website for more info on what rules and regulations apply to your company. If you find you do need physicals & drug screens for employees driving company vehicles or you’re still unsure what your requirements are, we’re always happy to help you get started and keep you in compliance.

We’re very excited to welcome our newest location in the Hamilton-Fairfield area, which opened just last week!

Our new office is located inside the Lindenwald Medical Building at 3570 Pleasant Avenue/SR 127 in Hamilton, inside the same building as the Urgent Care and the family practice.

This office will be just as full service as our three existing Dayton locations – providing injury care, physicals, drug screens, and any of the services listed here. To make an appointment at this office, please call our Nurse Manager Judy Strickland at (513) 255-3262. If you’re just looking for more info on what KWC can do to help your company, call Pam or Brandy at (937) 293-7770.

We’re looking forward to making Hamilton area companies safer and healthier places to work!

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In case you missed our DOT lunch & learn back in May, there are still opportunities for DOT employers to have all of their questions answered by the pros.

The Ohio Trucking Association is holding two DOT compliance seminars – one next Tuesday, July 13 in Akron and another in Perrysburg on Tuesday, July 20.

Check out the brochure here for more details, and get registered soon!

You just got to work, and on your desk is the dreaded, tell-tale yellow envelope, signaling that you’ve been chosen for a random drug screen at your company.

“Is my company suspicious of me?” you might wonder. “I have been a little stressed out lately, maybe a little weird,” and you wonder if they picked up on that, too. What about the prescription you got last week for that toothache? Then real panic sets in – what if you get there and can’t go!?

Calm down! It’s only a random. Your employer is using a random generator to choose names for the company random program. You just happen to be the “lucky” one this time.

Here are eight survival tips to get you through the drug screen process.

1. Don’t forget your photo ID – You must have a government-issued photo ID for identification, so put back your library card or Sam’s Club card away. Even if the picture is better than the one on your driver’s license, the technician won’t accept it. It must be a driver’s license, passport, or a state issued ID card to be legit.

2. Know your collector – Your collector should be qualified to complete your
drug screen, which means he or she should be certified. A certification is
received from the Drug & Testing Industry Association (DATIA) is considered the “gold standard.” If you would like to know how your collector has been trained, just ask.

3. What about prescriptions? – Don’t worry, when your test results come back, a Medical Review Officer (MRO) will review the results. If your results show that you tested positive for a prescription drug, you will be contacted first. The MRO will ask you questions and verify your prescription. One thing to remember though, don’t take Aunt Martha’s pain medicine. If this drug shows up on your results, and you don’t have a legitimate prescription, your test will be labeled positive.

4. What if I can’t go? – Don’t worry, the collector will start what is called a Shy Bladder Log, then you will be given 40 ounces of water to drink. You can’t just run down to the corner store and grab something else because you don’t like water, though – your drug screen has already begun, and it’s against the rules to leave the office. Just hang in there and drink your water. After about 30 minutes or so you should be able to produce enough urine for a sufficient specimen.

5. The collector is getting personal – OK, already! You are asked to empty out your pockets, pull up your pant legs and remove your beloved hat. This is just for your protection and is routine. The collector is making sure you don’t have any adulterants on your person. An adulterant is a substance that may change the result of a drug screen.

6. Why is the toilet water blue? – Again, this is for your protection and to make sure that the integrity of the drug screen is protected. A blue dye is added to the toilet water so that if toilet water is added to the urine specimen it will change colors. I think that would make green urine. No human has green urine!

7. What is the temperature strip for? – When you bring the urine specimen out of the restroom and give it to the collector she will read the temperature strip. The specimen needs to have a temperature between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. Cross your T’s and dot your I’s – To make it complete, you’ll need to make sure all of the forms and paperwork have been completed and everything is correct. The collector will remove a strip to seal each bottle of urine and you will be asked to initial each one after the bottles are sealed. This is important again to ensure the integrity of the test.

The collector gives you a copy of your paper work and you’re on your merry way. It’s over! You Survived! Now, that wasn’t so bad – was it?

For more information on drug testing, head back to our home page at www.KetteringWorkersCare.com

As many of you may already know, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp is making some big changes to their Drug-free Workplace program, right down to the name.

Effective tomorrow, July 1, 2010, BWC will be phasing out DFWP and the Drug-Free Safety Program (DFSP) will be available to employers immediately, with most of the same features as the old program.

All of the changes being made are surprisingly favorable to the employer. Not only can you maintain the discount for an unlimited number of years, but there will now be only two levels – basic and advanced. Advanced level participants will receive a 7% discount on their premiums, while companies on the basic level will still receive a 4% discount.

For more information on the new DFSP, check out the new page on the BWC website explaining the requirements and rewards here.

Kettering Workers’ Care has been helping companies maintain drug-free work environments for over 20 years with drug & alcohol screening, MRO services, random consortiums, and supervisor & employee training. If you have questions about how your company can become drug-free and take advantage of these discounts, but aren’t sure where to start – call us. We’ll be glad to help!

Most drivers that operate commercial vehicles are familiar with the DOT Medical Certification required by the U.S. Department of Transportation. You will have a history, physical exam and drug test to acquire your Medical Certification Card. For many drivers this is a process that they breeze through with little effort. But for those of you with certain medical conditions this may become a stressful experience if you are not prepared!

If you are going to need any type of testing done, please arrange to have it completed two to four weeks prior to your certification exam. Then bring copies of medical reports or letters that your physician will need. This preparation should avoid any delay in receiving your medical card. For example:

1. Diabetics cannot be on insulin. You will need a copy of your glycosolated hemoglobin blood test, better known as a Hemoglobin A1C. This test shows how well your blood sugar levels have been controlled over the past three months.

2. If you have any sleep disorder, bring a copy of your latest sleep test results and/or a letter from your sleep specialist. The letter should state that your sleep disorder is medically controlled and that it is safe for you to drive a commercial vehicle.

3. For cardiovascular problems, particularly if you have had a heart attack or stints, you need a copy of your exercise stress test. This test is required every other year. This information should include your left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as well as a letter from your heart doctor stating that your medical condition is stable and you can safely operate a commercial vehicle. Blood pressure must be no higher than 140/90 at the time of your medical certification examination.

Get a good night’s sleep and take your medication as prescribed by your attending physician before your certification exam.

If you are not cleared for your DOT card, you will get a note from your DOT medical examiner detailing what is required to pass. Ask for a business card from the clinic with phone numbers, including a fax number. It may be as simple as faxing over a medical report from your doctor for the DOT examining physician to review. If there is something you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Remember the best way to pass your physical is to stay healthy. Eat right, exercise and get the appropriate rest you need. And don’t stress out!!

What exactly is a recordable injury?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to track and document work-related injuries and illnesses as well as the steps taken to prevent future occurrences. OSHA guidelines aid in determining which incidents are recordable. A work-related injury or illness occurs within the work environment during the course of work duties. The injury becomes recordable if the employee requires treatment other than first aid, with days away from work and /or work restrictions requiring the employee to be removed from their usual work duties.

First aid can include:
• Wound cleaning and application of dressings
• Irrigation or use of swab to remove a foreign body from eye
• Nonprescription medications
• Tetanus immunization
• Application of ice or heat
• Elastic bandages or back supports
• Oral fluids for heat stress/dehydration
• Splinter removal using tweezers or swab
• Drilling a nail for pressure relief or draining fluid from a blister

Additional recordable injuries/illnesses
• Needlestick or cut with a sharp object contaminated with potentially infectious material
• Positive tuberculosis skin test following a known exposure in the workplace
• Standard threshold shift noted on an audiogram.

So, now you’re probably wondering what’s not recordable. Here are some instances where employers often find themselves puzzled, but these are not considered recordable workers’ comp issues.

Non-recordable Medical Treatments
• Visits to a physician for observation or counseling
• Diagnostic procedures
• First aid

Non-work-related injuries or illnesses
• Employee in the work environment as a member of the public
• Performing personal tasks such as eating, preparing food
• Participating in wellness program activities
• Symptoms of an illness beginning during work but exposed outside work environment
• Motor Vehicle accident during commute to or from work regardless if it occurs on company property

Happy Monday, everyone!

We have a lot of folks interested in our upcoming session on DOT regulations, and people have been asking what will be covered. As of now, our expert plans to review the following:

- New direct observation guidelines for drug testing
- New guidelines on test refusals
- Addition of MDMA to DOT 5 panel
- Lowering cut-off levels of amphetamines
- National registry of certified DOT medical examiners

And of course, she’ll be answering any questions you may have.
Keeping our customers informed and in compliance is something we gladly provide at no cost, so there is no charge for this lunch & learn. It will be held on Tuesday May 11 in Huber Heights.
There are still a few seats left, so please email us if you’d like to RSVP or just get more details.