Texas: Insurance company awards employers for workplace safety efforts

The Texas Mutual Insurance Co. recently recognized 164 employers for their workplace safety efforts.

Among the winners was Pioneer Contract Services Inc., the largest commercial moving and storage company in Houston. Jerry Beatty, director of safety and human resources at Pioneer, credited the company's all-inclusive approach to safety with lowering workers' compensation costs by 34 percent.

"Some companies run their safety program from the top down," he said. "We involve our employees at every stage. They help us develop, implement and enforce safety procedures. When you give your people ownership over the safety program, they are more committed to it."

Engineering, administrative controls to reduce poultry plant infections (02/25/13)
Study shows increase in number of homicides by intimate partners (06/18/12)
Orthopedic surgeon offers tips to reduce costs of 'older' injuries (01/30/12)
Try weekly plan to increase safety, decrease workplace injuries (04/19/12)
JOEM: Latinos bear disproportionate burden of severe work injuries (11/01/12)

However, even companies who champion workplace safety can face difficult challenges. Manny Soto, director of risk management at SPS Employer Risk Management in El Paso, Texas, said nearly 80 percent of individuals and employers it does business with speak Spanish. That challenge, he said, has required the staff leasing firm and award winner to ensure that its safety program crosses language barriers.

Read more at the WORKERSCOMP Forum^TM homepage.

December 21, 2009

Newsletter Sign-up