Category Archives: News

Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI) announces the induction of Robert (Bob) L. Swisher into the Class of 2025 Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame.

Bob Swisher, one of five inductees, was recognized in April during the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame Banquet, which honored those who have made significant contributions to the Kentucky workers’ compensation system throughout their distinguished careers.

Swisher began his law career in 1979 after graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law.  With over 10 years in general practice, he joined Geralds, Moloney and Jones concentrating on civil litigation, workers’ compensation, and probate law before joining the workers’ compensation defense firm Jones, Dietz and Swisher in 2007.

On January 1, 2010, Swisher was appointed as an administrative law judge (ALJ) in the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims (DWC) by Governor Steve Beshear. In 2013, he was one of two ALJs selected to participate in the DWC’s new medical dispute resolution program, and in 2014, he was named chief administrative law judge.

Swisher was appointed commissioner of the Kentucky DWC by Governor Matt Bevin in 2017. During his tenure as commissioner, Swisher led the agency through full implementation of the Litigation Management System, the online filing and case management system created by former Commissioner Dwight T. Lovan. Responding to legislative mandates in House Bill 2 (2018), Swisher promulgated numerous regulations, including the adoption of workers’ compensation medical treatment guidelines and a pharmacy formulary, creation of the process by which injured workers may apply for a continuation of medical benefits past 780 weeks, and the creation of an online portal through which coal miners awarded retraining incentive benefits locate and select an institution to provide their retraining.

In 2021, Swisher joined KEMI as director of Claims-Legal. In this capacity, he oversees KEMI’s in-house legal manager, the Special Investigations Unit, the Medical Bill audit unit, and KEMI’s Claims business analyst.

Swisher is a member of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (Adjudication Committee), was selected as a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (2018) and was a finalist for the 2019 Comp Laude Award as a national industry leader.

“This recognition of Bob’s contributions to the workers’ compensation industry is well-deserved,” stated KEMI President & CEO Jon Stewart. “Employers and workers throughout the commonwealth continue to benefit from Bob’s vast knowledge of workers’ comp and unwavering integrity that guides each decision.” Stewart continued, “But beyond his career accomplishments, Bob is a man of character and one of the finest individuals you could ever meet.”

Gallagher’s Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis Highlights U.S. Organizations Excelling in Optimizing Employee and Organizational Wellbeing

KEMI has been recognized as a Best-in-Class Employer in Gallagher’s 2024 U.S. Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey. This recognition underscores KEMI’s excellence in implementing effective strategies for managing people, benefits and HR programs. KEMI was selected for its comprehensive approach to strategically investing in benefits, compensation and the employee experience — all aimed at supporting the health, financial confidence and career growth of its employees while maintaining a sustainable cost structure.

Gallagher’s Best-in-Class Employer designation helps current and prospective employees understand and appreciate an organization’s workplace culture and people strategy, which are crucial differentiators in today’s competitive labor market.

“KEMI is proud to once again be recognized as a Best-in-Class Employer,” said Jon Stewart, President & CEO of KEMI. “This distinction reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering an environment where employees feel valued and supported. By prioritizing innovative programs and listening to employee feedback, we aim to build not just a workplace, but a community that empowers our team to excel and deliver exceptional service to our customers.”

As a U.S. Best-in-Class Employer, KEMI earned points based on its performance in several key areas:

• Planning horizons for the benefits and compensation strategies
• Extent of the wellbeing strategy
• Turnover rate for full-time equivalents (FTEs)
• Completion of a workforce engagement survey
• Use of an HR technology strategy and its level of sophistication
• Difference in healthcare costs over the prior year

“KEMI recognizes the crucial link between people’s wellbeing and organizational success,” said William F. Ziebell, CEO of Gallagher’s Benefits & HR Consulting Division. “When employees enjoy their work, appreciate their benefits and feel connected, the organization thrives — boosting positivity, retention, performance and overall prosperity. That proactive people strategy helps make KEMI a Best-in-Class Employer.”

About the Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis

Gallagher’s U.S. Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis profiles statistically significant attributes of top-performing midsize (100-999 FTEs) and large employers (1,000 or more FTEs). Data from Gallagher’s 2024 U.S. Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey was interpreted to identify participants that excel in optimizing employee and organizational wellbeing.

About Gallagher

Gallagher (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Media Contact:
Ryan Worthen
KEMI Communications
rworthen@kemi.com
859-425-7800

Posted January 6, 2025

KEMI announces Destiny Award winners for 2024

Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI) recognizes 27 Kentucky organizations for their commitment to workplace safety by presenting each of them with the 2024 KEMI Destiny Award.

The Destiny Awards are presented annually by KEMI to policyholders best exemplifying KEMI’s motto, “Control your own destiny.” The awards symbolize what can be accomplished when organizations work together to improve workplace safety. Policyholders earning the KEMI Destiny Award effectively demonstrate to KEMI their ability to manage a formal safety program, provide on-site training and regular safety meetings for employees, and display an ongoing commitment to safety from all levels throughout their organizations.

The following policyholders were selected after meeting a stringent set of criteria set forth by KEMI:

• Adair County Schools
• Big Rivers Electric Corporation
• Breathitt County Schools
• Butler County Schools
• Cardinal Industrial Insulation Company Inc
• Central Seal
• Churchill McGee, LLC
• Clark Material Handling Company
• Corbin Independent Schools
• Corken Steel
• Davis and Plomin Mechanical, Inc.
• Eastern Kentucky University
• Edmonson County Board of Education
• Harrison County Public Schools
• Hinkle Construction Services & Hinkle Environmental Services
• Houston Johnson Inc
• Industrial Field Maintenance
• Keeneland Association
• Lewis County Board of Education
• Mercer County Schools
• Northern Kentucky Water District
• Owensboro Municipal Utilities
• Russell County Hospital
• Treyton Oak Towers
• Trigg County Public Schools
• Walton Fire Protection District
• Warren County Schools

“Earning the KEMI Destiny Award requires focus, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in safety,” stated Jon Stewart, president and CEO of KEMI. “This outstanding group of policyholders understands the importance of a steadfast commitment to ensuring their employees make it home safely at the end of each workday, and we are honored to present each organization with this prestigious award.”

The dividend follows a $15.9 million dividend paid in 2023

Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI), Kentucky’s leading workers’ compensation insurance provider, is issuing a dividend of $19.1 million to eligible policyholders. The dividend results from the proactive management of claims by KEMI and its policyholders.

“Our policyholders’ commitment to safety in the workplace is why we can distribute this dividend,” stated KEMI President and Chief Executive Officer Jon Stewart. “We appreciate collaborating with policyholders to develop programs that return Kentucky workers home safely and enable KEMI to return resources to employers.”

Over 12,000 policyholders will receive a 20% dividend payment from KEMI for the 2021 policy year. Dividend checks will be distributed throughout August.

Between 2010 and 2024, KEMI issued dividend payments to policyholders totaling $104.7 million.

Media Contact:
Ryan Worthen
KEMI Communications
rworthen@kemi.com
859-425-7800

Gallagher’s Best-in-Class benchmarking analysis identifies U.S. organizations that excel in optimizing employee and organizational well-being

Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI) participated in Gallagher’s 2023 U.S. Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey and was identified as an organization that excelled in implementing successful strategies for managing people and programs. KEMI ranked in the top 14% of the Best-in-Class winners for its comprehensive framework for strategically investing in benefits, compensation, and employee communication to support the health, financial security, and career growth of its employees at a sustainable cost structure.

Designations like Gallagher’s Best-in-Class Employer help current and potential employees understand and appreciate an organization’s workplace culture and people strategy, which are important differentiators as employers compete for talent in today’s labor market.

A U.S. Best-in-Class Employer, KEMI was assigned points based on its relative performance in:

• Plan horizons for benefits and compensation strategies.
• Extent of the well-being strategy.
• Turnover rate for full-time equivalents (FTEs).
• Completion of a workforce engagement survey.
• Use of an HR technology strategy and its level of sophistication.
• Difference in health care costs over the prior year.
• Use of a communication strategy.

“KEMI understands that high employee expectations haven’t budged in the changing labor market and have regularly examined their formula to attract and retain talent,” said William F. Ziebell, CEO of Gallagher’s Benefits & HR Consulting Division. “In doing so, KEMI utilizes data, workforce feedback tools and clearly defined policies to provide competitive benefits and experiences that their employees value.”

“KEMI is honored to receive this recognition,” stated KEMI President & CEO Jon Stewart. “Ongoing review of employee programs is a priority to ensure we attract and retain the best talent in Kentucky’s workers’ comp industry.” Stewart continued, “We’re always encouraged when we hear from employees how much they appreciate our holistic approach to employee well-being, but the greatest satisfaction is how they care for our customers and one another.”

About KEMI

KEMI is Kentucky’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance with policyholders in all 120 counties throughout the state. We are rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best for our financial stability.

About the Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis

Gallagher’s U.S. Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis profiles statistically significant attributes of top-performing midsize (100-999 FTEs) and large employers (1,000 or more FTEs). Data from Gallagher’s 2023 U.S. Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey was interpreted to identify participants that excel in optimizing employee and organizational wellbeing.

About Gallagher

Gallagher (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Media Contact:
Ryan Worthen
KEMI Communications
rworthen@kemi.com
859-425-7800

Posted June 17, 2024

Owensboro Municipal Utilities (OMU), Kentucky’s largest municipally owned electric and water system, has provided utility services to the community for more than 100 years. OMU serves 27,000 electric customers and 26,000 water customers, plus OMU expanded services 25 years ago to provide telecommunications options that include high-speed internet.

In the following Q&A highlighting OMU’s safety culture, OMU outlines how training improvements and internal process enhancements help 160 employees safely keep the lights on, the water running, and the community connected.

What role does safety play in your organization’s culture?

The safety of our employees and the public is a priority for OMU. Establishing and maintaining a safe work environment for everyone is the shared responsibility of OMU management and all employees.

It is the responsibility of each employee to conduct all tasks in a safe and efficient manner, complying with all local, state, and federal safety and health regulations and program standards. Employees are required to actively follow OMU safety rules and are expected to exercise caution in all work activities.

In our industry, workplace safety concerns include electrical hazards; slips, trips, and falls; traffic and road safety; and interactions in the field. If an unsafe condition exists, action should be taken immediately to correct the situation, which includes notifying supervision.

All work-related accidents, injuries, illnesses, and near-miss incidents involving employees, vehicles, or equipment are to be reported to OMU leadership or safety department staff, no matter how minor they may appear.

To assist in providing a safe work environment for employees, along with a safe environment for customers and visitors, safety teams across departments have been established to provide employees opportunities for input and participation in safety program development and review.

What practices have you added to your program that helped improve your safety record?

OMU has increased:

• Hands-on training and classroom training vs. online computer-based training.
• Safety personnel headcount for greater focus on the safety of employees.
• Overall safety training topics and frequency of training.

We’ve made improvements to internal safety processes and systems to better monitor safety concerns, developed departmental safety teams, and organized a sub-safety team to coordinate participation in OSHA Safe + Sound Week during 2023.

What impacts or benefits have you seen resulting from a strong safety program?

Increases in employee involvement and safety focus have led to decreases in OMU’s:

• Number of injuries, severe injuries, or types of injuries.
• Experience modification rating factor.
• Workers’ compensation costs.

How has KEMI assisted in enhancing workplace safety and reducing claims?

KEMI has provided hands-on classroom training; offered feedback on where to find training; and helped manage and communicate about work comp claims to get employees back to work. KEMI representatives assist wherever help is needed.

What notable safety milestones or recognition has OMU achieved during the past several years?

Our team effort approach to safety has resulted in the following accomplishments:

• American Public Power Association (APPA) for reliable and safe electric service:
  • Gold designation – 2001, 2007, and 2009.
  • Platinum status – 2013 and 2016.
  • Diamond designation – 2017 and 2021.
• OMU Production Department – 500,000 hours without a lost time accident in 2015.
• OMU Customer Service Center 500,000 hours without a lost time accident in 2016.
• OMU companywide – 500,000 hours without a lost time accident in 2020.

On Wednesday, April 17, Sayre Christian Village (SCV), a nonprofit retirement community in Lexington, Kentucky, hosted a gathering to celebrate volunteers who have served at SCV.

During the celebration, Sayre Christian Village CEO Karen Venis expressed appreciation for KEMI’s enthusiastic response to SCV’s calls for volunteers, commented how KEMI is always there when needs arise, and presented KEMI with the Sayre Christian Village 2024 Volunteer of the Year award.

Individual SCV residents were also recognized for their volunteer contributions, and all attendees were invited to mix and mingle during a reception immediately following.

Serving others is at the core of KEMI’s vision, mission, and values. Anyone interested in learning more about KEMI’s community engagement efforts or sharing information about charitable organizations is invited to contact KEMI here.

The Edmonson County Board of Education (BOE) has been successful in lowering its workers’ compensation experience modification rating, which saves on premiums and allows financial resources to be redirected for student support. In this Q&A, Director of Facilities & Safety Callie Beliles explains how a culture of workplace safety helps to make this possible.

Please briefly describe your primary business operation.
We are a small school district in south central Kentucky comprising five wonderful schools. There are two elementary schools, one fifth and sixth grade center, one middle school, and one high school.

What role does safety play in your organization’s culture?
We have a strong dedication to workplace safety, which we strive to instill daily into our 425 employees and nearly 1900 students. We have a documented commitment to safety through our quarterly district-wide safety team meetings and conduct a monthly safety meeting at each location. Over the last several years, our board has dedicated funds to make our facilities safer for our students and staff.

What are some of the workplace safety concerns unique to the educational environment for Edmonson County BOE?
The school district has several older facilities that were modified to meet codes and laws for school safety in today’s climate. Financial challenges limit our ability to purchase state-of-the-art equipment; however, we have utilized federal and state grants to make sure that the safety of our schools is our number one priority.

What practices have you added to your program that helped improve your safety record?
We have added more 3M safety film to all our schools and have utilized free training through one of our suppliers to ensure our employees have their required OSHA certifications and various other trainings. We’ve purchased new equipment for our custodial maintenance staff, such as new tools, furniture movers, and rollers for trash cans, and we are paving paths to dumpsters and improving lighting in our parking lots. Plus, our safety director does monthly walk-throughs of our facilities.

What impacts or benefits have you seen resulting from a strong safety program?
The most important benefit is that we have our staff and students present and healthy. By keeping our staff at work, we are able to educate our future. Having such a low experience mod has allowed us to save funds on our insurance premiums that we can directly use to support our students.

How has KEMI assisted in enhancing workplace safety and reducing claims?
KEMI has mainstreamed a lot of our reporting, and the professional support has helped our employees have a seamless experience during recovery. Also, the return-to-work program has allowed our employees to be back on the job much sooner than they normally would. The training KEMI provides for our school district has been crucial for educating our employees on how important workplace safety truly is.

What notable safety milestones or recognition has the Edmonson Board of Education achieved during the past several years?
We have received the KEMI Destiny Award for Excellence in Safety two times. This is an accomplishment our board, superintendent, and entire school district take immense pride in achieving. Our experience mod has decreased annually for several years, and as safety director, I am encouraged by the fact we have been able to make a good experience mod even better, which has a direct, positive impact on our students.

Keeping our staff and students safe is our number one priority, and we have infused this mindset into our daily culture.

Introducing the KEMI Help Center via KEMI.com

KEMI recently launched a user-friendly information center for employers, agents, claimants, and providers.

The KEMI Help Center was created so that users can easily search self-help resources by keyword or phrase for quick answers to worker’s compensation questions about:

• Kentucky requirements for worker’s comp insurance.
• Applying for coverage.
• The audit process and how it works.
• Steps to follow if there is a claim.
• Agency appointments to represent KEMI.
• Medical bill information.
• Employer access to free safety resources.
• And much more!

The KEMI Help Center is accessible on KEMI.com via “Frequently Asked Questions” links from the main menu or by clicking on help.kemi.com. Log on today and explore a wealth of information.

Industrial Field Maintenance (IFM), a family-owned steel and construction service company located in Ewing, Kentucky, operates two steel fabrication shops that provide services in piping fabrication and installation, mechanical equipment repair, and boiler repair.

Safety Manager Garrett Rumford explains how the company’s dedication to high safety standards, which produces quality results, puts IFM at the top of their field in plant maintenance services.

How does safety factor into your organization’s culture?
Safety is not just our top priority – it is a core value ingrained in our culture. As a veteran of the trades, our vice president sets the tone for safety in our organization. Through his experience, in both the field and as an owner, he believes that no job is worth doing if it’s not done safely. Because of this philosophy, all IFM employees, regardless of position, know that safety must come first.

Are there workplace safety concerns unique to your industry?
As a maintenance contractor and custom fabricator, our company encounters a variety of hazards with all jobs depending on the project scope and location. We frequently perform work in power generation facilities, chemical plants, steel mills, and paper mills. Each industry comes with its own specific hazards that include, but are not limited to, cranes and rigging, hot work, work from heights, lockout/tagout (LOTO), respiratory hazards, equipment operation, and many more. Because of these hazards, our team works to ensure all employees are properly trained in hazard recognition and prevention strategies specific to each industry.

While we work in several locations where IFM has a consistent presence, we often encounter scenarios where we are working at a site for the first time. In these instances, it is imperative that our team maintains thorough communication, both internally and with the client. Every project for us is an opportunity to be a valued partner to our customers, and one of the best ways to accomplish that is to focus on safety up front and then follow through with that initiative until project completion.

What practices have been added to IFM’s program that have helped improve your safety record?
IFM has sustained an exemplary safety record since our company’s start-up in 2016. Even with the absence of injuries, we understand that we still have opportunities for enhancing workplace safety. Over the past year, we have implemented several initiatives to help drive continued improvement that include:

• Implementation of Safety Flash Alerts.
• Biweekly Safety Meetings.
• Weekly Training/Toolbox Discussions.
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Accreditation.
• Learning Management System (LMS) Implementation.
• Cross-training.
• Continuing Education for IFM Safety Department.

What impacts or benefits have you seen resulting from a strong safety program?
The data alone helps paint a picture of the results of a strong safety program, but we have been driving the focus toward leading indicators rather than the lagging indicators, such as total recordable incident rate (TRIR); days away, restricted, or transferred (DART); and incident rates.

Overall participation has increased significantly this year as frontline supervisors have taken a more direct approach in leading safety discussions and reporting. The more our program improves, the more we find that our leadership team is being proactive when it comes to safety by focusing heavily on the safety portion of prejob planning and taking ownership of the safety on their jobsites rather than looking at safety as a separate function.

How has KEMI assisted in enhancing workplace safety and reducing claims?
KEMI has been an exceptional partner for workplace health and safety training. During the past two years, KEMI provided several training courses for IFM employees that included Powered Industrial Truck Operator, Aerial Work Platform Operator, and First Aid/CPR/AED/BBP trainings, to name a few. IFM also frequently utilizes the safety resources available for free through KEMI’s website at worksafeky.com and is a subscriber to the KEMI electronic newsletter. These resources and training courses have allowed IFM to continue to drive a culture of “safety first” in our organization.

What notable safety milestones or recognition has your organization achieved during the past several years?
IFM views each day without an injury as a milestone to be proud of, but some additional milestones worth noting are:

• Proud recipients of the KEMI Destiny Award for three consecutive years.
• Currently at more than 600,000 man hours without a recordable injury.
• Year-over-year improvement in Experience Modification Rating.
• NCCER Accredited Assessment Center (AAC) Accreditation.
• HSI Certified for CPR/AED/First Aid Instruction.
• Leadership Training – two (OSHA 500), one (OSHA 510).

IFM fully embraces KEMI’s motto, “Control your own destiny.” We try to exemplify this through total organizational commitment to safety, our obligation to our workforce, and our partnership with KEMI and our clients.