Safety pays off
IN THE CITY
by LaNiece Winslow
The city of Presque Isle is pleased to announce the payment of dividends and the receipt of credits by the Maine Municipal Association (MMA), due to the city’s excellent loss experience.
The city carries its Worker’s Compensation, Property and Casualty, and Unemployment coverage through MMA. Premiums are assessed and paid each year for these protective insurance categories. When costs of claims for the year are a certain percentage below the premium rates, the city will receive a reimbursement for the cost difference. This is referred to as a loss ratio.
The city works diligently to continue to offer a safe environment for its employees through an active Safety Committee. To that end, because we have been able to keep workplace injuries to a minimum, the city received a dividend check from our Worker’s Compensation carrier for $7,619. Dividends are not guaranteed every year.
The Leader Program recognizes and rewards municipalities and public entities that voluntarily implement loss-control programs that achieve results. Our participation in this program through the Maine Municipal Association’s Risk Management Division, demonstrates a commitment to workplace safety. A Leader credit of 9 percent was applied toward our Worker’s Compensation contribution. The credit Presque Isle received was in the amount of $9,992.
In the last year of 2010, MMA loss control staff visited our entity and provided services which may include training, consultation, building inspections and safety surveys resulting in 26 service hours which saved the city an estimated value of $2,472.
These dividends and savings help to offset overall city expenses for the year and demonstrate the Presque Isle employees’ and Resource Department’s ongoing commitment to being cost efficient and safe.
LaNiece Winslow is the city of Presque Isle’s director of resource management. She can be reached at 760-2722 or via e-mail at lwinslow@presqueisleme.us.
