Annually,
the Office of Risk Management (ORM) performs a Loss Prevention Audit at the
University as required by LA RS
Title 39:1543 and 39:1544.
As part of that audit, documentation regarding departmental safety meetings
is reviewed by ORM personnel. Failure to have safety meetings and/or
complete Safety Meeting Reports can and has resulted in the University
failure of the ORM Loss Prevention Safety Audit.
When such failure
occurs, the University's loss prevention program is not certified by ORM
as being compliant with all applicable State loss prevention laws and
regulations. Non-certification of the University's loss prevention
program results in a five-percent penalty being assessed to the
University's self-insured premiums for the following fiscal year in
accordance with LA RS
39:1536 B.(2).
As such, it is imperative
that each department fully cooperate with the the Office of Environmental
Health & Safety by returning Safety Meeting Reports to the Office in a
timely manner. It should be noted that effective November 2001, the
University implemented quarterly safety meetings, instead of monthly
ones. This implementation is expected to positively affect
departmental compliance in conducting and documenting safety meetings.
Questions
regarding quarterly safety minutes should be directed to Ms. Tammie
Pezant, Environmental Health & Safety Officer. Ms. Pezant can
be reached at 318-357-4424
or pezantt@nsula.edu.
