The State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF) in Oregon has an Associated General Contractors/SAIF Workers’ Compensation program that works with businesses in the construction industry to prevent injuries and raise awareness about safety on the job. This year, the 665 program participants are going receive a total return of $2.5 million for their 2014-2015 premiums.

This year’s return is actually significantly smaller than previous year’s returns, and many attribute that to a rise in construction injuries in Oregon. Last year the participants received a return that totaled 26 percent of their premiums paid and this year’s $2.5 million represents just 8.3 percent of premiums paid, although when all is said and done the payout to group participants may be more than $3.3 million after the Department of Consumer and Business Services and non-disabling claim reimbursement adjustments are made. In all, the program has returned more than $169 million to participants over the years. The refunds consist of retrospective returns, medical reimbursements and credits on premium assessment adjustments. The program has been in place for 24 years and the only year that did not yield a return was in 2001.

SAIF marketing and groups director Christy Witzke says that construction has been booming in the area and contractors are having a hard time finding qualified workers. That may mean that there are fewer employees on the job working longer hours which can lead to accidents, or workers who may not be as qualified or experienced are hired and then getting injured on the job. There have been more serious injuries in construction this year which lowers the return to group participants.

“We’ll continue to look for ways to protect workers and get to our goal of zero injuries,” Witzke said. She emphasized that even though this year’s return was not as much as it had been, there is still a strong relationship and alliance between SAIF, the Associated General Contractors, workers and employers when it comes to keeping safety a top priority.