August 2020 will mark four years since we launched our innovative safety grants program to help fund policyholders’ workplace safety improvement projects.
Several years into the program, safety grant recipients continue to see positive results. In the two years prior to receiving their grants, the 192 recipients experienced 214 workers compensation claims totaling nearly $5 million.
Since implementing the safety equipment purchased with their grants, those same recipients have experienced only 12 claims totaling about $36,000 in the areas addressed by their grant-funded equipment. That’s a 94% reduction in claims and a 99% reduction in claims costs!
Some policyholders reduced their claims to zero after implementing their new equipment. They’ve also enjoyed added perks like reduction in labor time and cost, increased efficiency and opportunities to bid jobs more competitively.
Offset COVID-19 expenses with a safety grant
We recently made some temporary changes to our Safety Grant Program to create more opportunities to submit for COVID-19 related expenses. In addition to ergonomic, safety and industrial hygiene purchases, applicants may now submit items purchased as early as March 18 and can submit up to ten items to be considered for one-to-one matching funds. This includes property modifications due to COVID-19 exposure such as HVAC enhancements and filter purchases. We’ve also lowered the minimum grant award to $500. The maximum award remains $10,000. Disposable PPE purchases are not eligible.
The next application window is July 13 – Aug. 12, 2020. To learn more, visit our Safety Grants page.