SAFETY ON JOB BRINGS REBATE TO COUNTY STAFF

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission happily accepted a dividend return from the Missouri Association of Counties Workers' Comp Fund, thanks to safety-conscious employees.

Commissioners heard of the refund at a recent meeting. The county received one check for $7,364, a percentage of its premiums, for having a low number of claims. The other was a safety award of $1,267.

The county was one of the state's top 10 for lowest number of claims, said County Auditor Weldon Macke. There are 80 counties involved with the MAC Workers' Comp Fund.

Only three counties, Caldwell, Schuyler and Texas, received no-claims awards.

Macke attributed the county's success to the work of a safety task force that keeps up with new techniques for protecting employees from injury.

The money won this year will go into the general fund.