With a little bit of home state pride I’m happy to report about a workers’ comp success out of Pennsylvania. The state’s Workplace Safety Committee Certification Program saved employers in the state a bundle in May, according the Department of Labor and Industry.

The program began in and saves participating employers an average of 5 percent a year on their workers’ compensation insurance premiums. In May alone the program announced that they saved state employer’s $4.6 million.

To be certified employers must establish a safety committee with at least two employers and two employees represented. They must hold monthly meetings and have been in operation for six months before they can submit their certification application to the state. They also must have their committee members receive training from approved safety personnel in the areas of operations, hazard inspections and accident investigations. The monthly meetings must have written agendas, documented attendance and minutes kept on record. The company must also submit their application for certification at least a month before their workers’ comp policy or other similar re-certifications are supposed to be renewed.

Once they have satisfied these requirements and sent their application to the state they can be certified to be a part of the program and get their discounts applied.

To me these kinds of safety programs seem like a no-brainer. Where is the harm in training employees in better safety methods, and encouraging them to get together and talk about issues or problems so that they can continue to enhance the safety operations at their business? Bonus- it saves your company money too.