Trip Signs

Workplace Injuries: Slip-and-Falls

Slip-and-Falls are the leading causes for workplace injuries. In are line of business we have many near misses with slips and falls. And it is our goal at Minuteman Parking Company to eliminate these near misses from ever happening. Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings when you are work. Take note when your designated path of travel changes. Know where all of the stairs and ramps are at your location. These areas can be dangerous when they are wet. Also be aware of all chains, guard rails and tire spikes. All of these hazards can cause you to trip, fall and seriously injure yourself. You should always report any unsafe work conditions that may cause any injury while you are work to your manager.

Tips on Preventing Slip-and-Falls

• Wear Sturdy Shoes
• Do not wear open toed shoes or shoes with leather soles.
• Shoes should be laced and tightly tied.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Place caution signs when you notice any spills that can not be cleaned up immediately.
• Place caution when wet signs out on raining days and the ground are going to stay wet for a long period of time.
• Pay close attention to what is going on around you.
• Move cautiously near corners and when carry things.
• Always use the handrail when walking down stairs.
• Never skip a step when using the stairs.
• Never run or jump down stairs.
• Do not use short cuts to get to the parking areas.
• Go around chains, guard rails and tire spikes and not over them.
• Report to your Manager or Driveway Ambassador any hazardous areas.

Causes of Slip-and-Falls

• 50% of Slip-and-Falls are caused by Unsafe, Unclean Floor Surfaces
• 24% of Slip-and-Falls are caused by Inappropriate Footwear
• 10% of Slip-and-Falls are caused by Fraudulent Claims
• 9% of Slip-and-Falls are caused by Inadequate Hazard Identification
• 7% of Slip-and-Falls are caused by Insufficient Training

At times we do get busy and we get into high stress situations. And we understand that guests and patients want their vehicles as quickly as possible. But there is no excuse for short cuts that can cause you or your team member’s harm.

To all Minuteman Team Members,

I am writing to you as we enter the last month of 2008 to share my thoughts on what is going on in the world and with Minuteman Parking. This year has been an extraordinary year with the United States electing the first African American to be President and our economy sinking to depths that have not been seen since the Great Depression.

In terms of the economy, we are in the midst of one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression. The US Government is bailing out the financial services industry, the stock market is down 35 to 40%, housing prices have plummeted while foreclosures are rising, and the unemployment figures for California have recently risen above 8%. Because of the economy, personal and business travel is also down for the second half of 2008 which directly impacts our Hotels segment. In our Hospitals segment they have frozen equipment and other expenditures and have begun to limit or cut labor hours from their budgets. Some economists point out to a recovery during the second half of 2009 and others are saying that it may take even longer.

Fortunately, Minuteman Parking has been able to more than hang in there. Our revenue for the year is down, but we’ve been able to remain profitable by implementing aggressive cost controls. We have had to scale our labor hours back as some of our accounts have slowed and we appreciate your understanding that this is hopefully just a temporary setback. Our goal is to keep everyone employed and prospering in 2009. By continuing to work by our ˜Commitments To Excellence™” we will make Minuteman Parking Company an indispensable partner to our hotel and medical facility accounts. We need to come to work every day in these turbulent times asking ourselves, “How can I make myself indispensable today?” We all need to want to make a difference every day.

Thank you to all of you who have worked so hard in 2008 to help us continue to deliver on our commitments by providing excellent service to our partners and their customers. Our business is people-based and caring for others, teamwork and the little personal touches we add every day are what make Minuteman Parking different from other companies. You make it possible to keep our commitments and I thank you for that.

We have recently made some very positive changes that will impact our business when the economy starts to pick up later in 2009. In November, we re-launched our new website which now includes a blog and easier ways for people to contact us. Plus, the site establishes Minuteman Parking as one of the premier providers in the Western US. Check it out at www.minutemanparking.com/ and make sure to share the URL with your family, friends and colleagues. We have beefed up our sales efforts by bringing in Greg Best to drive new business and we have promoted Treavor Bramwell to training and safety manager as we continue to make training and safety a key differentiator in our marketplace. We want you to have all the tools necessary to be the best ambassador for your location that you can possibly be.

Finally, let’s be thankful as we enter this Holiday season - thankful for our families and friends, thankful for our jobs and for working at a stable company, thankful that we can still share our blessings with others.

I would like to leave you with a short quote about faith by Barbara J. Winter that I find appropriate these days:

“When you come to the edge of all the light you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.”

I have faith that the economy and country will recover and we will all be stronger for having gone through this turbulent time.

I would like to wish you and your families a happy and healthy Holiday Season. I am looking forward to a great year for Minuteman Parking in 2009 and beyond.

God Bless,

Chris Fox

When I promote someone to manager at Minuteman Parking, one of the first things I do is hand them a copy of Ken Blanchard’s Simple Truths of Services: Inspired by Johnny the Bagger. This book helps to reinforce the Minuteman Parking Commitments to Excellence.

I like this book because it helps people see that everyone can make a contribution and a difference. And that what may seem to be a small gesture can pay huge dividends. The story is about Johnny who has Down Syndrome and is a bagger at a grocery store. Johnny’s contribution was to come up with a new special saying each night. He would type up the saying and would then put them in customers’ bags the next day. This small gesture ultimately transformed the whole store and inspired other employees to ‘delight’ their customers too.

My challenge to all Minuteman employees is to:

Think about something you can do for your customer to make them feel special - a memory that will make them come back.

If you don’t have time to read the book, at least take the time to watch this 3-minute movie about the story. I am confident that you will be as inspired by the story as I was and continue to be:

DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON! That is what you do during an earthquake. Teach yourself these three steps and you will be more prepared in case of an earthquake at your location or at home.

DROP:Drop on the Floor

COVER:Take cover under something that is sturdy like a desk. It should be something that is not going to tip over during an earthquake. If there is not anything to cover yourself under find something like a door way and cover your head with your hands. Make sure to avoid hazardous areas like near windows and mirrors.

HOLD ON:Make sure you hold onto what ever you cover yourself with. You are going to need to HOLD ON until the shaking stops. You may be in for a bumpy ride. Once the shaking as stopped then you may get out from under whatever you were covering yourself with.

Other things to remember during an Earthquake:If you are DRIVING - Pull to the side of the road and stop. Avoid overpasses, power lines, and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over.If you are OUTDOORS - Move to a clear area away from trees, signs, power lines, buildings, and poles.

Also remember after an earthquake there will be aftershocks. So be prepared to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON even after the first earthquake.