The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), like many public agencies, has felt the pain of escalating costs associated with workplace injuries.
In 2001, the agency spent $58 million on workers’ compensation claims, by far the highest cost of any transportation agency in the nation. In that year alone, over 3,000 workplace injury claims were filed, almost one claim for every three workers. Recognizing that preventing injuries is the most effective way for employers to reap significant savings, LACMTA partnered with DuPont to assist them with reducing their injury claims by 50%.
LACMTA’s management took personal and collective responsibility for the administration of the workers’ compensation program, placing critical emphasis on injury prevention. All 9,400 employees – from operators to executives – are required to participate in the LACMTA’s Safety First Program.
Since 2002, LACMTA has witnessed staggering improvements: bus accident claims rates are down 38%, new workers compensation claims are down 60%, lost work days are down 54% and total workers compensation costs are down 24%.
In 2003, the Los Angeles Civil Grand Jury released a report on the LACMTA’s efforts to initiate workers’ compensation solutions. The Civil Grand Jury commended the LACMTA’s Safety First program, calling it a “model for other government agencies struggling with [the workers’ compensation claims] problem.”
John B. Catoe, former deputy chief executive of LACMTA, is now taking his safety focus to the other coast, as the new general manager of Washington Metro in the District of Columbia.
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