Safety Management Program

Employers must complete the SMP application online at least 30 days before the policy period begins. 

• WSI will confirm participation and assign a safety consultant. 
• The safety consultant will schedule an initial safety assessment and inspection. 

Based on this assessment, the consultant and employer may create an action plan, to be approved and acknowledged by upper-level management.  

• Employers must implement the action plan within the policy period, correcting any hazards identified. 

WSI will audit the program annually for compliance by phone, email, online, or onsite. Audits must be completed by the 15th of the last month in the policy period.  

• Employers implementing and maintaining the Safety Management Program are eligible for a 10% premium discount for the policy period of successful participation.

1. Develop a written safety policy approved and signed by the top-level company manager. The policy must identify and define the safety responsibilities of all employees at every level within the organization and be communicated to all employees.
2. Set proactive safety goals for the company.
3. Provide company resources necessary to implement the Safety Management Program. Examples of resources include:
4. Establishing a safety budget.
5. Providing materials, equipment, or other assets to conduct safety training.
6. Forming a functional safety committee.
7. Correcting recognized safety hazards and safety program deficiencies.
8. Assess safety performance using both preventive and post-incident metrics.
9. Document enforcement of safety policies and procedures. 
10. Provide evidence supporting the enforcement of safety policies, rules, and procedures.
11. Assign an employer safety coordinator.
12. Assign an employer workers’ compensation claims coordinator.

The employer shall develop and implement a written safety training program for all employee levels that identifies safety training needs and provides employees with adequate knowledge to avoid hazards.

The safety training program should include: 

1. Training for site-specific hazards.
2. Training that meets federal and state regulatory training requirements for the employer’s operations.
3. Documentation of safety related training.
4. A new employee safety orientation process.
5. A documented annual performance evaluation of the hazard recognition program.
6. Documents available for WSI review:
   • The written training program with identified training needs.
   • Training materials.
   • Training records.
   • The performance evaluation report.

The employer shall develop and implement a written hazard recognition program that identifies, corrects, and controls physical hazards and safety system deficiencies.

The hazard recognition program should include:

1. Procedures for implementing hazard controls.
2. At least 4 employer-conducted inspections of the entire workplace per policy year.
3. Focus on hazards relevant to the employer’s operations.
4. Documentation of the inspections, including the corrective action(s) taken and the name(s) of the individual(s) conducting the inspections.
5. A review and signoff process by upper-level management on all inspections and corrective action reports.
6. Timely implementation of corrective action(s) for identified safety hazards and system deficiencies.
7. A documented process for upper management to monitor corrective action(s) and ensure their effective and timely implementation.
8. A documented annual performance evaluation of the program conducted by the employer, 
9. Documents available for WSI review:
   • The written hazard recognition program.
   • Completed inspection documents.
   • Corrective actions identified and implemented.
   • The performance evaluation report.

The employer shall develop a written accident investigation program that identifies root causes, safety system deficiencies, and actions implemented to avoid recurrence.

The accident investigation program must include:

1. Accident investigation reports, including an initial report of an accident or near miss, signed by all employees involved.
2. An accident investigation completed for all WSI claims filed. The accident investigation must be documented and include a root cause analysis that identifies corrective action(s). Corrective actions must be implemented with closure dates identified.
3. A documented process upper management uses to monitor corrective actions for effectiveness and timely implementation.
4. A documented annual performance evaluation of the employer’s accident investigation program by the employer.’ 
5. Documents available for WSI review:
   • The written accident investigation program
   • Accident Investigation and near miss reports
   • Root cause analysis for all filed claims
   • Corrective actions identified and implemented
   • The performance evaluation report

The employer’s upper-level management representative, safety coordinator, and the claims coordinator shall attend at least 1 safety or claims management seminar during the policy period. The seminar may be attended in person or on-line. Attendee(s) certification document(s) must be available for WSI review.

The employer will receive a 10% premium discount for implementing and/or maintaining a Safety Management Program.  The 10% discount will be applied to the premium after any experience rating adjustments for the year of participation. Any discounts awarded under this program may not reduce the charged premium amount below the statutory minimum premium.

WSI’s eligibility requirements for participation in the SMP include:

• Participation in the Safety Management Program is at the discretion of WSI.  Employer accounts that are delinquent, uninsured, or not in good standing may not be eligible. 
• Volunteer accounts are not eligible for participation. 
• Participation is limited to those companies not participating in the large deductible program.