Author: Mary

Customer Connect is Montana State Fund’s new policyholder portal. The recently launched portal makes it easy for you to access and manage your policy information in a new way.

Customer Connect Allows You To

• Review policy details, coverages, & billing information
• Report payroll
• Make premium payments
• Access policy documents
• Request changes and make updates to your policy
• Enjoy more online reporting options, including construction credit application

If you have questions about Customer Connect, or are interested in getting your access, please contact one of our customer service specialists at stfpolicy@msf.gov or (406) 495-5000.

Montana State Fund’s Safety Services Specialist Kirk Smith will hit the road this March to present his free safety workshop Safety Know How.

Register Now

Topics include:
Building a Strong Safety Culture (Part I) In this three-part safety workshop series, we will systematically break down the key concepts and approaches your organization must support to build a strong safety culture.  This will be a deep dive into how you can create and implement safety programs and policies and how your management and front-line workers can align for success.  (Part II will be offered in June 2023 and Part III in September 2023)

Know Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):  It might seem easy to fit the right PPE with the job, but really, your business may not be using the correct PPE for your workers’ safety. In this session, we will examine the distinct types of PPE, the OSHA standard associated with each of them and review PPE best practices.  

The free trainings are open to all Montanans. You do not need to be a Montana State Fund policyholder to attend.
Trainings run 8:30 am – Noon. 

Training Dates and Locations
Glasgow: Wednesday, March 8 – Cottonwood Inn
Miles City: Thursday, March 9 – Sleep Inn & Suites
Billings: Friday, March 10-Hampton Inn West 1-90
Bozeman: Wednesday, March 15 -Best Western GranTree Inn
Helena: Thursday, March 16-Best Western Great Northern Hotel
Great Falls: Friday, March 17-Holiday Inn Convention Center
Butte: Tuesday, March 21- La Quinta Inn
Kalispell: Thursday, March 23- Hampton Inn
Missoula: Friday, March 24-Best Western Grant Creek Inn

Interested?   Register Now. If you have questions, call 800-332-6102 extension 5361 (Kirk Smith).

Three of Montana State Fund’s guiding values, do what’s right, deliver with heart and focus on what matters, are at the core of who we are when communicating with our customers. This is especially true when our claims examiners interact with injured employees. To ensure we are honoring our values, we began an annual injured employee satisfaction survey in 2020.  We are happy to report that our level of service has continued to improve throughout this period.

2022 Survey Take Always

• Service: When injured employees were asked about the quality of their overall experience with MSF, 81% of survey respondents rated their experience as “Excellent” or “Good”.  This number has increased, with an 80% rating in 2021 and 77% in 2020.

• Employee Outreach:  Our claims examiners are the lifeline for our injured employees. When asked if our staff-initiated contact about changes with their claim, 81% of respondents “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” that contact was initiated.  This number is slightly up from 2021 with an 80% rating: and significantly up from 2020 with 74%.

• Timely Benefits: Injured employees are promised timely benefits. When asked if they received their benefits promptly, 89% of respondents indicated “Yes” they received their benefits on time. This again is up from 2021 and 2020 at 84% and 87%.

It is exciting so many injured employees feel valued, cared for, and informed.  These results continue to trend in the right direction, and there is still room to grow. Our goal is to deliver an exceptional customer experience with every interaction.  Each touch point is critical to delivering on our mission – to partner with employers and their employees to care for those injured on the job and champion a culture of workplace safety for our fellow Montanans.

Montana State Fund is looking for Montana business owners who want to build a strong safety culture at their workplace. Through our free WorkSafe Champions program, Montana employers and their employees are given a solid foundation of knowledge to develop and implement a workplace safety culture.

Classes will meet in person in March, June, and September from 1pm – 5pm. (See location and dates below). These classes coincide with our statewide quarterly safety workshops in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City and Missoula.

You do not need to be a Montana State Fund policyholder to take part.

WorkSafe Champions Curriculum
Six Modules will be covered (two each class)

Modules
-Workers’ Compensation 101
-Claims management
-Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work
-Organization and individual motivation
-Montana Safety Culture Act
-Culture
-Incident management
-Hazard management and training

Attendees will be required to identify areas that need improvement within their organizations, create a safety action plan and act on the plan.

If you or your employees would like to attend, or you have questions, contact Kirk Smith at 800-332-6102 extension 5361 or email kirksmith@safemt.gov .

Dates and Locations

March Dates – 1pm-5pm
Glasgow: Wednesday, March 8 – Cottonwood Inn & Suites
Miles City: Thursday, March 9 – Sleep Inn & Suites
Billings: Friday, March 10 – Hampton Inn, West I-90
Bozeman: Wednesday, March 15 – Best Western GranTree
Helena: Thursday, March 16 – Best Western Great Northern
Great Falls: Friday, March 17 – Holiday Inn Convention Center
Butte: Tuesday, March 21 – La Quinta Inn
Kalispell: Thursday, March 23 – Hampton Inn
Missoula: Friday, March 24 – Best Western Grant Creek Inn

June Dates – 1pm-5pm
Glasgow: Wednesday, June 7 – Cottonwood Inn & Suites
Miles City: Thursday June 8 – Sleep Inn & Suites
Billings: Friday, June 9 – Hampton Inn, West I-90
Bozeman: Wednesday, June 14 – Hilton Garden Inn
Helena: Thursday, June 1- Holiday Inn Express
Great Falls: Friday, June 16 – Holiday Inn Convention Center
Butte: Tuesday, June 20 – La Quinta Inn
Kalispell: Thursday, June 22 – Hampton Inn
Missoula: Friday, June 23 – Best Western Grant Creek Inn

September Dates – 1pm-5pm
Glasgow: Wednesday, September 6 – Cottonwood Inn & Suites
Miles City: Thursday, September 7 – Sleep Inn & Suites
Billings: Friday, September 8 – Hampton Inn, West I-90
Bozeman: Wednesday, September 13 – Hilton Garden Inn
Helena: Thursday, September 14 – Holiday Inn Express
Great Falls: Friday, September 15 – Holiday Inn Convention Center
Butte: Tuesday, September 19- La Quinta Inn
Kalispell:  Thursday, September 21 – Hampton Inn
Missoula:  Friday, September 22 – Best Western Grant Creek Inn

It’s no secret that the cost for higher education is expensive. To alleviate that burden, MSF created the Growing a Safer Montana (GSM) college scholarships in 2018. Students majoring in safety and health/industrial hygiene and the trade and industry fields are eligible to apply. Twenty students were recently awarded the $4,000 scholarship.

“It will go a long way towards covering my school expenses this year, and I truly appreciate it,” said Trevor Neumann, a student at Montana Tech and one of this year’s recipients. “I look forward to pursuing a career in safety and health and this scholarship will help me achieve this goal.”

The goal of GSM is to educate young workers like Neumann about the importance of workplace safety. Since the start of the program, 107 students have received a total of $389,500 in scholarship monies.

Below is a list of the 2023 GSM scholarship recipients.

Trade and Industry Scholarships
Adrianna Morgan	Missoula College University of Montana	Sustainable Construction Technology
Andrew Espeland	City College at Montana State University, Billings	Diesel Technology
Benjamin Skinner	Flathead Valley Community College	Welding Fabrication
Brett Harrold	Missoula College University of Montana	Diesel Technology
Aiden Graham	Highlands College of Montana Tech	Precision Machining
Cody Lentz	Helena College University of Montana	Industrial Welding & Metal Fabrication
Nicolas Mortensen	City College at Montana State University, Billings	Welding Technology
Allison Cole	Helena College University of Montana	Automotive Technology
Jamar West	Helena College University of Montana	Aviation Maintenance Technology
James Kinsey	Highlands College of Montana Tech	Metal Fabrication Technology
Kourage Craig	Helena College University of Montana	Metal Fabrication Technology
Tessi Preston	Highlands College of Montana Tech	Metal Fabrication Technology
Kevin Hanenburg	Highlands College of Montana Tech	Carpentry
Parker Mortensen	Great Falls College Montana State University	Welding Technology
Wyatt Buxbaum	Dawson Community College	Welding Technology
Montana Tech Scholarships
Brie Birkenbuel	Montana Tech University	Occupational Safety and Health / Industrial Hygiene
Sadiq Inuwa	Montana Tech University	Occupational Safety and Health / Industrial Hygiene
Hannah Oggerino	Montana Tech University	Occupational Safety and Health / Industrial Hygiene
McKenna Kaelber	Montana Tech University	Occupational Safety and Health / Industrial Hygiene
Trevor Neumann	Montana Tech University	Occupational Safety and Health / Industrial Hygiene

Another aspect of GSM is the safety equipment award. Middle and high school construction trades and industry classrooms can get up to $850 in personal protection equipment (PPE). The PPE can range from eye protection, hearing protection to gloves, and welding gear.

Click for more information about GSM.   

Managing Recovery & Return to Work is the theme of Montana State Fund’s 21st annual medical conference. The event will be held at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake, April 26-28, 2023. 

The Conference Benefits
Physicians, Physicians Assistants, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Medical Case Managers, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants, Claims Examiners, Attorneys and Insurance agents.

Conference Topics

• Claims: A Medical Perspective
• Medical Technology in Workers’ Compensation
• Preventing Delayed Recovery by Addressing Psychosocial Barriers
• A Comprehensive Approach to Pain Medicine
• Successes and Challenges with Return to Work
• Medical Expert Testimony – Imperatives, Principles and Methodologies
• A Perspective from the Workers’ Compensation Court
• Tears and Lies My Radiologist Told Me
• The Story You Don’t Hear About: How Caregivers Changed My Life for the Better

Register for Conference and Book Hotel Accommodations.

For questions or more information, contact Shannon Hadley at shadley@mt.gov or call 406-495-5245.

Happy Fall!

This summer we said goodbye as Lanny Hubbard retired after many years of dedicated leadership. I’m honored to take the helm as MSF’s new President and CEO and would like to introduce myself just a bit to you. 

I’m a nurse, an attorney, and a businesswoman. I’m here because I strongly believe in the impact a healthy Montana State Fund has in promoting safety and financial well-being.

As a nurse responding to accidents, I developed a passion for working with people, and came to personally understand the impact an injury has on a person’s life, and the life of their family. 

As an attorney leading legislative strategy at the state fund in Oregon, I saw firsthand how a strong, balanced, workers’ comp system can create a significant positive impact for employers statewide.

And most recently as I’ve leaned in on the finance/MBA side, I strengthened my belief in the importance of having a stable, well-run, financially secure state fund to make sure insurance is available and affordable for Montanans.

Since I started in May, my daughter and I have traveled (almost) all around the state. We’ve discovered warm, engaging people; breathtaking scenery; and a shared passion for making sure Montana is an amazing place to live, work, and play for generations to come. It feels like home already. I can’t wait to explore even more. 

And I have awesome colleagues. Montana State Fund’s employees are mission driven, have a long history of successfully partnering with workers and employers across the state, and are proud to be Montanans serving Montanans. 

I’m committed to continuing to figure out together what works for Montanans – what works for our business, and what works for our workers.

Thank you for choosing Montana State Fund as your workers’ comp carrier. I look forward to meeting many of you.  

Stay safe out there.

Holly O’Dell

Customer Connect is Montana State Fund’s new policyholder portal. The recently launched portal makes it easy for you to access and manage your policy information in a new way.

Customer Connect Allows You To

• Review policy details, coverages, & billing information
• Report payroll
• Make premium payments
• Access policy documents
• Request changes and make updates to your policy
• Enjoy more online reporting options, including construction credit application

When Can I Access Customer Connect?
Policies with a renewal date between March 1-September 17, 2022, can access it immediately.

Policies that renew after September 17, 2022, can access Customer Connect on the effective date of the new policy term.

Please be on the lookout for a postcard that explains the new service or visit our webpage .  

If you need further information contact Erika Ayers, Montana State Fund Business Unit Director, at (406) 495-5462.

While on the job injuries are not funny, our new advertising campaign is.  The Naked Without It statewide campaign rolled out on Labor Day.

The campaign features our ridiculous (and strategically positioned) anti-hero Gary, who represents an exaggerated metaphor about the importance of workplaces safety.  By comparing the lack of safety at work to being naked at work is clearly an exaggeration, but it’s a purposeful one, designed to grab viewers’ attention and make a point that sticks.

The goal of the campaign is to create discussion, increase visits to our safety information website, and reduce injuries at work. It’s a point we can’t afford not to make for the sake of Montana workers, employers, and communities.

The campaign is highlighted through a mix of media. Broadcast TV, streaming services, radio, podcasts, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, website ads, billboards, as well as Cat Griz and Frontier Football TV coverage.

The campaign runs through mid November.

The American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds (AASCIF) recognized MSF’s Growing a Safer Montana (GSM) initiative with a 2^nd place AASCIF Community Impact Award. This award acknowledges philanthropic initiatives that advance public understanding of societal issues, problems, or concerns.

GSM was created in 2017 to reinforce the important of workplace safety for Montana’s young workers. There are two-parts to the initiative.  The high school/middle school personal protective equipment (PPE) awards and the college scholarship program.

The PPE Awards
The PPE program aids many cash strapped high school/middle school construction trades (welding, carpentry, automotive tech) and industry classrooms with the purchase of PPE for their students. Through the years, $145,000 worth of PPE has benefited 14,000 students.

College Scholarships
The college scholarship program is a competitive $4,000 college scholarship for students studying at Montana’s two-year trade & industry colleges and Montana Tech students working towards a four-year safety and occupational health degree. Since the program’s start, 87 students have received the competitive academic scholarships totaling $309,500.

Click for more information about the GSM program.

2021 Annual Report. Please take a few moments to review the work and accomplishments of the Montana State Fund staff.

Growing up in Nigeria, Sadiq Inuwa witnessed first-hand the absence of workplace safety in his country.

“It is normal to see workers using bamboo sticks as their scaffold and ladders made out of wood. I have seen workers get covered in cement all day long without thinking about potential cement burns. The government does not have agencies dedicated to workers safety and this makes all sorts of violations slide.”

And in our country, as an intern at an oil company in Colorado he heard about an oil rig worker who lost his finger.  These events piqued his curiosity to enter the safety field.  Today, Sadiq attends Montana Tech, majoring in Occupational Safety & Health.  This passion for safety is paying off.

Growing Montana’s Safety Future
Sadiq is one of 20 college students who were recently awarded a $4,000 academic scholarship through Montana State Fund’s Growing a Safer Montana initiative.

The initiative was created in 2018 to educate young workers about the importance of workplace safety before they enter the workforce. One aspect of the initiative is to supply safety gear for Montana high school trade classrooms.

The other, is the scholarship program for students like Sadiq who are majoring in the safety and trade fields. Since the program’s inception, 87 students have received the competitive academic scholarships totaling $309,500.

Adrianna Morgan is another scholarship recipient. She is a Sustainable Construction Technology major at the University of Montana Missoula College. Her goal after her 2023 graduation is to use her creativity to design and build affordable and sustainable living spaces for people in the Missoula.  This includes small vacation rentals that lower income families can access.  

“I want to build homes that have the future in mind, and that allow people to enjoy life’s pleasures. I want to be at the forefront of all the changes that are going to be taking place soon, as far as sustainability goes. I know I have a lot to learn, but I think I have some innovative ideas.”

Sadiq explained that his scholarship makes it possible for him to carry out his dream to one day lead a company’s safety team.

“I want to learn and experience as much as I can in the safety industry and give that knowledge back to workers in the USA, my homeland Nigeria and the world at large.”

If Sadiq and Adrianna’s aspirations are examples of what Montana’s future workforce hopes to accomplish, our state is in good hands for growing a healthier, safer Montana.

View all of the 2022 scholarship recipients.

Click to learn more about the Growing a Safer Montana Initative.

Montana State Fund’s Safety Services Specialist Kirk Smith will hit the road this March to present his free safety workshop A Small Price for Safety. (For those who cannot make the in-person workshops, a virtual session will be provided at the end of the month).

Register Now

Topics
Job Safety (Hazard) Analysis (JSA or JHA): No matter how you say it, a JSA/JHA can be a useful tool in your quest to eliminate workplace injury. A thorough JSA breaks down a specific job or job task into steps to identify hazards and how to mitigate them. The JSA improves communication, teaches new employees, reinforces what experienced employees already know, and makes your workplace safer. Join Kirk to learn how you can build a solid job safety analysis.

Control Your Work Comp Costs: In this session we’ll explore three programs, Post-Offer/Pre-Hire Physicals, the Montana Subsequent Injury Fund, and Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work that can help your organization limit injuries and have a positive effect on your bottom line. In addition, we’ll give an overview on underwriting and how the use of these tools can affect your premium.

Training Dates and Locations
The free workshops are open to any Montana worker. They take place from 8:30 am – Noon.

Butte: Wednesday, March 2 – La Quinta Inn
Helena: Thursday, March 3 – Holiday Inn Express
Great Falls: Friday, March 4 – Holiday Inn
Glasgow: Wednesday, March 9 – Cottonwood Inn
Miles City: Thursday, March 10 – Sleep Inn & Suites
Billings: Friday, March 11 – Hampton Inn West
Bozeman: Tuesday, March 15 – Best Western GranTree Inn
Kalispell: Thursday, March 17 – Hampton Inn
Missoula: Friday, March 18 – Best Western Grant Creek Inn

Virtual (ZOOM) Training Schedule
Thursday – March 31
Job Safety (Hazard) Analysis (JSA or JHA) – 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Control Your Work Comp Costs – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Interested? Register Now. If you have questions, call 800-332-6102 extension 5361 or email (Kirk Smith).

A group home in Glasgow, Montana installs an alarm system for their residents. A summer camp in Helena replaces outdated life jackets for the safety of their campers and instructors.  A Senior Center in Eureka rebuilds its deteriorating front steps. What do these three organizations have in common? They each received a grant through Montana State Fund’s ACE (Assisting Charitable Endeavors) program to finance their projects.

What is ACE?
ACE is MSF’s charitable giving program. It provides funds to Montana based non-profit organizations for projects that promote safety implementation and improvements.  Over 290 organizations have received a total of $530,000 in grant monies since the programs start in 2001.  Grants range from $250 –$10,000 and require a dollar-for-dollar match.

ACE Criteria
An ACE Grant proposal must fit within the scope of Montana State Fund’s normal business and operations:

• The project will be used to promote workplace safety, host safety trainings, or assist with the purchase of equipment that enhances safety and community well-being.
• The project will result in a widespread benefit for a Montana community or the state.
• The project benefits a representative cross section of small and large communities across Montana.
• The project will have the potential to result in positive public communication

To find out more details about the ACE program, to apply for funds or view past recipient projects click here.  

Work comp fraud isn’t just someone faking an injury. It also includes medical providers authorizing and billing excessive or uncompleted medical services, or employers falsifying payroll records to lower premiums.

To identify these crimes, Montana State Fund manages a confidential Fraud Tip Hotline 888-682-7463 (888 MT Crime). Callers can remain anonymous.

For 25 years these “tips” have allowed our fraud unit to work closely with the Montana Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute fraudulent claims and employer misconduct. This partnership has resulted in millions of dollars in savings for our policyholders.  

If you suspect any type of fraud call our hotline or visit our website to learn more about the signs of work comp fraud.

MSF is committed to provide safety education for all Montanans, which also includes our employees.

To honor this commitment, MSF received a first-place communications award for our internal virtual 2020 National Safety Month campaign. The American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds (AASCIF) recognized it as the best in the Internal Communications Campaign category.

Upon announcing the win, the host of the of AASCIF awards ceremony said that this category was the most competitive. The AASCIF awards recognize the best in communications for those working in the workers’ compensation field.

It’s often said, that to create a culture of safety, you must build it from the ground up. Landon Stubbs is doing just that. As the woods and building trades teacher at Great Falls High School, he’s not only tasked to teach constructions skills, but keep his students safe in the process.  

One way he keeps his students safe is through Montana State Fund’s (MSF) Growing a Safer Montana Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Grant program. The program awards middle and high school classrooms up to $850 in PPE like eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, and welding gear.

The PPE program is part of MSF’s Growing a Safer Montana initiative to improve Montana’s workplace safety culture. The initiative teaches and reinforces positive safety in the classroom before young students enter Montana’s workforce. This is the third year Stubbs has received the grant.

“For me and the students, it has helped create a new safety culture that has been lacking in our state. There needs to be a change in our culture to not only promote safety but make it a priority,” said Stubbs.

In addition to Great Falls High School, 36 other high schools and 11 middle school classrooms received safety gear.  At the start of the 2021 school year, MSF partnered with A&M Fire and Safety in Butte to deliver 2,552 pairs of safety glasses and over 1,400 pairs of gloves to the eligible classrooms

Selected classrooms cab also use a portion of their grant money to order specialized safety equipment such as machine guards, welding curtains or specialized PPE.

Since the program’s 2017 inception, over $100,000 worth safety gear has benefited 11,000 students.

However, MSF realizes there is still work to be done. Montana’s injury rate has remained consistent from 2018 to 2019 at 3.9 injuries for every 100 workers. This back to back incident rate is higher than the national average of 2.8 for every 100 workers.

MSF is hopeful the Growing a Safer Montana initiative will continue to be a catalyst to lower injury rates for our next generation of Montana’s workers.

2021 High School Grant Recipients

School	Class	Instructor
Arlee High School	Welding/Building Trades	Eric Koetter
Belfry High School	Welding/ Ag Mechanics	Kasey McClane
Belgrade High School	Welding/ Woods	Eric Kinnaman
Big Sky High School	Welding	Caleb Olson
Bozeman High School	Woods	Rebecca Brown
Bozeman High School	Auto Tech	Carl Poeschl
Bozeman High School	Metals	Rebecca Brown
Chester-Joplin-Inverness	Welding/ Woodworking	Joel Steinmetz
CMR – Great Falls	Pre-construction/ Residential Electrical	Karl Berg
Conrad High School	Building Trades	Jim Carroll
Cut Bank	Welding	Brian Hayes
Darby High School	Construction Trades	Michael Meves
Dawson High School	Ag Mechanics/ Welding/ Metals	Leanne Hoagland
East Helena High School	Welding/ Carpentry/ Small Engines/ CAD	Casey Harris
Gallatin High School	Metals/ Woods/ Auto	Matthew Bakken
Glacier High School	Woods 1, 2, 3	Richard Peters
Great Falls High School	Residential Electricity	Everett Pate
Great Falls High School	Woods/ Construction/ Welding/ Automotive/ Electrical/ Drafting	Landon Stubbs
Hamilton High School	Construction Tech/ Welding Fab	Russ Fisk
Havre High School	Construction Tech/ Woodworking 1, 2	Micky Haney
Havre High School	Auto Tech	Tyler Kropf
Hays Lodgepole Schools	Welding	Susan Werk
Helena High School	Welding	Cindy Galbavy
Hellgate High School	Building Trades 1, 2, 3	Charles Rinehart
Jordan Public Schools	Building Trades/ Welding	Patrick Garner
Paris Gibson Education Center	Auto/ Welding	Joe Wilkins
Powell County High Schools	Cabinetry/ Carpentry	Clint Stevenson
Rapelje High School	Woodworking/ Welding	Joseph Schladweiler
Red Lodge High School	Woodworking/ Carpentry	James Sigl
Red Lodge High School	Welding/ Automotive	Justin Elton
Sentinel High School	Welding/ Carpentry/ Automotive PLTW	David Burtch
Turner High School	Vo-Ag	Tony Warren
Park High School	Industrial Technology	Jamie Isaly
Superior High School	Construction/ Welding/ Woods	Jeff Schultz
Colstrip High School	Ag Ed	Katie Mitchell
Custer County High School	Ag Ed	Todd Lackman
Colstrip High School	Ag and industry ed	Todd Lackman

2021 Middle School Grant Recipients

School	Class	Instructor
Arlee	woods	Eric Koetter
Charlo Schools	Shop	Stan Atchley
Chester- Joplin- Inverness	Shop	Joel Steinmetz
Darby Middles School	CAD/ CNC	Thomas Wood
East Valley Middle School	Tech education/ Industrial Tech	Cory Horne
Havre Middle School	Industril arts	Austin Ouellette
Manhatten Middle School	Shop	Josh Mostad
Plains Middle School	Technology Education	Kyle Mitchell
Poplar Middle School	Woodworking	Joseph Hammar
Turner Schools	Vo-Ag	Tony Warren

Join Montana State Fund’s Safety Services Specialist Kirk Smith this December as he virtually presents his free safety workshops Set the Record Straight.

Register Now

Topics include:

OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements – OSHA requires most businesses to report and/or record work-related injuries and illnesses.  In this section, we will help you understand what requirements apply to your organization. We will review general OSHA requirements, discuss statutory reporting and filing requirements for workers’ compensation, and examine best practices for reporting and recording work-related injuries and illnesses.

Incident Investigation:  A workplace incident can be defined as a close call, an injury, an illness, fatality, or damage to your facilities/equipment.  In this session, we discuss the value and purpose of a good incident investigation.  How to investigate and identify the root causes of the incident.  And finally, how to use the information from the investigation process to prevent re-occurrence of the incident in the future.

Virtual (ZOOM) Training Schedule

Tuesday, December 7, 2021: OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements – 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Tuesday, December 7, 2021:  Incident Investigation – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Thursday, December 9, 2021:  Incident Investigation – 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Thursday, December 9, 2021:  OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, December 15, 2021:  OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements – 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Wednesday, December 15, 2021:  Incident Investigation – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Friday, December 17, 2021:  Incident Investigation – 9:30 am – 11:30 pm
Friday, December 17, 2021: OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Register Now – All workshops are open to any Montana worker, but participants must register to receive a secure Zoom confirmation.  If you have questions, call 800-332-6102 extension 5361 or email (Kirk Smith).

Once again, MSF policyholders will share a $40 million dividend.  Nearly 22,000 or 95% of our policyholders will receive a payment. MSF has paid a dividend every year since 1999.

“As a public board, made up of private citizens, we were eager to do what we could to help small business owners, nonprofits, and other employers during this difficult time,” said Richard Miltenberger, Chairman of the MSF Board of Directors.

Dividends are a way to reward employers when better-than-expected investment market performance and positive workplace safety results occur.

“Dividends are the result of our collective commitment to workplace safety and investment performance, said MSF President and CEO, Laurence Hubbard.  “While investment income is not always predictable, one thing we can say for certain is that operating a safe and healthy workplace is good for everyone.”

While not guaranteed, the $40 million dividend brings the total dividends paid to policyholders for the last twenty-two years to $366 million.

Dividend payments will be completed by the end of November.

Montana ranks as one of the highest in the nation for workplace accidents and fatalities, with the construction and building industries among the most high-risk. However, the Montana Building Industry Association (MBIA) wants to change these statistics.

Recently, Montana State Fund presented the MBIA with a $464,095 check for their safety efforts. Three hundred thirteen of MBIA’s safety group policyholders will share this retrospective return.

“It has been a remarkable partnership working hand-in-hand with Montana State Fund to drive down accident frequency and rates among our members. The employers and workers do the hard part by emphasizing safety each day, but we could not be successful without a true team effort,” said Steve Snezek, Executive Director of MBIA.

MSF President and CEO, Laurence Hubbard commented.  “MBIA’s group safety program has produced very positive results for Montana employers and workers over the last decade. These efforts should be applauded and hopefully lead others to the realization that safety truly does pay.”

The average check paid to the safety group policyholders is nearly $1,500. The checks ranged from approximately $12 to more than $20,000 depending on policy size, premium paid and losses incurred.

Montana State Fund’s annual medical conference will be held at Helena’s Delta Hotel, May 19 – 20, 2022. The theme is Harnessing the Future of Workers’ Compensation. 

Physicians, Physicians Assistants, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Medical Case Managers, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants, and Claims Examiners are encouraged to attend. 

Continuing education credits are pending approval.

For questions or more information, contact Shannon Hadley at shadley@safemt.govt  or call 406-495-5245.

It was an intense year and a half of planning, reevaluating, editing content, redesigning templates, programming and countless hours of review before Montana State launched their redesigned safety focused website, safemt.com in May. The redesigned site is more streamlined and intuitive than the prior site.

Site Highlights
Safety 101 – In this section a visitor can get a crash course on how to set up a safety program.

Safety Topics – This area designates a page to one particular safety topic – each page consists of a video, quicks tips and valuable resources which include downloadable PDF’s, and websites.

Return to Work – This easy to navigate microsite helps visitors create and implement a Return to Work program.

Safety Videos – In this section visitors can review 22 safety educational videos, numerous policyholder spotlights or past advertising campaigns.

Work From Home page – This page addresses work from home safety issues. This includes setting up a safe workspace, videos on ergonomics and slips and falls, and illustrated stretches to help avoid injury.

The site also has downloadable posters, guides and information on MSF safety initiatives.

Register Now

Montana State Fund’s Safety Services Specialist Kirk Smith is back on the road this September with his free half-day safety workshop, Be the Vehicle for a Culture of Safety.  (A virtual training will be presented at the end of the month).

Topics include:
Identify On-the Job Hazards: Identifying hazards in your workplace is one of the first steps to build a strong safety culture. But before you begin, you need to ask yourself the who, what and how of identifying and reducing hazards at your business.  In this section, we’ll answer the who, what and how, explore hazard identification best practices, and explain how a good hazard reporting program enhances this process.

Vehicle Safety Programs:  You might not have a designated “fleet” of vehicles for your employees to drive, but if they use their own vehicles for business purposes, it can create a risk for your organization. This type of vehicle use is referred to as a “hidden fleet.”  In this session, we will address the best safety practices for “hidden fleets” and traditional fleet vehicle programs.

Dates and Locations
The free trainings take place from 8:30 am – Noon. Workshops are open to anyone. You do not have to be a Montana State Fund policyholder.

September 8:  Butte – La Quinta Inn
September 9:  Helena – Holiday Inn Express
September 10:  Great Falls – Holiday Inn
September 15:  Glasgow – Cottonwood Inn
September 16:  Miles City – Sleep Inn & Suites
September 17:  Billings – Hampton Inn (West)
September 21:  Bozeman – Best Western GranTree Inn
September 23:  Kalispell – Hampton Inn
September 24:  Missoula – Best Western Grant Creek Inn

Virtual Training
September 29: Hazard Identification – 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
September 29: Vehicle Operator – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Interested? Register Now. If you have questions, email Kirk Smith or call 406-495-5361.

Over 22,000 Montana State Fund policyholders received a dividend check in May. This group shared a $20 million dividend declared by the MSF Board of Directors at their March, 2021 meeting.

President and CEO Laurence Hubbard explained that last fall, amid economic uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Board of Directors opted to take a conservative approach when they declared a $20 million dividend for policyholders in September 2020.

“At the same time, they pledged to revisit their decision in the spring of 2021 to consider an additional dividend. I am happy they fulfilled that commitment and declared another $20 million. It is our hope that these funds will help Montana employers continue to weather the storm of COVID-19.”

 

The WorkSafe Champions program gives participants a strong foundation to develop and implement a workplace safety culture. The curriculum provides safety information and tools that participants must use to graduate from the course.

The program’s Central Class of 2022 is set to begin in September, 2021. This course is open to all Montana businesses. You do not have to be a Montana State Fund policyholder to participate. The only prerequisite is a signed agreement that your organization is committed to the program

The WorkSafe Champions Central Class will be offered in nine locations around the state

Billings
Bozeman
Butte
Glasgow
Great Falls
Helena
Kalispell
Miles City
Missoula

Why Commit
• Only one employee from a business needs to participate.
• It is an opportunity for participants to interact and network with other businesses in their area.
• The maximum class size for each location is 15 participants. Priority will be given to policyholders.

Class Schedule
Class participants will meet five times between September 2021 to September 2022 (once a quarter), this is roughly 20 hours of classroom time covering eight modules. (click to view dates and locations). At each session, approximately one to two modules will be addressed depending on the amount of discussion and participation. A graduation celebration will take place during the final meeting.

Course Curriculum
Module 1 – Introduction to Workers’ Compensation
Module 2 – Claims Management
Module 3 – Motivating
Module 4 – Culture
Module 5 – Hazard Management & Training
Module 6 – Incident Management
Module 7 – Regulatory Compliance
Module 8 – We Are the Champions

Course Requirements
MSF can accept one or more participants per business. At least one of the participants needs to influence safety within their organization. If the company already employs a WSC graduate with a safety influence on staff, a participant can be accepted without authority confirmation. Attendance is necessary to graduate, and participants can only miss one course session. In case of inclement weather or other situations, the MSF instructor can offer a make-up opportunity at their discretion and availability.

To graduate the participants must accomplish the following within 6 to 12 months:

• Meet the attendance requirements
• Complete the eight modules
• Conduct a workplace assessment of their workplace
• Create a safety action plan
• Act on the plan and document the progress (Submitted to MSF)

If you are interested, please contact Kirk Smith

MSF’s new Safety Works statewide media campaign went live on July 19, 2021. The campaign focuses on making safety a priority for those Montana workers returning to the workplace.

The media strategy is a mix of traditional and social media. TV, radio, public radio, and print ads combined with connected TV, podcasts, banner ads, Facebook, and Instagram. The TV ad aired during the Olympics and will air during the Montana State and University of Montana football game season. The campaign runs July 19, 2021 – November 28, 2021.

In addition to the general audience Safety Works campaign, a young worker’s version was created. The media placement for this target audience is all social media.  The campaign airs July 19,2021 – October 24, 2021.

Both campaigns have a targeted call to action website landing page that consumers can visit for more information.  

View the TV ad

Our 2020 annual report is now live. Please take a few moments to review the work and accomplishments of the Montana State Fund staff.

Montana State Fund launched a new website, workingformontana.com.  It was created to keep stakeholders up-to-date and educated on the history of MSF and the role we play in the state’s workers’ compensation insurance arena.

Ethan Heverly, Montana State Fund’s Director of Government and Community Relations said, “MSF believes that the key to effective advocacy is education and relationships. This tool is designed to improve our educational efforts to better tell the story of MSF.”

The site features videos, statistics, podcasts, frequently asked questions, and a section to view current legislative bills associated with workers’ compensation.

California celebrates a garlic festival. Colorado hosts a blue grass festival. And in Montana, safety festivals are organized across the state through the Montana Department of Labor and Industries (DOLI) SafetyFestMT.

SafetyFestMT was created in 2010 to address Montana’s high rates of workplace injuries. The program began as a free, weeklong conference filled with workshops and classes for Montana’s employers and employees to improve on-the- job safety. The conference was made possible through a public/private partnership between DOLI and Montana businesses.  Montana State Fund is one of the founding members.

“SafetyFestMT’s success is due in large part to our partnership with Montana State Fund and other entities that believe that safety is more than a priority, it’s a core value,” said Casey Kyler-West, SafetyFestMT Coordinator. “Without the buy-in from our partners, we would not be able to offer the number of training opportunities we do, or the wide variety of topics at no cost to our attendees, who might not otherwise have access to this type of training.”

Initially, SafetyFestMT was held once or twice a year in Billings or Missoula. But attendance has steadily grown, and it is now held four times a year in various cities across the state; in Missoula, Helena, Billings, Kalispell, Miles City, Havre, Butte, Sidney, Lincoln, Lewistown, and Great Falls. From 2010-2020, there have been 13,367 attendees and 1,627 classes offered. Montana State Fund safety professionals have shared their expertise at these events.

Kyler-West explained that SafetyFestMT is more than safety training, “it’s an effective workforce development tool.” The attendees who earn certifications can advance in their current career or attain employment that they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to.

“We’ve also added a variety of topics that don’t deal with the traditional safety training, such as Active Shooter, Mental Health First Aid, Management of Aggressive Behavior, as well as topics that are pertinent to current events such as the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Kyler-West.

And speaking of COVID-19, SafetyfestMT organizers didn’t let the virus stop them. The group quickly pivoted to host three virtual conferences in 2020, with a fourth virtual event coming March 29- April 2, 2021, from Kalispell.   To register or learn more about the program, go to the SafetyfestMT website.

Throughout March, Montana State Fund safety services specialist Kirk Smith will present our free virtual safety workshop Safety 911.

Register Now

How will the workshops be run?
The Zoom workshops will include two topics. One topic presented in the morning and the second topic in the afternoon. Each session will be scheduled for two hours with a break.  This breakdown gives participants time to step away from their computer to avoid any ergonomic or eye strain issues.

Topics
Prepare for Emergencies: Create Emergency Action Plans (EAP) – Emergency Action Plans are proactive risk assessment tools for an organization. Thoroughly crafted and planned EAPs lead to appropriate employee responses in crisis situations.  In this section, we will discuss how to effectively develop emergency action plans and how to include fire extinguisher requirements in them.

Ergonomics: The Right Fit for Your Employees:  Successful employee ergonomic programs can be a challenge even in the best of times.  Now, throw in Covid-19, with employees working from home, and it becomes even more of a challenge. In this workshop we will offer strategies and tools to help participants assess and implement workable healthy ergonomic solutions for both the home workforce and industrial settings.

Workshop Dates and Times

Wednesday – March 10, 2021
9:30 am – 11:30 am   Emergency Action Plans
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm   Ergonomics

Friday – March 19, 2020
9:30 am – 11:30 am    Ergonomics
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm   Emergency Action Plans

Wednesday – March 24, 2021
9:30 am – 11:30 am   Emergency Action Plans

Thursday – March 25, 2021
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm     Ergonomics

 Interested?   Register Now.   All workshops are open to any Montana worker, but participants must register to receive a secure Zoom confirmation.  If you have questions, call 800-332-6102 extension 5361 (Kirk Smith).

Young workers are more likely than their older counterparts to be injured on the job.  Studies indicate that workers under the age of 25 are twice as likely to be injured than workers over the age of 25.  According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, about 70 teens die from workplace injuries every year in the United States. Another 70,000 get hurt badly enough that they go to a hospital emergency room.

We want every young Montana worker to work safely all day and then go home to his or her family. That is why, since 2018, Montana State Fund (MSF) has educated young workers about the importance of workplace safety before they enter the workforce.

Through our Growing a Safer Montana initiative, MSF awards academic scholarships to college students majoring in Occupational Safety and Health/Industrial Hygiene and the Construction Trade and Industry fields. At our recent virtual scholarship awards ceremony, MSF President/CEO Laurence Hubbard presented 15 Montana students with $4,000 scholarships.

“We applaud these students for taking the first step in improving Montana’s standing in the nation and look forward to working with them and their employers as an indispensable partner in achieving a safer, healthier and more prosperous Montana,” said Hubbard.

Since the start of the program, 52 students have received the competitive academic scholarships totaling $169,500.

The scholarship application process includes taking an educational quiz after watching a short safety video, writing an essay on the importance of safety specific to the applicants desired industry, and explaining how they plan to champion safety in the future. The application requires two letters of recommendation and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The 2021 recipients include:

Student Name                  College/University and Program                  

Cara O’Donnell	Montana Tech- Occupational Safety & Health
Blake Nichols	Montana Tech- Occupational Safety & Health
Sadiq Inuwa	Montana Tech- Occupational Safety & Health
Mary India Ortgies	Montana Tech- Industrial Hygiene
Layne Willis	Montana Tech- Industrial Hygiene
Dylan Miller	City College at MSU Billings Transportation, Welding Tech
David Wickwire	Flathead Valley Community College Welding Fabrication (AAS)
David Jutzi	Flathead Valley Community College Welding Fabrication (AAS)
Nikolette Harshbarger	Flathead Valley Community College Welding Fabrication (AAS)
Mac Hauck	Highlands College- Construction Technology & Welding
Nate Beeler	Great Falls College MSU Welding Technology & Fabrication (AAS)
Amanda Parker	Missoula College U of M Sustainable Construction
Brailynn DeMars	MSU Northern Welding Technology
Shawn Leslie	Flathead Valley Community College Electrical Technology (AAS)
Clayton Morrison	Missoula College U of M Welding Technology

The Growing a Safer Montana Program has two avenues for reaching the youth of our state. The first being the Scholarship program for those seeking higher education. The second is the PPE grants for High School students in the trades and industry classrooms.  School educators teaching construction trade and industry courses can apply for grants up to $750 that help purchase needed safety materials, equipment, or protective gear for their students.

To find out more about Growing a Safer Montana go to the scholarships and grants tab on website montanastatefund.com.

Many of our customers are working from home. That means computer screens perched on cardboard boxes, kitchen tables as office desks and some coworkers who require help with their homework. This new way of working can add extra stress and undo injuries.

That is why we have created a library of work-from-home resources and handy tips that can help our customers properly set up their workstations, give them useful stretches to ease neck pain and make them aware of hazards that may surround their work area.

Now more than ever, it is so important that we find ways to help keep Montana’s workers, working, injury free from home, so when they are off the clock, they can genuinely enjoy being home.

To access the resources go to safemt.com

Montana State Fund’s (MSF) Board of Directors declared a $20 million dividend to be paid to policyholders in mid-November. This marks the 22nd consecutive year MSF has declared a dividend bringing the total returned to policyholders to $306 million since 1999 ($165 million since 2015).

“Montana State Fund is proud to be able declare a dividend for the 22nd consecutive year. While dividends are not guaranteed, we have been able to consistently declare dividends thanks in part to our partnership with employers and workers who are committed to operating a safe and healthy work environment,” said MSF President and CEO, Laurence Hubbard.

Dividends are the result of better than expected return on investments and ​fewer than expected losses (accidents). Montana has historically been near the top of the list of highest on-the-job accidents and fatalities. While that ranking is trending in the right direction, there remains room for improvement.

The $20 million dividend will be paid to more than 22,000 Montana employers. The average dividend is approximately $900, representing nearly a 15% return of premium––on average.

​”Over the years, Montana State Fund has consistently declared dividends, but this year is different. While today’s news is not related to COVID-19, it is our hope that the timing of this declaration provides some assistance to Montana’s Main Street businesses during these difficult times,” said MSF Board Chairman, Lance Zanto.​

Sit comfortably at your desk as Montana State Fund safety services specialist Kirk Smith presents his virtual December safety workshop, “Make Some Noise for Safety Training” via Zoom.

REGISTER NOW

How will the workshops be run?
The virtual workshops will include two topics, with one topic presented in the morning and the second topic in the afternoon. Each session will be scheduled for two hours with a break.  This breakdown gives participants time to step away from their computer to avoid any ergonomic or eye strain issues.

Topics

All Ears – In this section we will discuss the elements of a successful hearing conservation program. We will cover the physical attributes of the human ear, how hearing damage occurs, and the effect various levels of sound have on our hearing. We will then address the best way to determine if your employees are exposed to harmful noise levels, actions to limit these levels and the proper way to use hearing protection.

 Safety Training – One of managements greatest tasks is to create effective safety trainings.  In this section we will explore various training opportunities, introduce you to unique training methods, and discuss the philosophy behind safety training. We will then open the floor to participants as they talk about the challenges and accomplishments of safety trainings at their workplaces.

Workshop Dates and Times

Tuesday – December 8, 2020
9:30 am – 11:30 am   Hearing Conservation Program
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm    Safety Training

Thursday – December 10, 2020
9:30 am – 11:30 am    Safety Training
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm     Hearing Conservation Program

Wednesday – December 16, 2020
9:30 am – 11:30 am   Hearing Conservation Program
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm    Safety Training

Interested?   Register Now.   All workshops are open to any Montana worker, but participants must register to receive a secure Zoom confirmation.  If you have questions, call 800-332-6102 extension 5361 (Kirk Smith).

Montana State Fund’s (MSF) safety team busily mailed personal protective equipment to 37 construction trades and industry high school classroom across the state. This was made possible through MSF’s high school personal protective equipment (PPE) grant program.

Traditionally, the MSF safety team personally visit the classrooms to convey the importance of safety in their classrooms and in the workplace. But with the uncertainty of Covid-19, an online safety video was produced.

The selected classrooms were awarded up to $850 for the purchase of the PPE which could include safety eye protection, fall protection gear, gloves, and ear protection, suitable for the area of study. New this year, teachers were able to use a portion of their grant money to order safety equipment for their classroom such as machine guards, welding curtains or specialized PPE.

The grants are part of Montana State Fund’s Growing a Safer Montana initiative to improve Montana’s workplace safety culture. The initiative teaches and reinforces positive safety in the classroom before these young people enter Montana’s workforce. Since the program’s inception in 2017, over $64,000 worth of safety gear has helped more than 5,000 students.

Montana’s injury rate has decreased from 4.4 injuries for every 100 workers in 2017 to 3.9 injuries for every 100 in 2018. While that number is an improvement, it is still higher than the national average of 2.8. It is critical that we continue to teach and instill safety in the next generation of Montanan’s to help keep our injuries rates trending downward.

Below is a list of the high schools, classrooms and teachers who received the safety equipment

Anaconda High School Construction-Automotive
Teacher: Brian Riley

Anaconda High School Welding/Machining
Teacher: Ryan Pesanti

Arlee High School Woods & Welding
Teacher: Michael Craig

Beaverhead County High School (Dillon) Agriculture Education
Teacher: Caleb Igo

Belgrade High School Welding
Teacher: Eric Kinnaman

Belgrade High School Woodworking
Teacher: Randy Radke

Bozeman High School Welding Fabrication
Teacher: Rick Hedlund

Bozeman High School Woodworking
Teacher: Daniel Brown

Butte High School Welding
Teacher: Denise Bordeleau

Dawson County (Glendive) Welding Ag
Teacher: Leanne Hoagland

Drummond High School Carpentry & Welding
Teacher: Alex Bolotsky

Havre High School Automotive Tech
Teacher: Tyler Kropf

Havre High School Welding, Basic Metals
Teacher: Christopher Comp

Helena Capital High School Industrial Technology
Teacher: Tom Kain

Helena High School Welding
Teacher: Cindy Galbavy

Jefferson High School (Boulder) Welding
Teacher: David Heimann

Jefferson High School (Boulder) Woods
Teacher: Mike Robbins

Missoula Hellgate Building Trades, Math for the Trades
Teacher: Charles Rinehart

Missoula Hellgate High School Welding
Teacher: Alan Pfister

Missoula Sentinel High School Carpentry & Welding
Teacher:Dave Burtch

Park County High School (Livingston) Industrial Technology
Teacher: Jamie Isaly

Powell County (Deer Lodge) Cabinet & Carpentry
Teacher: Clint Stevenson

St. Regis High School Carpentry & Welding
Teacher: George Cheesman

Superior High School Construction/Drafting/Welding/Woods
Teacher Jeff Schultz

Whitehall High School Welding & Carpentry
Teacher: Casey Harris

The other part of the Growing a Safer initiative is academic scholarships for higher education students in the trades, such as welding, automotive and construction and those studying industrial hygiene or occupational safety and health. These scholarships will be distributed in January 2021. 

For more information about the Growing a Safer Montana program contact Sophie Magnuson (406) 495-5397 or  Mark Rosenleaf (406) 495- 5334.

We have learned a lot over the last ten months. Our environments have changed, and we have had to adapt. Montana State Fund (MSF) is adapting, too. In the coming weeks and months, we will be rolling out new tools, sites and features to help our policyholders, injured workers and other stakeholders stay better connected.

2021 is almost upon us. In Montana, odd-numbered years mean a regular session of the legislative body will convene in January. To prepare for the upcoming session, MSF will be launching a new interactive website to help you stay up to date on the latest happenings in Helena.

Another feature we are rolling out is a podcast that we are calling Big Sky Business (BSB). BSB will be a periodic podcast featuring diverse content and guests that will hopefully add value to your day-to-day life.

We are excited to work better together with you in the coming months and we look forward to unveiling new content and features very soon. In the meantime, if you would like to be placed on the BSB email list or you have any questions or comments, please email msflegislativeissues@safemt.gov.

Our 2019 annual report is now live. Please take a few moments to review the work and accomplishments of the Montana State Fund staff.