Schools hear improvements in workers’ comp claims [The Times, Munster, Ind.]

June 15--PORTAGE -- Ten months after switching to a self insurance plan for workers' compensation claims and initiating a safety committee to improve awareness and training, claims regarding workers hurt on the job have dropped dramatically.

Sandy Fralich and Jim Krouse of JWF Specialty Co. of Indianapolis, the district's third-party administrator for workers' compensation insurance, reported the progress this week to the Portage Township School Board.

"A year ago we discussed the problem of high incidents in the district and lost time," Superintendent Mike Berta said.

It was then the district decided to take a new direction.

Fralich reported for the past four years the district averaged 68 claims per year with an average annual cost of $794,135, or an average claim of $11,678.

In the past 10 months, 39 claims have been filed in the district at a cost of $167,732, or an average of $4,301 per claim.

Fralich said some of the decline could be attributed to the milder winter, with less snow and ice causing fewer slips and falls.

Krouse said the decline more likely reflects success of a districtwide safety team that since last fall has established objectives to reduce claims, provide more training and improve accident investigation methods.

"I believe we have been successful in reducing the number of accidents," Berta said. He said the decrease also has reduced the cost of claims and the cost of substitutes to fill in for injured employees.

The contract with JWF and the excess claims insurer is due to expire in August. The board gave its consensus to the representatives to solicit quotes for the insurance services for the next school year.

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