Workers Compensation receives safety award

The Workers Compensation Fund has received the first Award of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health from the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.

The award honors the organization's efforts to provide education and training to reduce workplace injuries around the state. It was presented during Thursday's opening session of the 22nd annual Conference on Safety and Industrial Hygiene at the University of Utah.

The RMC has established the award as an annual recognition for leaders in workplace safety and health. Nominations for next year's award are being accepted and will be considered by the RMC's panel of program directors. It is anticipated that future winners also will be announced in conjunction with the annual statewide safety conference.

Workers Compensation Fund was created in 1917, after the Utah Legislature passed the Workers' Compensation Act requiring all employers to obtain workers' compensation insurance coverage. A quasi-public corporation, WCF serves as provider of last resort, required to insure any business that cannot otherwise purchase workers' compensation insurance in the competitive market.

Today, WCF insures more than half of all Utah employers.

Established in 1977, the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health offers masters and doctoral training programs; provides in-depth continuing education courses; and conducts research and service programs in occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, ergonomics and safety, injury prevention, and hazardous materials control.