Minnesota Safety Council, Led the Effort
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This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp MinnesotaMinnesota SafetySafety CouncilCouncil OnOn thethe MoveMove 2009 ANNUAL REPORT To make Minnesota OurMission: a safer and healthier place to live by helping you prevent unintentional injuries at work, on the road, at home and at play. The ten-year campaign to pass primary seat belt legislation succeeded in 2009. The Minnesota Seat Belt Coalition, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council, led the effort. Above, Governor Tim Pawlenty and representatives of the coalition at the bill signing ceremony. Carol Bufton, president of the Minnesota Safety Council, is directly behind the governor. Right, Kathy Cooper, whose daughter Meghan was killed in a crash, was a powerful advocate for the legislation. Here, she stands on the steps of the capitol, the day of the signing ceremony. Members of our board of directors provided thoughtful counsel and strategic direction to the Minnesota Safety Council. Right, Steve Sviggum, Minnesota Commissioner of Labor and Industry, and Michael Dougherty, Vice President of Communications for Valspar Corporation. Safe Kids Minnesota was selected to partici- Events in the community provided safety education to children and adults. Below, a Cub Scout pate in the Marine troop has just learned about safety in and around vehicles, and earned the Automotive Safety Patch. Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., to raise funds for our childhood injury prevention programs. Right, our runner, Captain Kevin Torgerson of the Olmsted County Sheriff ’s Department, on the marathon route near the United States Capitol. M INNESOTA S AFETY C OUNCIL We’ve Been On the Move . and 2009 was quite a ride! We dealt with the toughest economy most of us have ever seen, experiencing difficult challenges but also rewarding achievements. This annual report highlights just some of them. As we connected with members, you message that unintentional injuries are shared stories about your own ups a significant risk to each of us and a and downs. And we listened. When drain on human and financial you are affected, we are affected. Our resources. And we provided solutions members are at the core of the to help reduce that risk. That is our Minnesota Safety Council. One cen- mission. tral fact was reinforced throughout the year. The Minnesota Safety We know that large challenges still Council and our members are part- face us all. As we write this message, ners . and partners stick together in the economy is still not strong. The tough times. beginnings of recovery are fragile. But despite those uncertainties we move We talked with you one-on-one, in into 2010 with confidence. Our mis- focus groups, small group meetings, Carol Bufton, President of the Minnesota Safety Council, sion is relevant. Our vision is clear. and large group settings. We contin- and Ron Hanson, Chair of the Board of Directors and Our focus remains on deepening our ued to listen to your needs, and you Executive Vice President and General Manager, Minnesota relationship with members, and on weren’t shy about expressing them. Office, Oscar J. Boldt Construction Company. connecting members with each other. Thank you! Our relationships with members are solid and strong. You told us that you were dealing with shrinking resources and increased responsibilities, and that staying connected is more We close our message with thanks to some people who are critical important than ever. You asked for practical, cost-effective solu- to our organization and our mission. We are grateful for the astute tions to keep your safety programs fresh and strong, and to help and courageous leadership of our Board of Directors, the mighty your employees and their families stay injury-free away from work. bond with our members and partners, and the deep commitment of an enthusiastic and talented staff. In the face of the most chal- We listened, we learned and we responded . with more training lenging times to face our world in many decades, the Minnesota built just for your worksites and your employees; expanded free Safety Council is positioned to move boldly ahead, renewing our and always-accessible Web resources; more “stay-connected” dedication and redoubling our efforts to make Minnesota a safer opportunities for members to learn from each other and from place to live. experts throughout the safety spectrum. Ronald J. Hanson, Chair, Board of Directors We worked with business leaders, policy-makers and partners to Carol A. Bufton, President & CEO advocate the importance of safety – in the workplace, on the road, at home. In person, in print and on the Web, we delivered the A NNUAL R EPORT 2009 3 Injury in Minnesota Minnesota achieved significant injury prevention milestones in 2009, moving closer to goals once thought unattainable. Supported by the passage of primary seat belt legislation and More than 87,900 Minnesota workers are estimated to suffer stronger requirements for child passengers, Minnesota ended the nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses annually – that’s an year with 421 traffic deaths on record, the lowest number since average of 240 people each day. And in the home and in com- 1944. Seat belt use climbed to 90%, compared to the national munity settings, where 62 percent of unintentional-injury deaths average of 84%. occur, more than 20 million people suffer disabling injuries each year. Those numbers are on the rise. A downward trend in workplace injuries and illnesses continued, resulting in the fewest cases and lowest total case rate on record. In addition to the human suffering these number represent, Since 2003, the number of Minnesota workers has increased by injuries exact a heavy financial toll. The National Safety Council more than 110,000. At the same time, the estimated number of estimates the annual cost of fatal and non-fatal unintentional recordable injury and illness cases has decreased by about injuries in the United States at $684 billion in 2007 (latest 23,700. figures available). Motor vehicle crashes alone are estimated to have cost Minnesota nearly $1.5 billion in 2008. Still, on average, unintentional injuries take the lives of more than 1,700 Minnesotans each year. Falls and traffic-related Our mission is to reduce these injuries — saving lives, prevent- incidents account for more than two thirds of these deaths. ing suffering and diminishing loss. On the following pages, you’ll Non-fatal injuries affect the lives of tens of thousands more. see how we translated our mission into action in 2009, as we Hospital data tells us that for every injury death, there are three worked to make Minnesota a safer place to live. severe traumas — including disabling injuries to the brain and spinal cord, ten additional injuries that require hospitalization, and 100 injuries treated in emergency departments. Thousands more result in visits to urgent care or doctor’s offices. The reper- cussions affect families, friends, places of work and entire communities. And most of these injuries are predictable and preventable. Other: Home: Work: 19.6% $164.7 billion Motor Vehicle $175.3 billion Leading Causes of Deaths: Cost of Unintentional 33.7% Unintentional-Injury Poisoning: Injuries, U.S. Deaths in Minnesota 12.61% Source: National Safety Council Public: $108.3 billion Source: Minnesota Department of Health Motor Vehicle: Falls: $257.7 billion 34.08% Work/Motor Vehicle Duplication: $21.6 billion 4 M INNESOTA S AFETY C OUNCIL Membership As our members contended with budget cuts and staff reductions, we adapted our solutions to meet their safety program needs. We helped them identify their top safety issues and provided cus- bers, whether in face-to-face meetings, by phone and e-mail or tomized options, geared to the organization’s size and activity. The through member surveys, was a critical factor in deepening our answer to a member’s problem might have been a training product, relationships with them and anticipating their needs. Membership a customized course, a phone conversation with one of our safety meetings generated a strong response. The meetings, held in 10 consultants or communities around the state, allowed people to meet with our 24/7 online staff and network with each other, sharing problems and solutions. access to sam- ple plans and Along with their commitment to workplace safety, members checklists. demonstrated concern about the safety of their employees off the Depending on job. Many worked with us to distribute items such as carbon their wishes, we monoxide alarms, bicycle helmets and first aid kits to employees delivered train- and their families. We also provided safety information and educa- ing and services tion directly at numerous member safety and health fairs. directly, or pro- vided members As 2009 reached an end, member retention stabilized at 90 percent. with the Our members understand that prevention works and that it’s Member organizations turned to us for training, con- resources to do important to keep investing in the process. They know that pro- sultation and other resources to support their safety it themselves. tecting their businesses and protecting their employees go hand in programs. Above, a three-day pass to the Minnesota hand – and that we are here with them for the long haul. Safety & Health Conference was a coveted door prize Members found at our Annual Meeting. comprehensive resources on the Minnesota Safety Council Web site: current safety news, training options, information about standards and best prac- tices, and more. Monthly traffic to the site averaged 45,500 visits, 106,000 page views and nearly 400,000 hits. With a combined cir- culation of more than 7,000 people, e-mail and hard copy newslet- ters provided regulatory updates and other information and resources relevant to operating successful safety programs.