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California
 The
California State Fund’s new 32-acre campus in
Vacaville’s Vaca Valley Business Park might just make its neighbors “green” with
envy.
That’s because everything on the new site was made with the environment
in mind.
During the building process recycled materials were used, which diverted 75
percent of construction waste away from landfills. Water consumption was significantly
reduced with the installation of smart flow sinks, toilets and urinals. Individual
lighting controls for 90 percent of the building occupants help save energy
and more than 10 percent of the building materials and furniture come from
recycled materials.
“The construction of a green facility is one step in State Fund’s
larger effort to implement cost effective technologies to help us reduce energy
consumption, shrink our carbon footprint and introduce more environmentally
friendly practices into the workplace,” said State Fund President Jan
Frank.
Going green had one huge and immediate advantage – a rebate from PG&E
that totaled more than $1 million for sustainable design and solar installation.
And even prior to breaking ground, the California State Fund kept the environment
in mind. First it made sure the site was not considered “prime farmland.” It
also designated foraging habitat for the Swainson’s hawk, a threatened
species under the California Endangered Species Act.
Features such as showers and bicycle racks encourage employees to bike to
work. The facility is also served by one bus line and has charging stations
for electric and hybrid vehicles, not to mention preferred parking for alternative
vehicles.
“I am proud that State Fund is taking steps to minimize its environmental
impact, and we will continue to identify areas where we can enhance our environmental
awareness,” Frank said.
 Colorado
- Pinnacol will reduce workers’ compensation rates by 10
percent beginning January 1, 2009, the fourth rate decrease in as many years.
This reduction is consistent with our commitment to product stability and
responsible pricing practices that help keep the workers’ compensation
market stable in Colorado. It is based on our most up-to-date loss development,
frequency, and severity trends—and it is prudent in times of economic
uncertainty.
- Twenty-nine policyholders were recently honored as recipients
of Pinnacol’s
first annual “Circle of Safety Award.” The award recognizes policyholders
for exceptional risk management performance in four areas—safety, loss
prevention, and financial and claims management—over a four-year period.
The awards will be given annually.
- Pinnacol’s 2009 policyholder seminars
include some new courses
that reflect feedback we’ve received from policyholders, as well as changes
in the workplace. In total, 70 seminars are scheduled next year for policyholders
across Colorado. They are geared toward business owners, risk managers,
and supervisors from all industries and companies of all sizes. The entire
2009
seminar schedule is available on our Web site, www.pinnacol.com, under “Seminars
for Employers.”
- Pinnacol’s 2008 United Way campaign was another
success, raising $32,601 in employee contributions. With our 100 percent
matching donation, we
were
able to donate $68,114.94 to worthwhile organizations supported by the
United Way, which was our largest donation ever. The campaign also met its goal
of
30 percent employee participation. Despite the economic downturn, more
Pinnacol employees contributed than ever before—and the average employee
contribution also increased.
Kentucky
Efficiency,
Cost Savings & Customer Service Get a Boost at KEMI
KEMI Now Utilizing the Award-Winning ImageRight Paperless Workflow System
One of the most significant “hidden” costs KEMI has faced over
the years has been the amount of time required to work with the several thousands
of paper files associated with its underwriting, audit and claims processes.
Thanks to a solution by ImageRight, however, KEMI now boasts a highly-efficient,
cutting-edge system that streamlines document management for the more than
23,000 businesses it serves.
The document scanning solutions offered by Conyers, Ga.-based ImageRight
were a “perfect fit” for KEMI, not only because of ImageRight’s
ability to custom-tailor the complex process to work within KEMI’s
existing infrastructure, but also due to the fact that both companies are
nationally-recognized leaders in their respective industries. In 2008, ImageRight
was awarded First Place by National Underwriter in their “Insurer’s
Choice: Technology Ranking” category.
For the full story on KEMI’s utilization of ImageRight, visit www.kemi.com/News/ImageRight.aspx.
Louisiana
 LWCC Launches New Safety Web Site
In
its ongoing commitment to promoting safety in the workplace, Louisiana Workers’ Compensation
Corporation (LWCC) has launched a new stand-alone Web site, www.saferplacetowork.com,
that provides a wealth of centralized
safety information for both employers and employees.
The “microsite” makes available 39 separate safety documents
in a free, downloadable PDF format. It covers specific topics relating to
driving safety, lifting safety, and prevention of slips and falls, as well
as advice on how to create a safety program for the workplace.
The new LWCC microsite was designed to encourage employers and employees
to work together in creating a safe workplace.
“Through the use of this new microsite, LWCC is giving employers the
tools they need to help ensure that workers don’t get hurt on the job
and that employees are provided the information they need to get the job
done in a productive and safe manner,” says Mike Page, LWCC director
of safety and loss prevention.
LWCC Raises $34,000 for Kids’ Chance Charity
Conducting the fifth annual LWCC-Kids’ Chance Invitational Golf Tournament,
LWCC raised more than $34,000 for the Kids’ Chance charity on October
6. The funds go to pay college expenses for children of Louisiana workers
who were seriously injured or killed on the job.
Including this year’s total, the LWCC-sponsored event over the past
five years has raised more than $154,000 for these deserving students. As
in the past, this year’s tournament was held at the Country Club of
Louisiana in Baton Rouge.
Kids’ Chance scholarships are available to Louisiana residents between
ages 16 and 25 who demonstrate financial need and meet other qualifications.
Any accredited Louisiana university; community, technical, or vocational
college; or state-approved proprietary school qualifies.
Maine
Comp Summit A Hit Once Again
MEMIC’s annual Comp Summit drew a large crowd
and rave reviews once again. The November policyholder conference was
rated 4.4 on a scale of
1 to 5 with most attendees saying they will return again in 2009.
Sgt. Matt Eversmann, whose character and leadership were put to the test during
a battle in Somolia, and Lynn Donohue, who overcame a troubled childhood to
become the best mason in Massachusetts and the owner of a very successful construction
company, both offered words of wisdom and inspiration as they shared their
stories of struggles and successes. Other highlights were Roger Sevigny, President-elect
NAIC, who spoke about insurance regulation and Steve Rowe, Attorney General
of Maine, who offered advice on avoiding identity theft. The event attracted
more than 520 registrants once again.
MEMIC Delivers Record Dividend
The MEMIC Board of Directors voted to issue a dividend totaling $15 million
to policyholders of its Maine-based mutual company.
As a result of the vote MEMIC sent checks in November to more than 20,000
Maine employers who were policyholders of the company during 2005. The amount
was approximately 10 percent of the total premium paid during that year. Checks
ranged to a little more than $180,000.
This dividend was a record amount for the company, a million dollars more
than the record amount released in 2007. Including returned capital and dividends,
MEMIC has now returned more than $100 million to its policyholders since 1998.
MEMIC A “Best Place to Work” Again
MEMIC was named a Best Place to Work in Maine for the third consecutive year
in a competition sponsored by SHRM Maine State Council. MEMIC finished third
among 18 finalists in the small/medium employer category. In past years,
the company had finished fourth in the competition.
Workshops Certified by IACET
MEMIC's application to continue to offer continuing education units (or CEUs)
through the International Association for Continuing Education & Training
(IACET) has been approved. This means that, in addition to the value of the
workplace safety content, MEMIC policyholders get the added value of CEUs
toward professional certifications or designations which may require them.
Maryland
IWIF reduces rates 6.8%
The board of directors for IWIF Workers’ Compensation Insurance has approved
a 6.8% overall reduction in base rates predicated on an annual rate analysis
performed by Deloitte Consulting, LLP, an independent consulting actuary. The
rate change is based on IWIF’s historical claims data and actuarial principles.
The new rates will become effective January 1, 2009.
As reported by IWIF, these reductions are driven largely by a continued decline
in IWIF claims frequency over the past year. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics reports the Maryland injury rate in 2007 dropped to 3.7
injury cases per 100 fulltime workers, a decline from 3.8 in 2006 and 4.2 in
2005.
“I am pleased that IWIF is in a strong financial position and can offer
many policyholders a rate reduction on their premium,” says Tom
Phelan,
president and CEO. “Ultimately, however, I am pleased with the continued
decline in the number of injured workers in Maryland.”
Rial Simons, Chief Actuary for IWIF, indicated that these pricing initiatives
will allow IWIF to attract and retain competitive business as well as generate
reasonable revenue. These rate reductions will help to keep workers’ compensation
insurance equitable, available and affordable to all Maryland businesses.
Elbert Danquah joins IWIF as VP, Internal Audit
 Elbert Danquah recently joined IWIF as vice president, Internal Audit. Previously,
he was director of Internal Audit for Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund
where he worked for 30 years.
Mr. Danquah is responsible for overseeing IWIF’s internal audit functions,
ensuring proper coverage for risks to the organization and maintaining the
highest standards in operating processes. He reports directly to IWIF’s
board of directors.
He is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and its affiliated Baltimore
chapter as well as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.
Montana
Dividend Declared
The Montana State Fund Board of Directors authorized a $4 million dividend
to qualifying policyholders. This will be the 10th consecutive year MSF has
rewarded customers who have superior safety records. Nearly 19,200 policyholders
were eligible to receive the dividend. Since 1999, Montana State Fund has returned
more than $52 million in dividend payments to policyholders.
A Good Prescription
Low Back Pain: Diagnosis & Treatment was the subject of a recent
MSF sponsored educational conference. Over 150 medical providers
and workers’ compensation professionals from across Montana
gathered in Helena to learn about the treatment of low back pain,
pain management and return to work issues. Dr. Michael D. Daubs of
the University of Utah Orthopedic Center in Salt Lake City was the
featured speaker at this all-day event. This was MSF’s eighth
medical educational conference.
The Ole’ College Try
New to MSF’s advertising and marketing line up this fall was
the promotion of Montana State Fund at Montana State University,
the University of Montana and Carroll College home football games.
The theme of the campaign was safety, with the headline, "Don't
Get Blindsided by Injury." This new promotion was another wonderful
opportunity to connect with our state's employers, employees and
young workers through a different venue. The promotion included an
MSF ad in all of the teams’ home game programs, a stadium billboard,
ads on the official team websites, as well as being a game day sponsor.
This event included MSF staffed booths, PA recognition announcements
throughout the game, video promotion on each of the stadium's big
screens and a special game ball presentation. In addition, MSF will
market itself at the colleges’ basketball games.
New Brunswick
- On Sunday, October 6, the Workplace Health Safety and Compensation
Commission (WHSCC) of New Brunswick announced its new name –WorkSafeNB.
“It’s shorter, easier to remember but, more importantly,
it plainly states who we are and what we stand for,” said Doug
Stanley, President and CEO of WorkSafeNB. “The name was changed
to better reflect our focus on injury prevention,” he said. “We
hope it will draw the attention of New Brunswick’s workers
and employers to the need to work safely, and to encourage
a safe and timely return to work for injured workers.”
In 1994, under the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation
Commission (WHSCC) Act, the Workers’ Compensation Board and the New Brunswick
Occupational Health and Safety Commission merged to become the WHSCC.
But more than a decade later, New Brunswickers were still not using
the WHSCC name. The WHSCC was still referred to as “Workers
Comp” or even “Workman’s Comp.”
While the public’s failure to recognize and refer to the WHSCC
name prompted consideration of a name change, distressing research
findings served as the catalyst to champion a new identity. The research
showed that 61% of Canadians and, in particular, 69% of New Brunswickers
believed that workplace injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable
part of work. “We believe the WorkSafe name will help shift
New Brunswickers’ and Canadians’ attitudes about workplace
injuries from “unavoidable” to “unacceptable”,
Stanley said.
The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission will
remain WorkSafeNB’s legal name.
- Approximately 550 people attended the 28th Annual WHSCC
Health and Safety Conference, October 5-7 at the Delta Beauséjour
in Moncton, where the Workplace Health Safety and Compensation
Commission’s
new name – WorkSafeNB – was launched.
A conference highlight was a workshop on disability management presented
by Wolfgang Zimmerman, executive director of the National Institute
of Disability Management Research (NIDMAR). Zimmerman rehabilitated
himself following a logging accident that left him paralyzed at the
age of 20, and it was his determination to reduce industrial accidents
that helped found NIDMAR.
Other workshops addressed topics such as workplace bullying, machine
safety, electrical safety hazards and standards, elevating work platforms,
noise reduction, MSI prevention, due diligence, return to work and
contractor safety management. A trade show, featuring 30 exhibitors,
promoted the latest in health and safety innovations.
 On
October 24, WorkSafeNB (formerly the Workplace Health, Safety
and Compensation Commission of New Brunswick) bid a fond
farewell to its General Counsel, Dick (Richard) Tingley,
who retired after
17 years. Before joining WorkSafeNB, Tingley had spent
25 years in private practice in Campbellton, N.B., mostly on
behalf of the insurance
industry. Replacing Tingley as General Counsel is Christine
Fagan, who ahs many years experience practising law in New
Brusnwick
and Newfounland and Labrador, where she also served as a
vice-chair of the WHSCC’s appeals tribunal.
New York
- NYSIF initiated a series of state agency forums to bring
personnel from different state agencies together to meet with
NYSIF workers’ compensation and disability benefits specialists.
The forums are designed to assist staff at fellow agencies who handle
workers’ compensation claims to help improve efficiencies and
save on claims’ costs. In addition to insuring about 190,000
private businesses, NYSIF is the third-party administrator for all
New York State workers’ comp. claims. The forums were established
in response to a directive by Governor David A. Paterson that state
agencies work together to find ways to become more efficient in an
effort to reduce costs. Topics include workers’ comp. reform,
the hearing process and successful return-to-work programs.
- The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board streamlined
adjudication procedures, referred to as the “rocket docket,” took
effect November 3. The rocket docket stipulates a specific timeline
for preparing and presenting cases before the Workers’ Compensation
Board to speed the process for resolving disputed claims. NYSIF
Claims staff has been working within the parameters of the new
requirements
for some months under a pilot program with the Board and has demonstrated
its ability in adhering to the accelerated hearing process. Under
the regulations, insurers must be fully prepared to present their
case at a pre-hearing conference within 30 days of filing notice
to contest a claim, and must submit a completed pre-hearing statement
with requisite supporting documentation to the Board within 10
days of the pre-hearing conference.
- NYSIF has collected $9.5 million in premium through its
web site with NYSIF eCHECK since its July 2008 debut. The new online
service allows policyholders to pay premium through electronic
funds transfer from their bank accounts. In other business news,
as of
October 31, 2008, NYSIF had a new record high of 60,703 disability
benefits policies in force.
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Go Safe: the Safety Game wins 1st Place
Go Safe: the Safety Game won 1st place in the Audio Visual Productions
category at the 2008 AASCIF awards. This interactive hazard assessment
computer game, created by the WSCC, leads Canada and the United States
in the area of multimedia productions. Despite facing the unique
challenges of being a smaller board, this international accomplishment
further reinforces the WSCC’s commitment to safety, and ingenuity
in providing stakeholders with progressive and innovative products
and services.
Don’t Be a Number Tour
I’m Not a Number, the latest WSCC awareness campaign, targets
young workers (workers under 25), and encourages them not to become
another statistic. The campaign is in response to stats that show
young workers represent 17% of established WSCC claims.
The WSCC is coordinating a Don’t Be a Number Tour aimed at
young workers throughout the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. An
injured young worker, Nick Perry, is travelling to various communities
in November and December. He is sharing his story in an effort to
promote workplace safety and reduce the number of young workers being
injured on the job.
2009 Years’ Maximum Insurable Remuneration
The 2009 Year’s Maximum Insurable Remuneration (YMIR) will
increase from $70,600 to $72,100.
2009 Average Assessment Rate
The Governance Council of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation
Commission (WSCC) approves assessment rates for employers annually
in September. The Governance Council uses the services of an actuary,
who supports staff in recommending options to take into consideration.
The 2009 average assessment rate was set at $1.71, meaning there
will be no change in the average rate from 2008.
Governance Council Public Meeting
On September 24, 2008, the Governance Council held a public meeting.
Stakeholders were invited to a presentation outlining the strategic
goals and priorities of the WSCC. This meeting was open to all
stakeholders. A detailed presentation was given on future goals
and priorities as well as highlights on accomplishments of the
previous year. The WSCC welcomes comments and feedback from the
stakeholders on the strategic goals and priorities of the organization.
Healthy Workplace Week
The Health, Wellness and Safety team hosted Healthy Workplace Week
from October 27 – 31, 2008 to promote healthy eating and
work practices. Breakfast, consisting of healthy options, was provided
and prize draws occurred daily.
Ohio
Ohio BWC reforms rates, programs
BWC is on overdrive these days. “Now more than ever, we’re
working hard to stabilize costs for Ohio employers,” says Administrator
Marsha P. Ryan. “Our goal is to offer more competitive rates.
This will also benefit injured workers and give our state an economic
advantage.”
BWC and its board of directors are partnering with sponsors, third-party
administrators and employers on this effort. The goal is to create
new, performance-based rating programs and other cost-saving opportunities
for employers.
Multi-split rating plan
BWC will transition from an experience-rating plan to a multi-split
experience-rating plan over a three-year period. This will reward
employers for preventing workplace accidents and proactively managing
claims. Thirty-eight states use a split plan. It more appropriately
takes into account claims frequency as well as severity. Ohio’s
current plan does not weigh frequency, which is a better indicator
of an employer’s risk.
Ohio’s group-rating program
Group rating allows similar employers to band together to achieve
a lower premium rate. Merging their experiences affords them the
benefits of a large employer for workers’ comp purposes.
However, BWC is working with external organizations to improve
the program’s performance. The goal is to ensure each employer
is paying its premium based largely on the risk it brings to the
system.
The changes may result in premium increases for some employers.
However, BWC has proposed the creation of two caps to prevent extreme
financial hardship. The board is considering those caps.
Also under consideration
BWC is also studying other incentive and discount options tied to
employer safety. These include deductibles, group retrospective-rating
and safety group-dividend programs.
Visit www.ohiobwc.com/reform for more details.
Oklahoma
CompSource Oklahoma accepting applications for its other states coverage
program
Beginning January 2009, CompSource Oklahoma will be accepting applications
for its other states workers’ compensation coverage program. To
implement the program, CompSource has entered into a fronting agreement
with The PMA Insurance Group and Midlands Management Corporation; both
are subsidiaries of PMA Capital Corporation.
Due to recent legislation, CompSource now has the authority to write
workers’ compensation insurance coverage for Oklahoma-based employers
who may have operations or employees working outside the state of Oklahoma.
An applicant must be an Oklahoma-based employer in good standing with
CompSource Oklahoma to be eligible for its other states coverage program.
The Oklahoma operations must make up at least 75 percent of the company’s
total payroll.
CompSource tops goal for United Way giving
CompSource recently completed the 2008 State Charitable Campaign benefiting
United Way by topping its goal of $51,000. Because of employee generosity,
CompSource raised $53,000 through silent auctions, a bake sale, fundraising
lunches, jeans days and payroll deductions.
Ontario
You can never be too safe
A window washing platform tilts and a worker slips off the edge.
A loose cuff caught in machinery pulls a factory worker's hand toward
a spinning blade.
Viewers familiar with the WSIB's social marketing campaigns might be
tempted to avert their eyes at this point, since what follows is sure
to be a horrific scene from a workplace tragedy. But the new campaign
adds a twist – someone takes quick action to protect the worker,
using existing safety procedures, and prevents the incident from happening.Since
1999, the WSIB has developed a marketing campaign each fall to raise
awareness about workplace health and safety. Over the past
two years,
this campaign has attracted increased attention, and drawn prestigious
accolades by using graphic ads to communicate the message: “There
really are no accidents.” For 2008, the campaign builds on this
momentum, featuring the key message: “You Can Never Be Too Safe.” This
message is followed by three important safety reminders for workers:
- Use proper safety equipment
- Demand proper training
- Refuse unsafe work.
“We hoped our graphic public awareness campaign last year would
shock people into action to decrease the staggering number of workplace
fatalities,” says Steve Mahoney, WSIB Chair. “This isn’t
happening quickly enough, so we’re incorporating a stronger educational
element this year. We won’t stop until every person in every workplace
- worker and employer alike - takes responsibility for workplace safety
and spreads the message that zero is the only acceptable number of workplace
injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”
The campaign includes TV commercials, cinema spots, print ads, transit
shelter ads, Internet advertising and the prevent-it.ca website. In addition
to English and French, print ads will also run in many other languages
including Polish, Chinese, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, and Tamil.
Oregon
2009 Oregon workers’ comp rate to
drop nearly six percent
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has announced
that the pure premium rate for workers' compensation insurance
will drop by 5.9 percent, on average, in 2009. The pure premium
rate in Oregon has not increased in 19 years, a national record.
Over that time, it has dropped a total of about 62 percent. The
decrease has saved Oregon employers an estimated $16.4 billion.
SAIF receives county EarthWISE certification
SAIF
Corporation recently received EarthWISE certification from Marion County
(where SAIF’s headquarters is located) by meeting specific
criteria for sustainability. Marion County’s EarthWISE program sets
criteria around such environmental issues as recycling, waste reduction,
environmental purchasing, and energy efficiency, and awards certificates
when these criteria are met.
SAIF participates in Latino Small Business Conference
This
fall, SAIF was one of the sponsors of the Latino Small Business Conference
in Salem, which brought together more than 400 business owners,
community members, public and private organizations, and young people
looking for jobs. In addition to being one of the sponsors, SAIF employees
also taught a class in Spanish titled “Workers’ Compensation
Insurance: Answers to the Most Common Questions,” answering dozens
of questions from those who attended.
Saskatchewan
WCB Participates in Groundbreaking Research on Preventable Injuries
in Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) participated
in groundbreaking research in that province that found preventable
injuries are the leading cause of death in Saskatchewan.
The finding lends authority to the WCB’s claim that preventable
injuries pose Saskatchewan’s largest public health concern.
The report on the data, Saskatchewan Comprehensive Injury Surveillance
Report, 1995-2005, was released in July of this year. The report is the
first time that injury data held by provincial agencies and ministries
was assembled in a comprehensive format. The data and its findings reinforce
the WCB’s message that injury prevention is everybody’s responsibility.
“We were pleased to be part of the project,” said Peter Federko,
Chief Executive Officer of the WCB. “We believe it has established
that predictable and preventable injuries are the number one public health
issue in Saskatchewan, whether that injury happens at home, at work, or
during sports and recreation.”
Everyone has a role to play in preventing injuries, according to Federko.
The WCB is playing its part through programs like its WorkSafe
Saskatchewan projects and, in particular, its Mission: Zero focus.
“We know that when it comes to prevention programming in the workplace,
zero is the right number to target. And we believe that holds true in
all areas of our lives.”
Federko added that the injury surveillance report supports the findings
of a report published in 2001 by SmartRisk, a national non-profit organization
dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives in Canada. Using 1998
data on hospitalizations, the report estimated that the impacts of predictable
and preventable injuries cost Saskatchewan nearly $600 million in that
year.
To view the Saskatchewan Comprehensive Injury Surveillance Report, 1995-2005,
visit www.health.gov.sk.ca/injury-report. To view SmartRisk publications,
visit www.smartrisk.ca.
Texas
Texas Mutual earns national recognition for ease of doing business
Texas Mutual Insurance Company is one of the 10 easiest carriers
in the country for independent agents to do business with. Furthermore,
no carrier delivers better insurance expertise and support, according
to the 6th annual Ease
of Doing Business survey conducted by Deep
Customer Connections Inc.
Network lowers medical costs
Texas Mutual Insurance Company created its workers’ compensation
health care network to help injured workers get back on the job
and help employers control their claim costs. Two years later,
the network is working exactly as the company envisioned.
This fall, the state released its second annual network
report card. The report card showed that:
- Medical costs on in-network claims are 6 percent lower than
non-network claims.
- In-network patients miss an average of 16
weeks of work, compared with 21 weeks for out-of-network patients.
- In-network
patients report similar access to care as out-of-network patients.
New policyholders earn dividends
In November, Texas Mutual distributed approximately $2 million
in dividends to first-year policyholders who had favorable loss
ratios. The dividends represent the final component of the company’s
$150
million 2008 policyholder dividend plan.
Award winners commit to safety
This fall, Texas Mutual will recognize 143
employers who share
the company’s commitment to preventing workplace accidents.
Premium size and loss ratio were factors in qualifying for an
award. Winners will receive a trophy or a plaque.
West Virginia
Board Elections
BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company will say goodbye to two members
of its first Board of Directors at the close of 2008. Board Chairman
H. Skip Tarasuk Jr. and Phillip A. Lynch, BrickStreet’s Senior
Vice President for Strategic Planning, served as directors for
the company’s first three years.
Tarasuk is president and owner of Davis & Tarasuk Insurance
Corp. in Fairmont. He will continue to serve on BrickStreet’s
Agent Advisory Council. Tarasuk chose not to seek re-election to
the board, while Lynch is retiring.
Policyholders selected a new board during their annual meeting
Oct. 27 in Charleston. The new board, which will begin oversight
of the workers’ compensation carrier in January, includes
four members of the current Board of Directors. They are joined
by W. Marston “Marty” Becker, chairman and chief executive
officer of Max Capital Group and a co-founder of West Virginia
Media Holdings. Becker will serve a three-year term in a Board
seat that, according to BrickStreet’s bylaws, must be occupied
by someone with experience as an officer or employee of a company
in the insurance industry.
Holdover members are: Thomas V. Flaherty, an attorney with Flaherty,
Sensabaugh and Bonasso PLLC; David L. Rader, president and CEO
of West Virginia Mutual Insurance Co.; Stephen G. Roberts, president
of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce; and attorney Steven F.
White of Steven F. White PLLC.
Partnership with Argonaut Insurance Company
Beginning Jan. 1, 2009 BrickStreet and Argonaut Insurance Company
will offer policies to companies that have a significant portion
of their business operations conducted in West Virginia and also
need coverage in other states. Argonaut is a licensed insurer in
all 50 states, and they will write the out-of-state coverage for
BrickStreet in exchange for a premium commission or fronting fee.
BrickStreet will act as the reinsurer for Argonaut under the partnership,
and will retain all of the liability associated with policies placed
through Argonaut. BrickStreet also will pay a loss deposit to Argonaut
for initial claims obligations and provide a letter of credit to
Argonaut as reinsurance collateral.
Policyholders will only have to fill out one ACORD application
to request premium rates for all states. BrickStreet has dedicated
a trained team of 46 professionals to deal with underwriting, monitoring
claims and claim payments for the out-of-state coverage. The team
all underwent extensive training to prepare for the new services
being offered. Premium audit, as well as safety and loss control
expertise, will be available to all policyholders and coordinated
through BrickStreet.
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