Local business owners learned ten ways to reduce their workers' comp costs and how to gain new tax credits for putting injured workers back on the job at a special Worker's Compensation Seminar at the Central Tech Business Center in Drumright June 10th .

Peggy Swineheart, Central Tech's Industrial Coordinator at Drumright, said “We are offering local business owners a chance to talk to a worker's compensation judge and counselor to clarify any issues they might have,” said Swineheart. “We are doing whatever we can possibly do to help our local businesses grow.”

Workers' Comp Counselor Gerri Mooney presented the “Top 10 Best Practices for Reducing Your Workers' Compensation Costs”. Also, Workers' Compensation Judge Susan Witt Conyers talked to local business owners about the newest issues in Senate Bill 1X, workers' comp bill recently enacted into law, and how it could impact their businesses.

“The bill will affect both employer and employee, but is still being evaluated,” said Mooney. A few tips for employers off the top ten list would be to establish sound hiring procedures from the beginning, e ducate your own employees about their rights and responsibilities, and communicate!!!

Changes in the bill will give greater freedom for employers to drug test their employees. Also, employers will receive tax incentives for placing injured workers back in the work environment under light duty or to those employers who have to make modifications to the workplace for the injured employees.

Employees will receive benefits such as an increase in disfigurement cases, an increase for surviving spouses and children, and an increase in funeral benefits. However, the temporary total disability benefits will be greatly reduced, according to Conyers.

You can find more information about the changes in the workers' comp bill at www.owcc.state.ok.us . Also, counselors are available to answer your workers' compensation questions at (405)522-8760 or Toll-free at (800)522-8210.

To find out the complete list of the “Top 10 Best Practices for Reducing Your Workers' Compensation Costs”, attend the second workers' comp seminar at the Central Tech Business Center on Friday, July 22 at 2:00 p.m.

For more information or to sign up for the workers' comp seminar contact Peggy Swineheart at (918)352-4517.