2024 Theo Award Winner: Total Productive Staffing

Total Productive Staffing (TPS), doing business as Coast Personnel Services, is a temporary staffing agency that has made significant strides in improving workplace safety for its associates. Recognizing that temporary employees are their most valuable asset, TPS embarked on a journey to enhance their safety culture and workers’ compensation program.

Despite tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) like claim frequency and severity, TPS realized that simply sharing this data with branch managers was not yielding the desired improvements. The company needed a more aggressive and engaging approach to communicate the implications of these metrics and their impact on the organization, its employees and its profitability.

Tackling the Problem

In January 2022, TPS initiated monthly meetings with operational and branch offices to focus on safety and claims management. These meetings aimed to educate and train staff on best practices, covering topics such as client selection, hiring practices, early incident reporting, communication with injured workers, and medical and litigation management.

“Initially, the team didn’t fully grasp the significance of workers’ compensation and its impact on the organization. It took several meetings before I felt we were effectively communicating this to them. The turning point came when we started holding folks accountable for how it affects the company financially,” said Christy Najar, workers’ comp manager, safety & risk management, TPS.

“Once they understood this, they became much more engaged and attentive during our monthly meetings. Having the support and presence of leadership, including one of our owners, added weight to the message I was conveying.

“Seeing others besides myself emphasizing the importance of workers’ compensation helped drive the point home. Their backing reinforced everything I was explaining to the team.”

TPS implemented several innovative programs to address safety concerns. Pre-hiring integrity testing was introduced to ensure the placement of safety-focused individuals.

“As the watchdog for our pre-hire integrity testing program, I receive monthly reports that I review and distribute to all our branch managers. The reports highlight high-risk candidates, and I ensure that managers are aware of these individuals before considering placement.

“Although many companies in the temp staffing world don’t want to add anything to delay the hiring process, we recognize the value in taking the time to hire the right people for our clients.“

“The state of the economy drove some of the need for pre-hire integrity testing,” added Bryan Schwartz
, director of risk management, Risk Resources Group, Acrisure Mid-Atlantic.

Christy Najar, workers’ comp manager – safety & risk management, Total Productive Staffing dba Coast Personnel Services

“With high unemployment rates, many companies were just looking for warm bodies,” he said. “However, this organization maintained hiring discipline. Christy and the leadership team said this is worthwhile — this is a value-add to make sure that we hire the right people for our clients.”

The company also improved its client selection process, partnering only with organizations that demonstrate a strong safety focus. Guidelines were established for prospective customer visits, including mandatory jobsite safety analyses.

Claims management was enhanced through timely reporting of incidents and the use of triage nurses to assess treatment needs. The company emphasized constant communication with injured workers to prevent legal escalation.

A safety observation program was implemented, requiring weekly safety walk observations to check on temporary associates, identify hazards and take corrective action. An application was developed for easy submission of worksite safety assessments.

Employee safety surveys were introduced to give workers a voice on safety concerns. These surveys are sent to new hires and associates after three months on assignment, with immediate follow-up on any issues raised.

“In addition to conducting safety surveys and incorporating employee feedback, we have implemented a safety and employee recognition program to reward safe behaviors in the workplace,” said Najar. “This program is integrated into our overall safety initiatives.

“At specific client locations, our on-site staff are provided with a list of employees who have participated in the safety survey,” she added. “They are encouraged to acknowledge and praise these individuals as part of our safety incentive program. By consistently incorporating these elements into our safety program, we strive to maintain a strong safety culture across our diverse workforce.“

Success to Build On

TPS’s multifaceted approach to improving safety culture has yielded impressive results. The company saw a sharp reduction in incident frequency rates and loss rate.

Organization: Total Productive Staffing (dba Coast Personnel Services) * Location: Santa Clara, CA * Number of Employees: 1,500 * Category: At-Large

These improvements demonstrate the effectiveness of TPS’s comprehensive strategy in enhancing workplace safety for temporary associates. The company’s risk management team remains focused on continuous improvement, recognizing that cultivating a strong safety culture is an ongoing journey.

By prioritizing safety and implementing a range of innovative programs, Total Productive Staffing has not only improved its workers’ compensation performance but also created a safer work environment for its temporary associates. This commitment to safety has positioned TPS as a leader in responsible staffing practices within the temporary employment industry. &

The Theo Award celebrates its inaugural year, honoring 31 workers’ compensation programs for their excellence and service to workers across the nation. To learn more about the award and amazing qualities each winner possesses, visit here.