Spring 2019
Quarterly News for State of Maryland Risk Managers
Save the Date! SERMA Conference is Thursday, May 23
Come celebrate SERMA's 30th anniversary with us at the Conference on May 23r d. The agenda promises to be as informative as ever!

Speakers include:

  • Joy Strand, Executive Director, Natalie M. LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, Maryland Dept. of Health
  • David A. Crum, DVM, MPH, State Public Health Veterinarian, Prevention and Health Promotion Administration
  • Lesley Tompkins, CPCU, CFE, Workers’ Compensation Program Manager, State Treasurer’s Office
  • First Sergeant Jon Hill, Maryland State Police
  • Matt Law, MPH, CSP, REHS, Field Safety Specialist and Wyatt Bradbury, W.W. Grainger, Inc.
  • John Delgado, Industrial Hygienist, Mold/Indoor Air Quality Program, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH)
  • Carmine D'Alessandro, Esq., Chief Legal Officer, Chesapeake Employers
  • A “mock” Workers’ Compensation Commission hearing is also being planned, featuring Commissioner James R. Forrester.

The conference will again be held at the Boumi Shriner’s Temple at 5050 King Ave., Rosedale, MD, 21237. Check the SERMA Events page for details as they become available. Register here .
SERMA Awards: Tips on Submitting an Award-winning Nomination
What does it take to win a SERMA Award? Alex Doring, Esq., Employee and Labor Relations Liaison and Agency Risk Manager for the Maryland Dept. of Health, believes that it’s important to recognize teams for outstanding service and to commend individuals on a job well done.

Alex believes successful nominations for a SERMA Award should be free of unnecessary jargon, acronyms, or industry-specific information. Examples of “meritorious service” that Alex agrees would be deserving of a SERMA award include:
  • Identification or recognition -- by an individual or group -- of an acute or ongoing safety issue;
  • Application of an innovative or novel process or technique to address an identified issue;
  • Demonstration of objective evidence of a resolution or improvement in outcome to an identified issue;
  • Exceptional performance or continuing conduct in addressing an ongoing safety issue; and
  • A single exceptionally meritorious act that neutralizes an acutely unsafe situation.

So, start thinking about your agency’s nominations now! The deadline to submit nominations for the 2019 SERMA Awards is Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.


Alex is pictured above with members of the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital at last year’s SERMA Conference. Perkins received a Best Practice Award for its Managed Return-to-Work Program, which saw a 20% reduction in first reports of injury and an 85.5% reduction in lost time in 2017.  
Meet Trachell Coleman, State Claims Supervisor
Trachell Coleman was recently promoted to Supervisor for State Claims Unit 17.
Two of the agencies supported by this unit of claims adjusters are the Maryland Dept. of Health and the Maryland Dept. of Human Services.

Trachell was previously a Senior Claims Adjuster on the State of Maryland account. She joined the organization in 2014.

Trachell graduated from the University of Baltimore with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jurisprudence and has more than 18 years’ experience in administering workers’ compensation claims. 
Upcoming Training Dates

IWIF is hosting the following training opportunities this spring.

SERMA Supervisor Training
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2019 (1/2-day morning session)
Time: Registration 9:00 a.m.; class 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (light refreshments only)
Place: Chesapeake Employers Insurance, 8722 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson, MD 21286

This training will cover:
  • The Questionable Claim – A discussion of Claimant Fraud
  • Claims 101 – A discussion of Work Comp Claims Management Best Practices
  • What, Why, When, Where, Who, and How - State of MD Managed Return-to- Work Program (MRTW) – An overview of the State's MRTW program and discussion of its benefits 
It is free to attend and is recommended for State agency managers, supervisors, safety professionals and Human Resources representatives. To register, click here .

Occupational First Aid, Adult CPR and AED Training*
Date: Weds, May 8, 2019
Time: Registration 8:30 a.m.; class 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (lunch will be provided)
Place: Chesapeake Employers Insurance, 8722 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson, MD 21286

This training is intended for laypersons only and not for those who work in a healthcare setting who are required to take a healthcare provider course for employment.

*For this training, there is a nominal charge ($15.85/attendee) to cover training materials. To register, click here .
Claims Adjuster Tip of the Quarter: Report Injuries Immediately!

Primary reporting methods:

Secondary reporting methods:
IWIF/Chesapeake Employers Insurance | 8722 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson, MD 21286