News / STEWART TEAMS UP WITH SENTINEL RISK ADVISORS TO HIGHLIGHT THREE SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE TRENDS FOR 2022

Stewart, an interdisciplinary design, engineering and planning firm, together with its partner Sentinel Risk Advisors, are sharing key safety and compliance trends that large organizations should consider in 2022:

• Trend #1: Telematics will be more ubiquitous in 2022. Vehicle fleet exposures continue to be the leading loss cause for occupational fatalities, and an effective fleet telematics system can add a tremendous layer of accountability and transparency. Telematics not only improves a company’s overall risk profile by improving driver habits and behaviors behind the wheel, but it can also increase efficiencies via fuel management, maintenance and idle vehicle time. 
• Trend #2: Safe driver incentive programs are on the rise. Auto insurance premiums are on the rise and will continue to be a major area of exposure in 2022. Stewart is investigating and piloting the use of telematics in its field fleet vehicles and plans to install telematics devices in all vehicles by the end of the year. The firm plans to utilize data from the new program to create a positive driver incentive program that will reward employees for excellent driving records.
• Trend #3: Health and safety will be closely tied to the effectiveness of COVID-19 protocols. Return-to-office plans continue to be a moving target in 2022, and office safety is top of mind for large, complex organizations. In the past, office safety was narrowly focused on historical losses such as slips and trips. In 2022, workstation ergonomics, emergency training drills, proper lifting techniques, general office housekeeping, and COVID-19-related practices will be the “new normal.”

Sentinel Advisors tracked and analyzed data from backing-related trends, including accident claims, fires, rear-end collisions and other anomalies, to determine the frequency and severity of safety hazards and exposures in 2022.

Sentinel recently recognized Stewart with its 2021 Lightkeeper Safety Award, which recognizes a client that elevated safety and loss control programs to exceptional standards over the previous year. Last year, Stewart re-engaged its safety committee, placing emphasis on risk management and creating accountability across the organization.

“For many organizations, safety is an afterthought,” said Dana Vorholt, director of risk engineering, Sentinel Risk Advisors. “We appreciate our partnership with Stewart because they are incredibly proactive about keeping their employees safe and their business running smoothly. That mindset and approach will be more important than ever as we look to address complex safety challenges in 2022.”

Craig Silvanic is the chair of Stewart’s safety committee, Rebecca Ackerson serves as an executive representative, and Vorholt serves as an external member.