As you are working do you know the difference between a hazard and an accident?

A Hazard is defined as a condition or changing set of circumstance that presents a potential for injury, illness or property damage. A Hazard is the potential or inherent characteristic of an activity, condition, or circumstance which can produce adverse or harmful consequences.

An Accident is defined as an unfortunate event often the result of carelessness or ignorance. An Accident is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance usually resulting in an unfavorable outcome.

As you can see in the definitions there are some key words: Unplanned; Unforeseen; Unfortunate; Unfavorable and most importantly the word: Potential.

The only way an accident is going to happen is there has to be a hazard or pure carelessness of the driver.  Daily routines can become mundane and robotic. This is when we start taking things for granted. Once you start taking things for granted you begin to take shortcuts. These shortcuts lead to doing your work unsafely. Complacency and taking things for granted are causes of a large number of work injuries each year. As you go through your daily routines you need to be aware of hazards and you need to be able to recognize them. Remember recognizing hazards and doing something about is everyone’s responsibility.  Inform your manager or supervisor of any hazard you see.

So while you are at work you should be asking yourself these simple questions:

Ø      Do I have the right shoes on today?

Ø      Are my shoes in good repair?

Ø      Is my work area safe? 

Ø      Has anything changed for your previous shift?

Ø      Is there a safer way for me to accomplish my task?

Ø      Am I taking a shortcut because the driveway is busy?

Everyday you need to make the right choices while you are at work. One wrong choice can lead to an accident.

BE SAFE!!!

Minuteman Parking moved into our new office in El Segundo this month.  Less than one mile from the ocean, the new offices are close to downtown El Segundo and the 105 and 405 Freeways.

Chris Fox in his New El Segundo Office

According to Chris Fox, President of Minuteman Parking:

We had been at our old offices for more than 5 years and with our recent growth, we were nearly busting at the seams.  Our new location in El Segundo projects a more professional image, plus it is centrally located for our employees.  We have the room we need now for offices and storage, plus plenty of room to grow.

Controller Wilson Tang

Controller Wilson Tang had this to offer:

I think the new setup is more conducive to working and it has already made the finance team more organized and productive.  Plus, the location is close to El Porto which is one of the best surf spots in the South Bay.

There are some new amenities in the office too.  For example, there is a large lunchroom with a flat screen TV and couch where employees can relax.  The lunchroom will double as a training facility.  In Chris’ office, there is also a large conference room where employees can collaborate on projects.  In addition, there is much more space to prominently display the Boston sports memorabilia that Chris has collected over the years, but the Wheaties boxes have not yet made an appearance.

Combination Lunch Room and Training Facility

While the physical location for Minuteman Parking has changed, the mailing address and phone number remain the same.  You can continue to reach us at:

Minuteman Parking Company
1601 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 368
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310 390-7458

I would like to share a letter we received from Janice Vande Steeg, General Manager of the Manhattan Beach Marriott this week.

And I would like to congratulate Ian Wilson, Kirk Boardman and the rest of the Minuteman Parking team at the Manhattan Beach Marriott for delivering exceptional service and fulfilling the Minuteman Commitments To Excellence for one of our longtime customers.

Thank you!

Marriott Manhattan Beach - Minuteman Parking Testimonial

Medical facilities across the country are preparing for the worst as we head into a new flu season.  The H1N1 virus also known as “swine flu” is expected to infect millions of people this winter and public health officials hope to lessen the threat by providing vaccines to the those people with the highest risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

The initial priority should go to health care and emergency workers, pregnant women, those from 6 months to age 24, and adults with underlying medical conditions ranging from heart disease to asthma.

An article in the Orange County Register last week discussed how area hospitals are preparing to combat the potential epidemic of swine flu.

To help minimize the spread of the H1N1 virus, Minuteman Parking has teamed up with the staff at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange to hand out face masks to visitors who may be exhibiting flu symptoms when they use our valet parking services.  We are proud that we are on the front lines of fighting this potential epidemic, and pleased that a picture of team member Jim Kirkpatrick was included in the OCRegister article.

Minuteman Parking Team Member Jim Kirkpatrick Passes Out Face Mask at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange

You can find out more about swine flu and the swine flu vaccine at the OC Register website or from the special H1N1 website from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After reviewing the current trends of Worker Compensation Claims at Minuteman Parking Company we have noticed a rise in the number of accidents that involve employees getting in and out of guest vehicles. This month we would like to focus on making sure that all employees know the best way of getting in and out of guest vehicles. We want to make you aware of what can happen.

During the recent months we have had employees injure themselves getting into vehicles that were parked too closely together. When employees have to go into a car sideways and try to pull their bodies into the vehicle it can cause strain on their knees and lower backs.

We have also had employees during peak business periods feel the need to jump out of vehicles and injure their knees and ankles.

Many serious injuries can happen if you do not get in or out of a vehicle safely. Here are some tips to make sure that you do not get injured while getting in or out of a vehicle.

• If a vehicle is too high for you to easily slide in, use the side step that is attached to the vehicle.  Make sure that you can open the door completely so that you can get in or out of the vehicle without having to squeeze yourself out the door.
• Always take your time getting in and out of a vehicle. If you are in a rush and are not careful you can twist your knees, back or ankles trying to get in and/or out.
• Make sure that the seat is in a position that will allow you to safely enter the vehicle.

Minuteman Parking Company would like to remind all employees that we want you to work safely and we want to ensure that you have a safe work environment.  As you are working your shifts we want you to be conscious of how you get in and out of guest vehicles and mindful of what your body is doing as you perform these tasks.

By paying attention to details and focusing on the job at hand we can all help prevent workplace injuries.