NYSIF Encourages Employers to be Proactive All Year Long at Conclusion of National Safety Month

June 29, 2007

As National Safety Month comes to a close, CEO/Executive Director David P. Wehner and the New York State Insurance Fund want to remind employers to be aware of the hazards around them and take a proactive approach toward workplace safety.

“It’s essential to remember that workplace safety should be a year-round priority," CEO Wehner said. “As always, NYSIF is committed to a healthy and accident-free work environment for each of its policyholders and their employees.”

The National Safety Council designates June as National Safety Month each year and promotes tips, strategies, and guidelines for maintaining a safe work environment. NYSIF supports this effort 12 months a year with its safety services, outreach and workplace materials.

In 2006, 54 NYSIF staff were designated as New York State Certified Safety Consultants (CSC) by the New York State Department of Labor. This credential can be used only by those persons who have qualified for and been issued a verification under the Workplace Safety and Loss Prevention Program (Industrial Code Rule 59, NYS Workers’ Compensation Law). There are only 325 CSCs statewide.

ICR 59 requires that an employer undergo a comprehensive safety and loss prevention consultation if they have generated an experience modification rating over 1.20 and have a payroll exceeding $800,000. NYSIF’s CSCs offer this free, but invaluable, consultation to policyholders who receive this notification. The program includes an assessment of the employer's workplace safety and loss prevention program as well as an on-site survey of the workplace. Based on the consultant’s recommendation, the employer must remedy noted safety deficiencies, and institute and maintain an effective loss prevention program.

In 2006, NYSIF Field Services Representatives made more than 18,000 field visits to NYSIF policyholders statewide to assist them with creating and maintaining safe workplaces. This includes more than 500 Code Rule 59 consultation and compliance calls, 12,725 workplace safety surveys, and 977 customized safety training classes, reaching thousands of New York’s employees.

In addition, during the past year, Field Services’ certified trainers conducted two Occupational Safety and Health Administration 30-hour General Industry Outreach Training Programs, while the Albany District Office hosted six 10-hour OSHA courses (April ‘06 - April ‘07) for more than 150 people.

NYSIF average claim costs have increased from $12,600 to $17,300 over the past five years. This can be attributed to increased medical costs. But over the same time, NYSIF’s reported new claims fell nine percent, following an industry wide trend. Additionally, NYSIF open claims dropped from 158,963 in 2002 to 139,465 in 2006, a 12 percent reduction. Simultaneously, the average length of time of an open claim decreased from 1,191 days to 914 days. This data attests to NYSIF’s aggressive safety and health efforts.

The most frequently reported accidents include falls, lifting, struck by objects, and material handling. NYSIF encourages businesses to keep the following in mind:

• Slips and falls are a common occurrence in an office environment, but maintaining a clean work area can reduce the chances of someone getting hurt on the job.
• Take fire drills and emergency evacuation training seriously.
• Incorporate a safety and wellness program at home, too, as well as in the workplace.
• According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle accidents remain the number one preventable cause of death. Pay attention, drive defensively and watch out for the other drivers.

Part of NYSIF’s mission is to reduce the cost of workers’ compensation in New YorkState by educating its constituents. www.nysif.com contains a comprehensive library of current safety resources for employers. Under Safety and Risk Management, a user can access a variety of safety materials for free. The materials are applicable to all businesses, including a full library of safety resources that cover safety basics, industry safety fact sheets, and compliance. A new online safety feature, COMMIT, is a do-it-yourself safety program developed by NYSIF to help New York businesses lower their costs.

“Don’t let the close of June end your safety and health commitment,” concluded CEO Wehner.

NYSIF is a non-profit agency of the State of New York that was created as part of the Workers' Compensation Law of 1914. By law, NYSIF is a competitive insurance carrier that sells workers' compensation and disability benefits insurance to any employer doing business in New YorkState. Approximately 192,000 employers hold NYSIF workers' compensation insurance policies, constituting about 37 percent of the market.