The Heat Is On, So Take Precautions
by Brigham Wilcoxson
 One thing is certain, summer in Texas can be brutal. The district already has had at least two reported cases of heat-related ilnesses involving students and/or employees this month. Whether you are a native-born Texan or a new arrival, it makes good sense to take precautions for ourselves, our children and our pets during the hot summer months.
Adults - Remain indoors when possible. If you must do strenuous activity, do it in the early morning or late evening. Take regular breaks and stay hydrated. Store bottled water in your vehicle and keep your cell phone charged in case of car trouble. Consider keeping a hat or an umbrella in your car year round and use sun shades in the windshield area to deflect heat when your car is parked. The American Red Cross provides additional Beat the Heat Safety Tips through its Web site as well.
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In Case of a Severe Weather Advisory ...
by Brigham Wilcoxson
May through October is tornado season in Texas. During this time, monitor weather conditions to determine if the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch or warning in your area.
If severe weather is imminent while you are on a DCCCD campus:
- Remain calm. Do not exit the building.
- Notify persons in your area to quickly get away from the perimeter of the building and exterior glass.
- Proceed to the lowest level available using the stairwells (not the elevators). Enter a room with interior walls and no glass, if available. These types of rooms should be marked with signs stating “Tornado Safer Zone”.
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Student Travel Guidelines
by Brigham Wilcoxson
This is the season when programs and organizations are hitting the road more and more on class and club-related trips either in college-owned vehicles, rented vans or personal vehicles. A few things to remember about student travel include:
- Campus sponsored domestic travel trips usually will have a degree of accident insurance provided for students in the event a student is injured during the course of the field trip. It is primarily designed for students who do not have personal health insurance but will apply in certain conditions for students who already have health insurance. This insurance is only purchased when the location business office turns in the student travel report to Risk Management via e-mail or intercampus mail. Due dates and information are on the Risk Management Web page.
- International Travel for students requires different procedures from field trips. For example, students are required to purchase health insurance. Please refer to the Educational Affairs Web site for additional information.
- For rental cars, insurance is provided if the vehicle is rented through the state travel agency. If not, it would be a good idea to purchase the rental loss damage waiver and supplemental liability insurance. The district is self-insured for vehicle damage and has a high deductible for liability claims. A portion of the cost of accidents may be charged back to the location or responsible department.
- On international trips, collision and liability insurance should be purchased on all rental cars.
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Swine Flu: Here's What We're Doing
Information concerning the H1N1 swine flu continues to change rapidly. DCCCD faculty, staff and students are urged to be diligent in utilizing the prevention methods Dr. Lassiter has outlined.
Risk Management will monitor the situation by:
- Continuing to review health department updates.
- Continuing to update district plans in anticipation of the fall flu season.
- Working with Purchasing to ensure all colleges have the opportunity to obtain permanent hand sanitizer stations for all locations with high contact areas (registrar, business office, library, student counseling, etc.)
Check the DCCCD Web site or the Dallas County Health Department for current information concerning the swine flu situation.
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Risk Management Reminders and Recalls
- Slips, trips and falls continue to be the leading cause of injuries suffered by district employees on the job. Putting safety first helps everyone avoid accidents and the time lost from work. Here are some hints for safety in your workspace:
- Make sure you use good posture, both sitting and standing.
- Keep your materials and tools within easy reach to prevent muscle strains.
- Bend at your knees.
- Lift smoothly with your legs, not your back.
- Ask for help in lifting heavy objects.
- Inspect your work area and look for trouble spots.
- Keep walkways, hallways and exits clear of obstacles.
- Repair or replace damaged electrical cords.
- Report loose railings for repair.
- Don't overstock shelves.
- Report any unsafe practices to your supervisor immediately.
- Kidde, in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has announced a voluntary recall to replace certain XL Fire Extinguisher units. If you think you may have one of these models, contact Kidde at 888-345-4407 or visit its Web site.
- Drivers are personally responsible for any traffic violation as well as the resulting citations and/or fines that may be issued as a result of operating a district vehicle. This includes but is not limited to running red lights and tollway violations. Employees must report all traffic violations while driving on district business to their supervisors and Risk Management.
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Upcoming Professional Development Events
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Event |
Date |
Location and Times |
| Emergency Operations Plan |
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 |
DO Room 038
9 a.m.-noon |
| HR Hiring Process A-Z |
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 |
DO Room 038
1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Emotional Intelligence |
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009 |
DO Room 038
9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| New Employee Orientation |
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 |
DO Room 038
9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| Strategic Performance Management Workshop |
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 |
DO Room 038
9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
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Fun Photo From Risk Management
As part of the district's growing commitment to environmental sustainability, research has started on a biodegradable safety helmet. One of the prototypes is shown at the left.
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