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Risk-pool report recommends pollution liability and other coverage for county contractors; mock OSHA audit planned
Summary
County risk-pool representatives told supervisors Benton County remains near the top for claims and recommended adding pollution/environmental liability and professional liability to contractor agreements; staff also noted a planned mock OSHA audit and continued safety discounts tied to risk metrics.
County staff and a risk-pool representative reported to the Board of Supervisors that Benton County remains high among peers for workers’ compensation claims and recommended contract changes to reduce county exposure. The risk-pool presenter asked that standard contractor agreements include pollution and environmental liability coverage with a $1 million aggregate and professional liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence, and requested that county contracts name the county as an additional insured for general and auto liability.
Why it matters: Requiring additional insurance for contractors changes procurement terms, may increase contractor costs, and reduces county exposure to pollution cleanup and third-party claims resulting from contractor operations.
The risk-pool representative told the board the most common cause of auto claims involved deer collisions; secondary-roads and sheriff’s offices are often targeted for a mock OSHA audit based on loss runs. Staff said the pooled insurer has recommended that general-contractor contracts require pollution/environmental liability with a one-million-dollar aggregate and professional liability coverage; they also suggested auto liability and additional-insured language be standard when contractors do county work.
Supervisors asked whether the county should require these coverages immediately for the ISG contract (which the board also discussed elsewhere on the agenda). Staff said the risk-pool did not set a specific compliance deadline and that requirements would be coordinated with contract managers. Staff also noted a fall seminar and training calendar and said a mock OSHA audit will be unannounced and focused on departments with high loss history.
The presentation also reported that the county continues to receive a 10% premium discount because its mod rate remains low and that the safety committee program yields additional savings. Staff reminded supervisors the county reviewed courthouse coverage and found adequate limits including the new courthouse clock.
Ending: Staff will follow up with contract managers to identify which existing contracts should be amended to include the recommended coverages and will coordinate with the county’s legal counsel and procurement staff to align procurement documents with risk-pool recommendations.
