This is Volume 20, Issue 1 (1Q-2016)
Welcome
By John Lieberman, Editor
Well, the holidays are behind us and a new year is underway. It's hard for me to believe but this marks my 20th year as Editor. It began, for me, as Editor of Safety First -- a quarterly publication that I sent out to all of my Safety Stewards in SWDiv. Howard and Tasha (remember Tasha?) caught wind of what I was doing and conned me into replacing Art Trier as Editor of the Safety Belt in 1998. The rest, as they say, is history.
A lot of us are anxious to get our 2016 Solo seasons off and running. And, of course, there are those Regions that run year-round. But, regardless of your schedule, safety is something that never takes a day off. Toward that end, we invite you to settle in and peruse this latest issue of the Safety Belt.
Summary of Solo Safety Committee Meeting Held 15 Dec 2015
By David Steger, SSC Chairman
Congratulations to Aruch Poonsapaya, who missed the call to welcome a baby boy to his family.
The SSC welcomed guests Linda Duncan and Scott Dobler, who is assuming Linda's National Street Survival Director position, to review the TRSS program and encourage DSSS support for local sponsored schools. Linda will serve as a mentor to regions establishing TRSS events.
Guest speaker Mark Andy, retiring SEB member, then discussed his idea to test Go to Meeting as a platform for on-line SSS classes. The committee supports his plan. A test class will occur first quarter 2016.
We decided the best transition to all 3-year SSS licensing is to renew existing 1-year licenses as 3-year licenses as renewals occur on member anniversary dates. The refresher course is not required for this transition, but the 2 event work requirement remains. New 1-year SSS licenses are no more as of 1 January. All licenses will now be for 3 years. The new SSS/SSI application form is now available. (See the article below for where to find this and other resources online.)
A Safety class Power Point will soon be available on the SCCA website for all instructors.
We determined the MAC request (letter 18286) for an opinion on body work not to be safety related and issued no opinion to the SEB.
A review of Incident Reports lead to a discussion about the importance of waivers, course maps and photos of vehicle-to-object / vehicle incidents. It is impossible to determine when incidents suggest the need for rules reviews without a map with distances attached to the report. We also noted that many outdated forms are still in use. New form is available on SCCA site, also as a pdf fillable form, and the new "Green Card" form, which should be issued for any contact with an object, is also online.
We will attempt to develop a guide for Solo events on road race courses to help in course design. As we lose sites, race facilities will become more common alternatives.
Safety Steward participation may now be posted on line from one’s Profile Page. This will simplify record keeping for the 5-in-3 work requirement and refresher training for license renewals.
Drive safe.
Communications in Solo Safety
By Janice Rick, MIDDiv DSSS
1. Solo Safety Communication
It is imperative that everyone in the Solo Safety Program talk and, the hard part, communicate in those talks. Communication is much more complicated than it used to be. It might be by email, phone, text, social media, or old fashioned gossip. Assuming anything can get you in trouble.
2. Communication in Solo Incidents
Many times more info is needed for Solo Incidents. This information is needed quickly. Questions need to be asked and answered and back up info provided.
3. The Facts
Facts are all that are needed for an incident. The SSS's duties do not include analyzing and deciding what caused the incident. Communications are generally for the purpose of transferring information and gaining clarity.
4. Write Things Down, Document it
I don't understand why people pride themselves on being able to keep stuff in their heads. I like to use my brain space for creative and progressive thinking, not my to-do list. Lord knows we have enough tools to write things down. Please, please, please send a follow up email, or use Evernote, or text yourself, or dare I say it ... use pen and paper. However you do it, record takeaways from the conversation so you don't have to have it again. The incident needs all the facts documented on paper. The following items are a checklist of what is needed for every incident.
- Completed Incident Report
- Statements from observers/witnesses
- Drawings, maps, measurements, etc.
- Photos
- Green Card given to everyone involved
- Waiver forms signed by those involved in the incident if there are injuries involved
- All of the above scanned to the national office and to the insurance contacts at the bottom of the Incident Report form as well as to your Divisional Solo Safety Steward promptly
If any additional information is requested or there are questions, the SSS should communicate promptly.
5. The Entire Email
I find people who only read the first line of their email incredibly frustrating. This forces their colleagues to send additional emails just to get issues addressed. Nobody saves any time this way. It just creates angst and extra work. Slow down, read the whole email, and respond to all items. I am guilty of this and work hard to try not to do it. When sending emails, keep them short and to the point or you deserve to be ignored. Use numbered lists and bullet points to make your ideas clear and simple to address. If you have tons to discuss, pick up the phone
6. Create a Response Schedule
Setting a routine for communication can help both with your productivity and with managing expectations of the people with whom you interact. It's frustrating to spend time chasing each other, not knowing when you will get a response. I solve this problem with a simple rule of thumb. Generally, when available, I respond to texts within 20 minutes, phone messages within 24 hours, and e-mails within 1-12 hours. You can set your own appropriate timeframe, but once you have a schedule and you communicate your expectation to others, you can better manage your time. You can also let people know what to expect.
7. Assume Best Intentions
With the increase in texting and short e-mails, it's often hard to know the intended tone of communication. I often hear people complain about someone's attitude from a perfectly innocuous email. People end up reading in the emotion that supports their own point of view. If any animosity exists between the parties, the perceived tone goes south fast. With any short communication, always start with the assumption that the intentions are good on the other side. If there's any doubt, pick up the phone and give them a chance to insult you directly--just so you can be sure.
8. Close the Loop
For detailed communicators like me, I need confirmation to know that a conversation is finished. If I send you an email asking you for more information, I have no way of knowing that you received it and that you will get back to me. If I don't hear from you, I worry that the email went to spam. My head will keep wondering and I will start following up with more emails, which waste your time and fill your inbox. Solve the problem for both of us by replying with a simple "Got It" or "Thanks." You can even set this up in your mail program as a signature to save keystrokes. Not doing this is the electronic equivalent of rudely walking away from a conversation while we are still talking.
Droning On
By John Lieberman, Editor
They were a hot ticket item around Christmas time and they're just as hot now. They're drones or, more formally, unmanned aircraft systems. But should they be allowed at our Solo events? In case you missed it, or as a reminder, here's what was posted in the April 2015 issue of Fastrack:
Tech Bulletins
General
#16465 Drone rule omitted
Errors and Omissions: the following Tech Bulletin was inadvertently omitted from the published 2015 Solo Rules:
Add new section 1.3.2.V as follows:
V. The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS’s, i.e. drones) is not permitted at any event, unless (1) approved by event officials, and (2) the owner/operator has a valid reason for its use and has provided a copy of the applicable FAA certification and proof of insurance coverage. The coverage must specifically name SCCA and the applicable list of additional insureds, must specifically state that it covers the use of UAS’s, and must provide at a minimum $10M of primary coverage.
Note: the online updated version of the Solo Rules has been corrected to include this addition
The Move to Three-Year SSS Licensing
David Steger, SSC Chairman
As of 1 January 2016, the SCCA will no longer issue a one-year Safety Steward license. All new licenses will be for three years and subject to the 5 events worked plus 1 refresher course in 3 years for renewals. The Solo Safety Committee, working with the SEB, found that many of the one-year renewals were neglecting the continuing education requirement, and that there simply was no adequate monitoring system in place.
We also agreed that the provisional nature of the one-year license was unnecessary. So, as there was no apparent benefit to the existing one-year-to-three-year requirement, all new and all renewing licenses will be for three years, renewing on your SCCA member anniversary date. All future renewals for Solo Safety Steward licenses will be subject to the mandatory refresher training course.
2016 is the transition year for this change. All existing one-year license holders will renew on their anniversary dates as three-year license holders. The SSC and the SEB believe the normal duties of a Safety Steward working 2 events in a year should serve as a basic refresher. We also firmly believe that periodic classroom refresher courses are necessary for all working Safety Stewards to remain current on the changes to rules and procedures that normally occur during a season.
Last year we adopted many important changes. Examples Are: Adding to the approved helmet list, amending the minor passenger rule, changing recommended maximum speeds for street classes, and including e-cigs in the banned smoking areas.
Fastrack alone may not serve to keep us all up to date on changes, so continuing education remains a priority. This puts added importance on every region having a Safety Instructor. In an effort to help regions meet their SSS needs, we are working to develop an on-line Safety course for use as the initial SSS class as well as a refresher course. It will be live, utilizing Go to Meeting, to allow the instructor to monitor attendance. A test run is planned for this quarter. As always, your Divisional SSS is available to help regions identify and develop Solo Safety Instructors.
Please contact me with any ideas, suggestions or gripes at SEDivSSS@gmail.com
It's Not Easy Being a GREEN CARD that isn't GREEN any More!
By Janice Rick, MIDDiv DSSS
It used to be green and a card. It still is but now it's also a full sheet and it's available online at SCCA.com. It is now called the PARTICIPANT EXCESS MEDICAL CLAIM
During a Solo incident almost all SSSs will ask if anyone is injured. Most people involved in a minor incident will answer no. They are more worried about their car, their embarrassment, etc. But, sometimes a person goes home and later realizes their neck hurts, or they have a headache, or some ache or pain that wasn't there before the "minor" incident. Now they don't know what to do. Most know that SCCA has secondary insurance for this, to cover anything that your personal insurance doesn't, but many may not know how to use it and file a claim.
It is being STRONGLY SUGGESTED by the Solo Safety Committee that this form be given to everyone involved in an incident, just in case they might need to file a claim! I think that is an excellent suggestion, don't you?
SPORTS CAR CLUB OF AMERICA, INC / SCCA PRO RACING
PARTICIPANT EXCESS MEDICAL CLAIM
REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS
In order for an injured participant to file a claim under SCCA's Participant Accident policy, Health Special Risk, Inc. must receive your written request to file a claim by utilizing a HSR Claim Form within 60 days of the Incident Date.
To Request a HSR Participant Accident Explanation of Benefits, Claim Form, Injury and Insurance Statement, and Provider Authorization, please contact HSRI:Health Special Risk, Inc.
Email: SCCAOnlineClaims at HSRI.com
4100 Medical Parkway Phone: (800) 328-1114
Carrollton, Texas 75007
Fax: (972)-512-5816
Please provide the following information to request the P.A. Claim Forms: Member Name, Member #, Member's Primary Medical Policy #, Incident Date, Track Name, Sanction #, Description of Injury / Accident, SCCA Participant Accident 2014 Policy #: PTPN04963714
Message to Injured Participant & Healthcare Providers: SCCA provides an accident policy for SCCA Participants should the SCCA member sustain an event-related injury at an SCCA sanctioned event subject to policy terms, conditions, exclusions & limitations.
Medical reimbursement is Excess of the participant's own primary medical insurance, and will be coordinated with any primary medical insurance coverage (including Medicare) of the Member. All participant medical bills must be processed by the Primary Medical Carrier first. A deductible, co-pay, and / or coinsurance amount for which the injured participant is responsible can be submitted to HSRI. Preauthorization and / or precertification are not required. Medical expenses must be in the form of complete itemized statements that include diagnosis and procedure / revenue codes.
The first medical treatment must be received within 60 days of the covered accident. Related medical treatment must be received within 104 weeks from the date of accident. There is a claim filing deadline of 15 months from the date of service.
You Can do it Online
By John Lieberman, Editor
Thanks to the recent re-make of the SCCA website, you can now do a lot of things online that you couldn't do before. But some of you may be having trouble finding some of them. So here's a quick tutorial:
Go to SCCA.com and Log In
From the row of tabs near the top of the page, go to: About SCCA -> Downloads -> SOLO -> Solo Safety Steward & Instructor Application & Renewal.
Here you will also find the Rule Book, a Sample Emergency Plan, a Drivers’ Meeting Safety Checklist, and lots of other goodies, including training aids for instructors.
To Log your participation as a Safety Steward or any classroom training you may have received or taught, go to: Profile Page -> SCCA LEADERSHIP -> Solo Safety Steward Participation
Profile Page -> SCCA LEADERSHIP -> File Cabinet -> Insurance -> *FILLABLE* Incident Report Form v2015 and SCCA "Green Card" Claim Information
Profile Page -> SCCA LEADERSHIP -> File Cabinet -> Solo Safety Belt
And, speaking of the Safety Belt, the SSC would like to thank National Solo Communications Manager Randall Prince for agreeing to include future issues in Solo Matters. This, we feel, will help us reach a much larger audience and to spread the Safety message far and wide.
Until next we meet, go fast, have fun, but above all BE SAFE.
