Salem, OR – The Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter (AGC) and SAIF recently announced a $7,876,242 retrospective return for the 638 companies who participated in the AGC/SAIF group workers’ compensation program during 2016–2017. This represents a 22.2 percent return of paid premiums during the policy year.
Increased construction activity and a continued shortage of qualified workers have presented unique challenges this year, making these results more significant. The actual total payout to participants will surpass $9.3 million after the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) and non-disabling claim reimbursement adjustments are made. Individual results and retro checks will be mailed directly from SAIF to policyholders in mid-August 2018.
“For 26 years, this plan has had consistently strong results—due to the partnership between workers, employers, agents, AGC, and SAIF,” said Christy Witzke, VP of marketing, sales, and communication at SAIF. “The true success is that thousands of Oregon construction workers go home safe and healthy day after day because of the hard work of all those involved.”
The retro return combined with the 10 percent upfront premium discount savings creates a total combined savings this year of 32.2 percent. A retro return has been paid out to AGC members 25 of the past 26 years. Total retro returns spanning the 26-year history for the AGC/SAIF program now surpass $188 million.
Employers will see additional savings this year due to a significant reduction in Oregon pure premium rates for 2018. The contracting industry decreased 12.6 percent overall, and the AGC group weighted average rate decrease is 15.2 percent.
The retro return is based on the safety performance of all group members. Employers in the program make investments and commitments to safety and training. Employees carry out the work. And industry professionals from SAIF, AGC, and agent brokers train and educate, manage claims costs, and help injured workers get back to work.
“This partnership has been in place for 26 years, and our members continue to produce tremendous results,” said Mike Salsgiver, Oregon-Columbia Chapter executive director. “Our goal is to create safer workplaces, reduce workplace injuries and illnesses, save lives, and save money.”
Dennis Barlow, AGC director of Safety Services, added, “Each year we improve this program to provide optimum results. Year after year, we see improvements in our members’ safety leadership, culture, and commitment. The premise that ‘safety pays’ is clearly understood.”
Source: SAIF