Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Says Businesses Saved $300 Million With Workplace Safe...( MEADVILLE Pa. Sept. 11 -- Govern...),Health

MEADVILLE, Pa., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that Pennsylvania businesses have saved more than $300 million thanks to a program that allows workplaces to save five percent annually on workers' compensation insurance premiums.

Businesses qualify for the savings if they have a state-certified safety committee in operation. More than 7,800 workplaces have those panels in place, covering more than one million employees.

"Our workers are the most valuable asset in any workplace," Governor Rendell said. "Ensuring the safety of workers, so they can return home to their loved ones at the end of the day, is the greatest responsibility of every employer."

"Since 1994, state-certified workplace safety committees have protected more than one million hard-working Pennsylvanians and the bottom line of more than 7,800 businesses, but we need to do more," said Labor & Industry Deputy Secretary Liz Crum, who made the announcement at today's event. "I join Governor Rendell in encouraging employers to start a state-certified workplace safety committee, not only for the economic incentive, but also for the well-being of your workers."

The Rendell administration celebrated reaching the milestone today at Channellock Tools in Meadville. The state received Channellock's application for a state-certified workplace safety committee in 1994, making it the longest-running certified safety committee in Pennsylvania. Channellock's committee covers 440 employees and, to date, has saved nearly $280,000 in workers' compensation premiums.

Since Governor Rendell took office, employer participation in the state-certified workplace safety committee program has increased by 45 percent--from 5,369 in 2003 to 7,812 so far this year. During the same time, the number of employees covered by safety committees increased from 747,417 to 1,068,540.

Another effort to improve the health and safety of Pennsylvan
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