[P2assist] Workers Comp

[Greg Flynn]

Having once had to carry Workers Comp insurance for employees I didn't
have I know how frustrating it can be.
Workers Comp is regulated overall by the North Carolina Industrial
Commission  (919) 807-2500
http://www.comp.state.nc.us/
but for many employers Workers Comp insurance comes, without any choice,
through their agent from the Assigned Risk Pool administered by the
North Carolina Rate Bureau (919) 783-9790
http://www.ncrb.org/
http://www.ncrb.org/ncrb/services.htm
Self-insurance by employers and funds is administered by the North
Carolina Department of Insurance
(919) 733-5633 or 733-5631 (Asheville Regional Office: (828) 251-6483)
http://www.ncdoi.com

First make sure the employees are listed in the correct class codes.
Secondly, future insurance costs can be modified by an experience rating
developed over a three year period based on actual losses and payroll
audits.
The following is a quick survey of rates for selected class codes:

Description, Class Code
Effective Date, Loss Cost/ Rate, Minimum Premium

PAPER STOCK OR RAG DEALER-USED- & DRIVERS Code 8264
4/1/02     $ 3.94/  $ 6.42 $ 850.00
ASHES GARBAGE OR REFUSE COLLECTION & DRIVERS Code 9403
4/1/02     $ 7.86/  $ 12.81 $ 850.00
GARBAGE WORKS Code 7590
4/1/02     $ 4.12/  $ 6.72 $ 850.00
IRON OR STEEL SCRAP DEALER & DRIVERS Code 8265
4/1/02     $ 4.03/  $ 6.57 $ 850.00
METAL SCRAP DEALER & DRIVERS Code 8500
4/1/02     $ 9.13/  $ 14.88 $ 850.00

The original question raises two long term issues for recycling
industries and organizations such as NAPCOR
1.  The existence or creation of self-insured funds under the auspices
of recycling or other trade organizations.  There are currently about 23
such funds in NC.
2.  Lobbying the Rate Bureau to create a Class Code for specific
recycling activities with lower loss costs.

>From the NCIC website:

Q: Where do I get workers’ compensation insurance?
A: There are four (4) markets of coverage available in North Carolina.
(1) You may qualify to become self-insured. To receive information on
this process, contact the Department of Insurance at (919) 733-5631.
(2) Your business may be placed in a self-insured fund. In order to
receive a list of the self-insured funds in North Carolina, contact the
Department of Insurance at (919) 733-5631.
(3) You may find coverage in the conventional and open market. In order
to do so, contact an independent insurance agent and request his/her
assistance in providing your business with coverage.
(4) You may be placed in the assigned risk pool which is administered by
the N.C. Rate Bureau. You may contact them directly for information at
(919) 783-9790 or you may ask your insurance agent for information.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The cost varies depending upon your market of coverage. There are
rates for each specific type or classification of employment. These
rates are applied on a percentage basis. The percentage is applied to
per one hundred ($100.00) dollars of payroll. You may contact your
insurance agent to receive these rates and/or the N.C. Rate Bureau at
(919) 783-9790.

Greg Flynn

--
Greg Flynn, Facility Architect
NC Division of Forest Resources
1616 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-1616
919-733-2162 x 210
919-218-4820  cell
919-733-2835   fax