MERMA LOSS CONTROL SERVICES
Monterey Educational Risk Management Authority (MERMA) - Loss Control Services is committed to helping fulfill the MERMA mission:
"To protect the human resources and financial assets of our member districts in order to support the future of public education."
LOSS CONTROL SERVICES
MERMA’s philosophy on providing Loss Control Services is to leverage all available resources to support our members at the highest level of customer service possible. We do this by working together as a team to analyze trends, identify risk, develop action plans, and implement safety prevention training with the goal of keeping educators and employees injury free. The by-product of a successful loss control program is healthy employees, informed employees, and reduced workers’ compensation expenses.
Our Loss Control Services for members include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Analytics of injury history and causation
- Develop and implement safety action plans
- Injury & Illness Prevention Plan development & updates
- On-site safety inspections
- Workstation ergonomic evaluations
- On-site & virtual safety training
- Assistance with serious injury & accident investigations
- Job safety analysis for at-risk or new job descriptions
- CalOSHA inspection/citation support
- CPR, First Aid, AED training
Workstation Ergonomic Assessments:
Member districts may request workstation ergonomic assessments for new employees, employees with new workstations, or employees who may be experiencing discomfort due to their workstation set up. Ergonomic assessments can often prevent an injury if requested early. Click here to access MERMA’s Ergonomic Evaluation Request Form.
Matching Safety Funds Program:
Each fiscal year, MERMA Loss Control Services provides Matching Safety Funds (MSF) to each member district up to the pre-approved allocation. MSF allocation is based on the size of the member district. MERMA will reimburse the member 50 cents for every $1 dollar spent to improve safety and reduce injuries, up to the approved allocation. To request your reimbursement for the current fiscal year, download the MSF form and follow the instructions.
Monthly Safety Newsletter:
MERMA publishes a monthly newsletter as a safety resource and to help address seasonal safety topics. If you would like MERMA to address a particular safety topic in a future newsletter, feel free to email mlorenzana@merma.org.
Newsletters: August 2023, July 2023, June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, January 2023
Archive: March 2022, April 2022, May 2022, June 2022, July 2022, August 2022, September 2022, October 2022, November 2022, December 2022
If you have any questions regarding your loss control program, please contact MERMA’s Loss Control Manager, Maria Lorenzana, at (831) 296-9196, or by email at mlorenzana@merma.org.
MERMA provides loss control consultation services to all members. In order to develop an effective service plan, there are several elements that have been developed to assist member districts:
Safety Program Consultation Services:
A workplace survey, including discussions with management, and, where appropriate, non-management personnel with permission of the member; review of injury records with appropriate personnel; and development of a plan to improve the member’s health and safety loss control experience, that shall include, where appropriate, recommendations to modify the member’s Title 8 Section 3203 Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
Additional services provided to MERMA members include:
Ergonomic Evaluations:
Workstation evaluations may be conducted as part of the administration of a claim or as part of a District injury prevention plan.
Sample Policies and Training Topics:
Loss Control Services assists members by providing policy templates that contain the necessary elements to comply with specific Cal-OSHA standards.
Click here to obtain a list of 5-Minute Safety Training Topics,
Facilitator Safety Training Topics, and
Policy and Procedure Safety Program Templates
MERMA In-Service Training Services:
In-service training by MERMA Loss Control Services may be offered on safety related topics. Referral to qualified training resources can be provided where training is not available from MERMA.
Safety Improvement Program:
MERMA Loss Control Services provides a matching funds allocation to each member district on dollar for dollar basis to improve safety conditions or provide safety equipment.
Member districts are encouraged to contact Loss Control Services regarding any of the information listed here or for assistance with any injury prevention or safety topic.
