U.S. Department of Labor statistics show that Wyoming has among the highest rates of fatal workplace accidents. When accidents occur due to employer negligence, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can carry out investigations and levy fines against companies. However, fines alone may not be enough to dissuade businesses from allowing unsafe workplaces.

Wyoming is going a step further by launching a new workplace safety program that will offer employers free advice. Instead of ensuring regulatory compliance, the Workers’ Compensation Safety and Risk Unit consults with Wyoming businesses to improve safety. The new organization combs through accident reports and other relevant data to find companies in need of its services.

If a company had a high rate of accident reports or other problems, the new department would approach the business and offer solutions to improve workplace safety instead of issuing fines.

This program is currently an ‘experiment’ being tested by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The department will spend this year assessing the effectiveness of the Workers’ Compensation Safety and Risk Unit and make changes by next year if they are needed. At the moment, the new program is also only staffed by nine people.

Wyoming’s History of Poor Workplace Safety

According to Department of Labor statistics, 37 Wyoming workers died on the job in 2014. Many Wyoming workers are staffed in the agricultural and energy industries. These industries can be exceptionally dangerous when employers neglect workplace safety regulations or when third parties create unforeseen hazards.

Although businesses can still face fines in Wyoming, the new program can offer employers with unsafe workplaces possible solutions. Depending on the circumstances of an accident, businesses can also face personal injury lawsuits when workers are injured.