Workman's comp walkthrough flags minor hazards; jail claims keep rate high, staff says

A county safety coordinator briefed the commission on a recent Wyoming Workman's Comp site visit and the follow-up needed to secure discounted insurance rates. The coordinator said inspectors found minor building hazards — a frayed extension cord, broken outlet covers, an unlit exit sign and unlabeled secondary chemical containers — and that those items were fixed or assigned to maintenance.

"That rate that we got is good for 3 years," the coordinator said of the discount received in January. Staff explained the county's workers' compensation rate is driven largely by claims from the jail; the inspector had suggested the jail might obtain a separate workers' comp number to avoid dragging up the county rate, but later indicated that may not be possible because of IRS rules and how employer numbers are assigned. Commissioners asked staff to produce redacted 300‑log summaries showing where injuries are concentrated so the board can pursue targeted training and prevention.

Commissioners and department heads agreed maintenance should receive a prioritized list of items from the report and confirm repairs and timelines. The safety coordinator said the county will provide reports to departments and follow up on outstanding items.