WorkSafe Fairfax

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Fairfax County, Va. Risk Management Division created WorkSafe Fairfax in 2012 as a countywide injury prevention awareness campaign. The primary goals of the program are to protect employees from preventable accidents and reduce the high cost of employee injuries to the county, including Workers Compensation claims and lost workdays. Using metrics and other data, Risk Management staff was able to determine that sprains and strains were the number one cause of injury for employees followed by cuts and lacerations. By using a strategic approach utilizing communications, training and education, Web-based tools and other resources, WorkSafe Fairfax has been instrumental in significantly reducing total incurred claims payments for sprain and strain injuries from 55% in FY 2012 down to 41% in FY 2013. In addition, Risk Management looked externally to share subject matter expertise, providing WorkSafe Fairfax messages to county residents through the county’s emergency blog, YouTube videos, SoundCloud audio clips and other social media. One successful example of this injury prevention initiative is a safe snow shoveling technique video, which has become one of the county’s most viewed videos.