By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington city officials say they have seen a sharp drop in workplace injuries, but the city continues to pay claims in the millions of dollars.
The city handled 630 workers compensation claims over a five-year period that ended in April, that’s nearly one for every full-time city employee. Those claims cost the city close to $12 million.
City Manager David Hales told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn the city pays a $550,000 deductible on each injury claim.
“There’s a financial component but first and foremost, we want a safe work atmosphere, work culture,” Hales said. “Unfortunately in my career I’ve seen fatalities in the workplace, serious injuries and we want to change that.”
Claims dropped 10 percent last year and are down close to 60 percent for the first half of this year compared to the first six months of 2016.
Hales said the city has placed greater attention on making sure city workers have the property equipment and training.
“We want to make sure that everyone goes home healthy without injuries, but this is an area where we’re spending a lot of time and attention,” Hales said. “So progress is being made but it’s still a significant part of our budget.”
The most common injury claim is lower back, followed by knees and shoulders.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
