Kickoff Press Release

Safety Awards Presented to South Jersey Municipalities

Vineland, NJ, 18 Feb. 2008 - Officials from forty-three Atlantic, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, & Gloucester county municipalities received awards at the nineteenth annual Atlantic County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund (ACMJIF) Safety Kickoff Breakfast on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at Merighi’s Savoy Inn in Vineland, NJ. The awards recognize safety measures taken by the municipalities, which save taxpayers thousands of dollars each year through reduced claims payments.

The Safety Kickoff Breakfast celebrated 2007 JIF member safety accomplishments and launched the 2008 Safety Incentive Program. The ACMJIF Safety Incentive Program focuses on lowering the risks associated with municipal operations—primarily in preventing accidents causing injury to municipal employees or members of the public. More importantly, municipal employees reap the benefits of a safer work environment.

The Safety Incentive Program rewards each member municipality based upon their support and dedication to promoting employee awareness of the JIF safety policies, establishing safety criteria such as holding regular safety committee meetings, completing monthly safety inspection check lists, attending safety training seminars, completing thorough accident investigations, and viewing safety training videos with employees.

The response to the breakfast was overwhelmingly positive, according to JIF Executive Director Paul Miola. “All of the JIF program participants walked away as winners this year because they are taking active steps to prevent workplace injuries and save tax dollars in the process”, Miola said.

The JIF created the Qualifier, Bronze, Silver, and Gold award categories within the five size categories (Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large) of the member municipalities. Members qualify by meeting at least 75% of the JIF safety criteria and receive corresponding monetary awards for their level of participation and size. The awards are to be used for the purchase of safety equipment, safety training, or for the recognition of employee safety efforts. Forty-three members participated in the 2007 Safety Incentive Program and all 43 qualified for awards receiving a total of $83,000 for their efforts!

The members receiving awards this year were:

Basic Qualifiers who achieved 75% of JIF Safety Criteria:

Absecon-- $1,600	Hammonton-- $1,600
Avalon-- $1,600	Middle-- $1,900
Deerfield-- $1,000	Newfield-- $1,000
Dennis-- $1,300	Waterford-- $1,600
Egg Harbor City-- $1,600	Wildwood Crest-- $1,600
Hamilton-- $1,900	Woodbine-- $1,000

Bronze Award Winners who achieved 85% of JIF Safety Criteria:

Brigantine-- $2,200	North Wildwood-- $2,200
Buena Vista-- $1,500	Pleasantville-- $2,500
Cape May-- $1,900	Sea Isle City-- $2,200
Folsom-- $1,200	Somers Point-- $1,900
Longport-- $1,500	West Cape May-- $1,200
Lower-- $2,200	Wildwood-- $2,500

 

Silver Award Winners who achieved 90% of JIF Safety Criteria:

Cape May Point-- $1,400	Margate-- $2,600
Commercial-- $1,400	Millville-- $3,000
Corbin City-- $1,400	Stone Harbor-- $2,200
Estell Manor-- $1,400	Upper Deerfield-- $1,800
Linwood-- $2,200	Ventnor-- $2,600

Gold Award Winners for achieving 95% of JIF Safety Criteria:

Buena Borough-- $2,250	Northfield-- $2,650
Egg Harbor Township-- $3,500	Upper Township-- $2,200
Galloway-- $3,050	West Wildwood-- $1,700
Mullica-- $2,250	Weymouth-- $1,700
Ocean City-- $3,000

In addition to the monetary award, each member received a plaque identifying their level of achievement.

Special Recognition Awards:

The Ocean City Administration Department was honored with a Special Recognition Award For their work in developing and implementing a Safety Element in their Performance Appraisal Program. This program is of major significance to the City’s Safety Program because it enables Supervisors and Managers to evaluate employees on how safely they accomplish their work. This process promotes open dialogue among managers and subordinates and promotes discussions about what employees need in order to do their jobs safely.

Members also received certificates of recognition for their efforts in numerous safety categories including:

 

• Beat The Three-Year Average JIF Loss Ratio of 77%: Somers Point (76.8%), Avalon (76.2%), Buena Borough (74.7%), Hammonton (74.5%), Stone Harbor (73.7%), Mullica (72.5%), Galloway (70.9%), Ocean City (68.6%), Waterford (67.7%), North Wildwood (66.0%), Cape May (61.5%), Buena Vista (60.3%), Brigantine (58.4%), Middle Township (54.1%), Wildwood Crest (47.1%), Upper Deerfield (46.3%), Woodbine (40.6%), Linwood (38.7%), Egg Harbor City (38.6%), Margate (38.1%), Weymouth (34.6%), Deerfield (34.1%), Corbin City (25.0%), Estell Manor (23.5%), Cape May Point (21.2%), Commercial (18.1%), Newfield (13.7%), and Folsom (0%)

• Zero “Lost Time” Workers Compensation Accidents: Buena Vista, Cape May Point, Commercial, Corbin City, Deerfield, Egg Harbor City, Folsom, Linwood, Newfield, Northfield, Upper Deerfield, Weymouth, and Woodbine.

• Significant Reduction In Lost Time Accident Rates: West Wildwood from 8.51 in 2006 to 4.64 in 2007; Hamilton from 4.36 in 2006 to 2.16 in 2007; Waterford from 4.39 in 2006 to 1.91 in 2007; Egg Harbor Township from 6.23 in 2006 to 1.09 in 2007; Absecon from 6.37 in 2006 to 1.09 in 2007; Wildwood Crest from 3.61 in 2006 to 1.68 in 2007; Buena Vista from 4.82 in 2006 to “0” in 2007 (a measure of employees in the township who experience an workplace injury resulting in time out of work greater than seven days.)

• Best Claims Reporting (less than 3 days to report a claim): Cape May Point, Dennis, Estell Manor, Mullica, West Wildwood, and Weymouth

• Modified Duty – 95 Percent of Available Days Used: Galloway, Brigantine, Northfield, Stone Harbor, Linwood, Millville, and Pleasantville;

Weymouth Township and North Wildwood were recognized for using 100 percent of Available Modified Duty Days (a measure of when employees can return to work in a light duty capacity until they are capable of assuming full duty assignments).

During 21 years of operation, municipalities participating in the ACMJIF have saved millions of dollars in premiums and have received surplus distributions of $18,466,138. “These surplus distributions would have been insurance company profits, instead they are local taxpayer’s savings”, explained Dawn Stollenwerk, Mullica Township CFO and Chair of the ACMJIF Finance Committee.

Currently, the ACMJIF is 43 members strong with an unparalleled record of financial success, member services, and coverage stability.  Over 370 municipalities in New Jersey are members of a Joint Insurance Fund (JIF).  “We have proven that municipalities can effectively pool their resources and save money while not cutting necessary services,” explained Judson Moore, Commercial Township Administrator, and Chairperson of the ACMJIF Operations and Planning Committee.

Joint Insurance Funds allow New Jersey municipalities to collectively pool money for insurance coverage. The JIF manages its expenses while using extensive loss prevention and claims management programs to reduce amounts paid out for accidents and injuries. The result is lower insurance costs and return of 100% of the JIF profits. ACMJIF members received $1,733,770 in dividends last year and have collected $18,466,138 since inception.

For the ACMJIF please contact:

Jaclynne Parsons

Marketing Sales Representative

Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc., Marlton, NJ

(856) 446-9141                                                                                                                                       

Jaclynne_parsons@ajg.com