NEWS (4/23/18): MCWCF issues $16,000 to county agencies for employee safety purchases

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Counties Workers’ Compensation Fund (MCWCF) has issued grants to agencies providing services in eight counties to help reduce employee accidents and injuries, the fund announced April 22.

These sums are part of the MCWCF’s Loss Prevention Grants Program, started in 2014. With this first round of grants in 2018, the fund has issued nearly $170,000 over the course of the program so far.

 RECIPIENT  Amount Project
Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office $1,139.97 Ergonomic chairs
Huron-Clinton Metroparks (serving the counties
of Livingston, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne)
$5,000 Ergonomic workstations
Otsego County $4,957  Ergonomic chairs
Wexford County $5,000 Ergonomic workstations
TOTAL GRANTS  $16,097

“This is one of the best parts of the work of the fund,” said Timothy K. McGuire, administrator. “We are helping members invest in equipment that prevents injuries, that prevents accidents. Yes, this saves the member and the fund money through fewer claims, but, more importantly, it raises the quality of life of public employees who do not see their health damaged by unfortunate events. We are so proud of this program.”

The fund was created in 1979 by the Michigan Association of Counties. It now serves more than 80 members across Michigan, and includes counties, medical care facilities, housing commissions, transit agencies, villages, mental health authorities and other specialty county or multi-county endeavors.

At the end of 2017, the fund issued premium dividends of $3.2 million to members, the largest single amount in the fund’s history. These dividends reflect remitted premium payments in excess of the fund’s needs.