Author: safemt2020

You might not think a group of actors would be concerned about safety, but at Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT), safety takes center stage.

According to Amy Ellis, MCT tour production director, it takes many people, many hours to make what they do as successful as it is. They are always looking for ways to make it better, it’s the same way for their safety program.

This type of mindset, and respect for employee safety, inspired this organization to be a part of Montana State Fund’s WorkSafe Champion program.

What is WorkSafe Champions?
WorkSafe Champions is a safety education program offered to our policyholders at no charge.  Over the course of a year, participants will learn about workers’ compensation, how to motivate and train employees, manage an incident, more effectively return an injured employee to work, and much more.

Participants can train at a centralized location or our safety management consultants can come to a business location.

Are you up to the challenge? We are currently accepting applications. For more information please contact Kirk Smith at 406-495-5361 or Keri Maes at 406-495-5265.

To learn more about the Missoula Children’s Theater’s safety program view this video.

As a working partner with businesses and their employees, independent insurance agents, medical providers and others throughout Montana, we believe it is our duty to support deserving projects that promote workplace safety and enhance the quality of life in our local communities. One such program is our Assisting Charitable Endeavors (ACE) grant program.  

WHAT IS ACE? ACE was created to support civic goodwill and enhance the success of selected worthwhile causes in Montana. These grants are available to Montana non-profit organizations that contribute to both safety and community wellbeing throughout the state. In 2017, we awarded 17 ACE projects totaling nearly $27,000. All ACE grants require a dollar-for-dollar match.

How to Apply? Do you know of a non-profit organization in your community that would benefit from ACE help? ACE requests must be submitted on an MSF application form. To learn more about the ACE grant, or to apply, go to our website montanastatefund.com.

If you have questions about the program contact Carol Athearn or call (406) 495-5105.

Join Montana State Fund for our March safety workshop, Jump Start Your Safety Program. This half-day training will give you a mix of new and steadfast approaches to safety that will continue to help you protect your employees and reinvigorate your safety efforts.

Register Now

Topics include
We Have Your Back: The spine is the foundation for all physical movement. Yet, we mistreat it, abuse it, or just take it for granted until we injure it. Back injuries can have an astounding effect on both an injured employee and the workers’ compensation system.  During this segment of the workshop, we will review the unique aspects of the human spine and the steps you can take to protect your employees’ backs.

A Safety Climate Measuring Tool: During our June 2017 workshop, we introduced the concept of measuring your organization’s safety and health efforts by evaluating the impact of those efforts on your safety climate. In this session, we will take this subject that much further and introduce you to a safety climate measurement tool that you may consider using to quantify your safety efforts.

Humanizing Your Safety Efforts: We put safety and health programs in place. We train our employees to safely do the right things, but are these approaches enough?  In this section, we will dig deeper and explore the psychological aspects of safety.  We will discuss the concepts championed by psychologist Dr. Robert Long and motivational speaker Cort Dial who offer fresh ideas to humanize your approach to risk management and safety at your organization.  

Dates and Locations
March 2: Helena – Holiday Inn Express
March 7: Bozeman – Holiday Inn
March 8: Butte – La Quinta Inn
March 9: Great Falls – Holiday Inn
March 14: Glasgow (New City Location)–Cottonwood Inn
March 15: Miles City – Sleep Inn & Suites
March 16: Billings – Hampton Inn
March 22: Kalispell – Hampton Inn
March 23: Missoula – Best Western Grant Creek Inn

Interested? Register Now. The free trainings take place from 8:30 am – Noon. If you have questions, call 800-332-6102 extension 5361 (Kirk Smith).

You could say that Kyla Biggs was one person who found her career calling early in life.

“Welding has always intrigued me. From my perspective, I have always felt that welding is an art form just as much as it is a skill. I started welding in seventh grade in FFA (Future Farmers of America) competitions and fell in love with it!”

Since that time Kyla honed her skills at Belgrade High School and enrolled in the welding program at Gallatin College (Montana State University) in Bozeman. And, her educational pursuit is paying off.

Recently she and nine other college students studying Occupational Safety and Health/Industrial Hygiene or Construction Trade and Industry received a $1,500 academic scholarship through Montana State Fund’s new Growing a Safer Montana initiative.

One component of the Growing a Safer Montana program is awarding scholarships to students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a desire to champion safety as they move into their professional endeavors.

“Montana State Fund is proud to distribute these scholarships to local students in an effort to improve Montana’s safety culture,” said MSF President/CEO, Laurence Hubbard. “It is our sincere hope that every student, not just those who received the scholarship, becomes aware of the issues facing Montanans in the workplace.”

Hubbard goes on to say that this effort will require buy-in from workers of all ages and across all industries. Our goal is to plant the seeds of safety today to grow a safer Montana for generations to come.

For Kyla, the seed has been planted.

“Being a face in the workforce of Montana, I hope that I can be a positive influence for other blue collar workers in the industry. I hope that I can always remind everyone I work and come into contact with, to stay safe in a working environment.”

Our other 2018 Growing a Safer Montana recipients include

Montana Tech (Occupational Safety and Health Students)

• Brittania Shephard
• Ciara Kremer
• Jacques Boulet
• James Hollopeter
• Sarah Storey
• Tyler Davis

Highlands College – Montana Tech  (Welding Student)

• Jake Bloom

Gallatin College -Montana State University  (Welding Students)

• Kyla Biggs
• Shelsey Schott
• Taylor Gallagher

Our 2019 scholarship application will be available this fall. If you have questions please contact Montana State Fund’s Safety Services Team at stfgsm@mt.gov.