what’s working
“In a tough economy, CompWise drives down costs.”
– Debra Brown, president, Forterra, Inc.
retro
awb’s compwise retro program offers
groups in the following industries:
• Facility & Property Management
• Hospitality & Entertainment
• Manufacturing
• Service/Retail/Wholesale
• Transportation
CompWise is one of several public-private “retro” programs
offered through the Department of Labor & Industries.
Qualifying businesses can join a retro group as a way to lower
their industrial insurance costs. Participants continue to pay
their quarterly workers’ compensation premiums to the state
Department of Labor & Industries, but the premiums are
pooled together.
At the end of the plan year, officials take a “retrospective” look
back. If premiums exceeded claims costs, surplus premiums
are refunded to members. Last year, participants in CompWise
shared more than $9.4 million in premium refunds, an amount
that’s been steadily rising. In 2009, refunds totaled more than
$4.2 million.
The increase follows the overall trend in workplace safety.
Workplace injury rates have been dropping in Washington for
years, according to the state Department of Labor & Industries.
Unlike some programs, AWB returns 100 percent of refunds
to employers. Participants pay an administrative fee up front,
and refunds are determined based on merit. Employers with the
best safety record receive a higher portion of the refund, which
creates an incentive to strengthen safety practices. Indeed,
CompWise has been on something of a roll lately.
Payouts have been up during the last year, said Debra Brown,
president of Forterra, Inc., AWB’s service corporation.
“In a tough economy, CompWise drives down costs,”
Brown said.
culture of safety
Olympia-based coffee company Batdorf & Bronson has used
CompWise since 1997. The financial benefit is a major reason
the company has remained part of the program, said Jenny Huff,
human resources director.
“We get back almost 15 percent of our premium just about
every quarter,” Huff said. “Our last check was almost $8,000.”
But Huff, who also serves as Batdorf ’s safety manager,
appreciates the emphasis that CompWise places on good safety
practices, as well. It helps lend a sense of legitimacy to the
measures she would be pushing for anyway, she said.
“I think being part of a program like this really helps
you to be motivated and raise expectations and practices in
safety management,” Huff said. “This helps to enforce it with
managers and owners. You can say, ‘Look, this is why I have
safety committee meetings.’”
24 association of washington business