Why is Californias workers comp injury rate dropping?
California’s workers comp rate roller-coaster looks to be poised to make another steep drop. The combination of the national decrease in claims frequency and the impact of reforms have led to drastic decreases in comp rates, with more likely on the way. While some of the changes in frequency, or the number of claims per 100 FTEs are due to increased emphasis on safety, a change in the mix of occupations, drug testing programs, safer autos, and a decline in injury-heavy industries such as manufacturing, there are two other external factors that are likely major influences. According to Workers Comp Executive, “because of the reforms there are fewer incentives to move claims into the workers’ comp system.” Interpretation – it is more difficult to get an injury classified as a workers comp claim, thereby reducing the number of claims. For those not intimately familiar with CA comp history, for a while there it was pretty easy to get almost anything classifed as an occupational injury, inc
