• Initiating return-to-work policies that include reasonable accommodation. • Contacting Workplace Safety Consultation at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, which provides a free, nonenforcement service to assist small private-sector employers in high hazard industries in their voluntary efforts to improve workplace safety and health. The Workplace Safety Consultation Division can be reached at the address and telephone number provided in the Resource Directory section of this Guide. Under state law, all high hazard employers and those with more than 25 employees must establish a joint labor-management safety committee to address workers’ compensation and workplace safety issues. The employer‘s insurance company or agent can provide more information a bout accident prevention, safety and health programs and return-to-work programs. BUYING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE There are several thousand licensed insurance agents who sell workers’ compensation insurance in Minnesota. It is best to contact several agents to review the business and to quote prices for the insurance. In Minnesota, workers’ compensation insurance is sold through open competition, which means insurance companies establish rates and compete for business. All workers’ compensation policies provide coverage mandated by law; therefore, only the price and quality of service varies, and shopping for insurance can save money. Other factors to consider in choosing a carrier are claims servicing, safety counseling, and the carrier’s reputation. Options other than insurance may be available to cover an employer’s workers’ compensation liability. For example, some large employers or groups of employers are approved by the Department of Commerce to self-insure, which allows them to directly manage their workers‘ compensation claims and contain their costs. Many large employers who are approved to self- insure their risk hire a claims administration company. Occasionally, an employer is unable to obtain workers’ compensation insurance on the open market because the business is too small to justify the expense of selling and servicing the account or because of the nature of the risk involved in the business. In this case, the employer would buy the insurance through the Assigned Risk Pool. Additional information about this type of plan can be obtained from an insurance agent. SEMINARS ON WORKERS’ COMPENSATION The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry provides speakers and sponsors seminars and programs for employers on controlling workers’ compensation costs. Refer to WC Training for Employers. Contact information about workers’ compensation seminars may be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at the address and telephone number provided in the Resource Directory section of this Guide.
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