Workplace Safety Contracts provides Wyoming businesses support for equipment and training expenses
Cheyenne – On March 16, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (WDWS) released an update regarding the Workplace Safety Contracts, otherwise known as the Safety Improvement Fund. The program is set to help Wyoming businesses implement health and safety training programs, or assist with the purchase of safety equipment.
Who is eligible and how to apply?
The Wyoming Safety Improvement Fund is open to registered Wyoming businesses in good standing of the Wyoming Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, if required and with the Wyoming Secretary of State Office, if required.
The fund allows businesses to apply for up to $10,000 each fiscal year, between July 1 and June 30. A 10 percent match is required of the business to provide safety enhancements.
There is a training application and an equipment application businesses can apply for. Applications can be submitted via mail to Workers’ Compensation Safety Improvement Fund, 5221 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82002 or e-mailed to businessrisk@wyo.gov.
Applications are evaluated on the business’s safety needs on a first-come, first-served basis.
How it works
Once an application is approved, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services will write a contract and provide a one installment payment. Once the contract is executed and the employer is registered with the State Auditor’s Office, payment is issued. Invoices and proof of purchases must be provided within 90 days of the contract execution, shares the Wyoming Workforce website.
Applications requesting non-allowable items such as capital construction; any and all first aid equipment employee wages or benefits; and assessments, testing and certification exams not included in the cost of training will be automatically denied.
To date, retractable lifelines; safety harnesses and lanyards; trauma straps; sonetics headsets; ice cleats; salt spreaders; calf catchers; loading chutes; evacuation chairs and patient lifts; hi-lo tables; and statpacks have been funded with Safety Improvement Funds.
Application deadlines
Applications are reviewed and approved on a quarterly basis. The next application deadline is April 5. The following deadlines are July 5, Oct. 4 and Jan. 7.
Businesses who participate in the program are required to submit a report 365 days after the contract becomes effective and must include; a narrative describing the effectiveness of the funding on health and safety within the business; an injury and fatality data; and receipts for allowed expenses.
Industry support
“I appreciate the department focusing on finding ways for employers to continually strive to improve safety,” shares Wyoming Business Alliance and Wyoming Heritage Foundation President Cindy DeLancey. “Safety is a cornerstone for all businesses and industries in Wyoming. To be able to have agencies so committed to working with Wyoming businesses to try to provide opportunity and improve safety is so welcomed and appreciated.”
“The program is really beneficial for employers, especially in this day and age where everybody is tight with their money from budget cuts after COVID-19,” added WDWS Risk Management Manager Lauren White. “This is a great opportunity for employers to take advantage of some funding to help them improve the safety in their workplace.”
For more information regarding the program, visit wyomingworkforce.org/businesses/workerscomp/sif/.
Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
