County Commission | The Magazine November 2019 | Page 24

FROM THE COVER
Liability Fund gives Safety Awards
T
he safety awards presented by
the Liability Self-Insurance
Fund Inc. are always a highlight of
the annual membership meeting of
ACCA’s Self-Insurance Programs.
“It is a real pleasure to recognize
these counties for the results of
their safety efforts,” said Henry van
Arcken, ACCA Director of Insurance
Services. “Every member of the
Fund owes them a debt of gratitude,
because when risks are shared, savings
are also shared.”
In each category, first-place
winners received an engraved trophy
and $1,500. Second- and third-place
winners received $1,000.
Eligibility was limited to counties
in the Fund that participated in the
Safety Incentive Discount Program
and applied for consideration.
Applications included specific actions
taken in the previous year to improve
safety and reduce losses.
The winners were eligible counties
with the lowest average loss ratios for
the previous three years.
The winning counties all
indicated a commitment to doing
safety basics well — safety meetings,
vehicle inspections and training
relevant to specific employees
(e.g., Prison Rape Elimination Act
education for jail staff and pipeline
safety for the highway department).
They seek to cooperate with the risk
management team from County Risk
Services Inc., and they are constantly
improving county facilities — adding
an attic barrier to prevent movement
beyond secure areas of the jail,
upgrading doors with panic bar exits
instead of regular keyed locks and
installing ADA-compliant walkways,
just to name a few.
Cybersecurity is a growing
area of emphasis, evidenced by
improved systems for backing up
data, enhanced security for computer
servers, upgraded security software
and newly established, ongoing
training for county employees. There
are times when outsourcing is the best
way to go — like Pickens County,
which recently contracted with a
private company to handle garbage
collection in the county.
County leaders know they
must stay alert to spot the next
initiative that can make a difference
systemically. In Elmore County, the
Highway Department spent the past
year completing the state’s first local
road safety plan, which is designed to
reduce fatalities on county roads and
create a model for other counties. n
One free, easy call or online request gets member utilities
marked AND helps protect you from injury and expense.
Safe Digging Is No Accident: Contact 811 Before You Dig.
24 | NOVEMBER 2019
www.al811.com