Workers’ comp insurance cost rises for Carbon Co.

Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA)

Dec. 22--JIM THORPE -- Carbon County saw a nearly $10,000 increase in the amount it pays for workers' compensation insurance for 2018, but it's less than some previous years.

The county commissioners approved on Thursday a proposal from the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange (HAIRE) for the insurance in the amount of $408,517, which is an increase of $9,933.

Commissioner William O'Gurek said the $400,000 is a big number, but it's only a $10,000 increase. The county used to pay double that amount, he said.

"Part of what we do here is manage people and make sure they're safe in the workplace," O'Gurek said.

He explained that workers' compensation insurance premiums are based on two things -- estimated salaries for the coming year and claims made in the current year.

The 2018 premium is based on an estimated $13.2 million in salaries, which is up from the current year's $12.3 million in salaries, O'Gurek said. Overtime at the prison this year has driven up the estimated amount in salaries, he said.

Commissioner Chairman Wayne Nothstein noted that prison costs are up due to a number of prisoner hospital stays and the county has to pay corrections officers to stay with the prisoner 24 hours a day, leading to overtime. Add in travel time and the costs mount, he said.

"With regard to claims, we've done a great job here," O'Gurek said.

The county had 28 claims in 2015, 48 claims in 2016 and 21 claims to date this year, he said. Of the 48 claims in 2016, half of them were at the prison, O'Gurek said.

"The number is back down (this year) and that's a good thing," he said. "We want to keep people safe in the workplace."

In 2015, claims totaled $160,000 and in 2016, $181,000, O'Gurek said. This year, claims are at $41,000 to date, he said, so the county is managing these claims.

Nothstein also noted that maintenance employees make repairs to sidewalks and the like to prevent falls or injuries.

"We need to be proactive and watch for potential hazards," he said.

Commissioner Tom Gerhard, who serves on the safety committee, commended his fellow commissioners and said it's a team effort and they're trying to make sure everyone is safe.

Shelter

Gerhard reported that renovations at the Carbon County Animal Shelter continue. Work on the floors and the walls of the kennels is complete and the dogs being boarded at St. Francis Animal Hospital will return today, ready to be adopted, he said.

Blue Mountain Fence will work on the 32 kennel gates next and they'll also stiffen gates to prevent the dogs from damaging them, Gerhard said.

The county's maintenance director looked at the light fixtures at the shelter and found that they don't have to replace the fixtures to convert them to LED lighting, he said. This will allow the county to do additional work at the shelter with the funds available.

The renovations are being made possible due to more than $100,000 in donations from people's estates.

Contact the writer:

[email protected]; 570-501-3589

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