WORKING FOR A SELF-INSURED EMPLOYER MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE

We go to work every day and expect to come home safely every night to our families and lives. However, some workers go to work in the morning and never come home due to an occupational fatality.

"Current data demonstrates that workers employed by self-insured companies are much more likely to return home than workers employed by companies insured by carriers", states Jon Wroten, Senior Vice President of The PATH Alliance and the former Chief regulator of California's Office of Self-Insurance (OSIP), the nation's largest self-insured marketplace.

A review of data comparing 2021 to 2022 shows that in California, workplace fatalities increased 9.09% from 462 in 2021 to 504 in 2022.

Self-insured private employers in California saw a dramatic decrease in workplace fatalities during this same period from 100 fatalities in 2021 to only 48 fatalities in 2022, or a 52% decrease in workplace fatalities.

"A 52% decrease between self-insured and insured employers is statistically significant and requires attention and understanding." Wroten explains, "While there is no data to explain why self-insured employers perform so much better, it likely can be attributed to self-insured employers assuming total responsibility for the costs of workplace accidents and injuries, a stronger commitment to workplace safety, and having greater control over their risk management and workers comp programs."

California's workforce increased from 18.1 to 18.4 million from 2021 to 2022. Over the same period, private self-insured employment grew from 2.38 million to 2.42 million. Growth in both segments was consistent, with California workers increasing by 1.66% while workers employed by self-insured employers increased by 1.68%.

(Sources: CA OSIP, US BLS) The PATH Alliance