April 3, 2024

Insights from our Work Safe, Texas Summit in McAllen

On March 19, Texas Mutual hosted a Work Safe, Texas Summit in McAllen. During the summit, attendees had the opportunity to network with other business professionals in the area, as well as hear from industry experts about workplace safety and compliance information. Over 150 business owners, operations leaders and insurance agents attended the free, public event.

The summit featured panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with McAllen-area employers and subject matter experts, moderated by Kristin Marcum, owner and CEO of ECPR Texas. The first panel covered workplace safety and wellness programs and featured:

• Diana M. Gonzalez, MSCM, manager risk management, Noble Texas Builders
• Rey Marichalar, safety coordinator, SESA Fleet Services
• Carlos Perez, risk manager, Arguindegui Management Co.

The panel consisted of a wide range of industry experience between the three panelists. While their perspectives on relevant hazards and specific areas of safety focus differed, their general approaches to workplace safety were similar. Each panelist outlined the most common injury risks in each of their industries and touched on what is being done to prevent potential hazards before they result in an accident.

Each panelist also emphasized the need for organizations to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes and extreme heat, especially in the context of south Texas. For example, Gonzalez’s organization, Noble Texas Builders, has implemented a “cool-down period” every two hours where contractors refresh with electrolytes during the hot summer months.

The second discussion focused on compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and featured Eric Bourquin, vice president of safety services for Texas Mutual. From a safety services perspective, Bourquin discussed the importance of understanding and following the agency’s reporting and recordkeeping requirements as well as training employees in basic OSHA regulations using compliance courses. Bourquin recommended that all employees take OSHA 10-hour courses while supervisor-level employees and above take OSHA 30-hour courses.

Keeping people safe is at the forefront of what we do at Texas Mutual and our Work Safe, Texas Summits are just one way we help employers get the resources they need. Our next Work Safe, Texas Summit will take place in Amarillo on May 1 where local businesses and leaders will learn strategies for being prepared and preventing workplace injuries.