By
DEBORAH A. MILESOne of the victories associated with the Stop Workplace Violence Law is legislation requiring the president of the Civil Service Commission to prepare an annual report describing occupational injuries, illnesses and workers’ compensation claims in state agencies.
The new report was released in September based on the state’s workers’ compensation claims filed by employees between April 1, 2007, through March 31, 2008.
“The last report of this kind was issued 14 years ago,” said Jonathan Rosen, PEF director of occupational safety and health. “We applaud the staff at Civil Service for doing an excellent job of assembling this report on a timely basis. This data should be very helpful to health and safety committees, as well as labor-management committees to identify the extent of claims caused by workplace violence and other job hazards.”
The report, which covers all bargaining units, states 15,846 work-related incidents occurred during that time period. Approximately, one-in-four incidents (4,271) resulted in lost time, accounting for 247,975 lost work days.
“This is equivalent to the state losing 1,240 full time employees to occupational injuries and illnesses,” said Kathy D’Arminio, PEF chair of the Joint Health and Safety Committee. “Prevention of violence, back injuries and other lost-time cases can help reduce the chronic staff shortages, especially in the institutions with high injury rates.”
The three agencies with 500 or more employees with the highest incident rates were the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Mental Health. Individual facilities with highest incident rates were Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center, Coxsackie Correctional Facility and Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Office.
The top three combined incident causes were overexertion, falls and assaults.
“Workers’ compensation costs were $18,690,687 for compensation of wage replacement and $19,690,167 for medical services,”
Rosen said. “These costs do not include costs from ongoing workers’ compensation claims that were established in prior years.”
Studies have shown the indirect costs are five to 10 times greater than the direct workers’ compensation costs, according to Rosen. Indirect costs include overtime, replacement workers, administration of benefits and training.
“This report reflects the suffering of workers and the costs associated with injury,” D’Arminio said. “PEF is working diligently to establish health and safety committees in every worksite that can implement a program to help put an end to on-the-job injuries and assaults.”
A full copy of the report can be obtained at the Civil Service Web site or by calling the PEF Health and Safety Department at 1-800-342-4306 ext. 254.
