President's Message

The L.A. RIMS annual fund raising golf tournament took place at Brookside Country Club in Pasadena on May 10, 2004. As in the past, golfers and tournament volunteers joined together for a great day of enjoyable golf followed by an awards dinner.

Each year, the golf tournament helps raise the necessary funds to support the various activities and events of the Los Angeles RIMS Chapter which include:

• Donations to Spencer Foundation ($12,500 in 2003)

• RIMS scholarship funds

• Subsidize the cost of breakfast and lunch meetings which provide valuable insight to current events

• Representation at the National RIMS conference

• Cost associated with the Western and Fall Conference

These and other activities of the Los Angeles RIMS Chapter help make a difference within our business community.

We greatly appreciate the support of our co- tournament sponsor Zurich who has sponsored the tournament for the last four years. In addition, our corporate sponsors this year were:

ACE USA Special Risk                                        Dempsey & Myers

AIG                                                                    Hilb Rogal & Hobbs

Allianz Global Risks                                            Hartford

Arthur J. Gallagher                                              FM Global

Aon                                                                    Liberty Mutual

Becher and Carlson                                             Lockton

Crawford & Company                                           Marsh

Chubb                                                                Willis

Various donations and gifts from our “Friends” and members were also received from:

      Arthur J Gallagher                                                Mattel Inc.

      Avery Dennison                                                    Fox Group

      AIG                                                                     Garrett Engineers

      ABS                                                                    Aon

      Big 5 Corp                                                           Lockton

      Hilton                                                                  Sony Pictures

      Dole Food Company                                             Walt Disney Co.

      Marsh                                                                  Zurich  

      McLaren Young

In addition to all the financial support, the following volunteered their time: Kathryn Baumann and Atis Zikmanis – Liberty Mutual; Paul Pendolino and Pentti Tofte – FM Global; Ruth Lindstrom – Jacobs Engineering; Kathy Merkovsky – Port of Los Angeles Thiaice Clay & Mark McConico – ACE; Paula Ferrini – LA Times; Susan Reyes-Ramirez; Jill Dvorkin; Chris Schell – AIG

On behalf of the LA RIMS Chapter, I want to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers for the help and assistance in making this year’s tournament a success.

Michael Carlin
L.A. RIMS President

RIMS 2004 Western Regional Conference

RIMS 2004 WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Have you heard?  The Southern California Chapters of RIMS consisting of the L.A., Orange County, Inland Empire, and San Diego Chapters are hosting this year’s Western Regional Conference in Newport Beach.  Hotel rates will be as follows:

Mark your calendars for September 28 through October 1, 2004! 

More registration information will be forthcoming in the next newsletter and by email.

Ontario, Canada is investing $14 million in patient lifts, electric beds, and other devices to help keep nurses from becoming injured on the job.  In 2002, nurses filed some 1,500 claims to the province's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.  The injuries cost hospitals 52,000 lost workdays and cost Ontario more than $5 million.

The cost of the equipment is being borne by the federal government and the province through a special medical equipment fund established last year.  Ontario, like many U.S. states is battling a nursing shortage, but provincial officials say their first priority is to protect existing nurses.  Commented Health Minister George Smitherman, "My first and foremost obligation is to improve the circumstances for those nurses who are already in the system, and on lots of different points, there is evidence that abounds that we can do a better job."

Prevention - Theme of World Safety Congress

The XVII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work will be held September 18-22 in Orlando, Florida.  "Prevention in a Globalized World-Success Through Partnerships" is the theme.  The World Congress is a forum for international discussion and debate on interdisciplinary issues related to prevention.  The gathering will focus on strengthening partnerships among governments, employers, workers, nongovernmental organizations, and safety and health professionals.

OSHA and Health Physics Society Create Alliance

OSHA has joined with the Health Physics Society (HPS) to highlight safety and health issues for workers exposed to radiological hazards.  The alliance will focus on prevention oriented efforts, especially in work settings related to emergency preparedness.

The two organizations will provide OSHA's Training Institute with educational materials and resources on radiological safety, and will provide peer review of OSHA technical documents and training curricula on radiological safety.  As is common in alliances, the participants will share technical information and best practices, and will call on employers to incorporate radiological safety strategies in their safety and health programs.

HPS is a scientific professional organization of some 6,000 scientists, physicians, engineers, attorneys, and others.  It encourages research in radiation, science, develops standards, and shares safety information.

Recall of Firestone Tires on Ford Excursions

Bridgestone/Firestone North America has launched a tire recall that involves Firestone and the Ford Motor Company, the same players involved in a tire-related rollover problem in the late 1990s.  Reportedly, about 290,000 Firestones will be replaced on Ford Excursion SUVs in the wake of accidents associated with five fatalities.  The recall is relatively small compared with those in past years, but according to the article in The New York Times, "It raised fresh questions about Bridgestone/Firestone North America..."

This most recent recall involves Firestone Steeltex tires.  It was prompted by a new government warning system, which mandates that tire makers submit accident and other related data on an ongoing basis.  The Times quotes a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration official who said the agency was prepared to open its own investigation before Firestone issued its action, which the manufacturer calls a "voluntary safety campaign." 

Firestone says it will replace affected tires at no cost.   Involved are Excursions including 2000, 2001, 2002, and some early 2003 models.  The tires are Steeltex Radial A/T in size LT265/75R16, Load Range D.