CSR Press Release

What does it take to achieve an impressive 71 percent drop in workers’ injury claims within one year?

“Common sense,” said Dennis Elder, Human Resources manager for Marvin Wood Products, a Baker City-based dimensional lumber processing facility, “and guidance from our business insurance partner, SAFECO.”

With SAFECO’s help, Marvin Wood Products identified potential workplace hazards, identified several loss control techniques, and trained employees and managers on ways to avoid accidents and injuries.

Marvin’s success in reducing injuries earned SAFECO’s Loss Control Achievement Award, which will be presented during a ceremony on June 1. In addition, the company was honored last July for its accomplishments with OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award.

Marvin Wood Products, which processes dimensional lumber used in window construction, recorded only 18 losses during the 1999 policy year, 71 percent less than the 62 injuries reported the preceding year. With SAFECO’s help, the company set up ergonomics and safety programs, which resulted in significantly less accidents and repetitive motion injuries.

“Our employees deserve a tremendous amount of credit for their hard work and attention to safety procedures that created the dramatic reduction in injuries,” said Everett Vassar, plant manager at Marvin Wood Products.

One of the keys to the company’s remarkable safety record is SAFECOM, SAFECO’s online risk management system offered free to its large commercial insurance customers. With SAFECOM, Marvin Wood Products is able to report losses, access detailed claims data, and analyze information through customized reports. “This enables the company to be a proactive part of the claims administration process, reacting immediately to reduce accident trends,” noted Jim Campbell, senior loss control representative for SAFECO.

SAFECO created the Loss Control Achievement Award as a way to acknowledge its most responsible customers who have taken steps to significantly improve their companies’ safety performance. “We want to honor our premier customers, like Marvin Wood Products, that have moved beyond just having a ‘safety policy’; instead they view it as a critical business component that has a direct impact on employee health and morale as well as controlling costs,” said Campbell.

SAFECO has been providing loss control service to its customers in Oregon since the commercial insurance Seattle Division opened in 1923. More than 300 employees work in the Seattle Division office, with 75 large brokers and independent agents representing SAFECO Commercial Insurance in the division.

SAFECO, in business since 1923, is a Fortune 500 diversified financial services company based in Seattle. SAFECO and its more than 17,000 independent agents and financial advisors provide premier insurance and financial services to individual and business customers.

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