Program Provided for Free to Workers’ Comp Construction Policyholders
SAN DIEGO (December 2, 2022) — To efficiently reach more insureds with workplace safety training, ICW Group Insurance Companies, a leading group of property and casualty carriers, recently applied for and was granted authorization to conduct virtual OSHA 10-hour training courses for its workers’ compensation policyholders.
The first insurance carrier to be authorized to conduct virtual Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour training courses on an ongoing basis, ICW Group will conduct eight English and four Spanish sessions over the next year. The Company will specifically teach the Construction Industry training course, which will be offered for free to policyholders.
The OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry training program covers a variety of construction safety and health hazards that a worker may encounter at a construction site and is required to satisfy OSHA training requirements for entry-level construction workers. Prior to the pandemic, the course was only offered in-person with virtual classes being introduced temporarily during the pandemic.
“The virtual classes proved to be effective at both creating a comfortable learning environment and engaging students,” said Ahren Hohenwarter, ICW Group Risk Management Manager and authorized OSHA outreach trainer. “We wanted to continue offering a virtual option long term to increase our ability to help keep more workers safe.”
ICW Group filed for an exception to continue to conduct virtual OSHA training courses citing that many policyholders do not have the minimum number of employees required to hold their own class, and policyholders are spread throughout California. Virtual training allows ICW Group to aggregate those students and increase the dissemination of safety information. The exception was granted by an OSHA-authorized training center, making ICW Group the first carrier to be able to offer the virtual option to insureds.
The OSHA 10-hour training course is a part of OSHA’s Outreach Training Program, which teaches workers about their rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint as well as how to recognize, abate and prevent job-related hazards. OSHA authorizes safety and health professionals who complete an OSHA Outreach Training Program trainer course to conduct occupational safety and health classes for workers.
“We jumped on the opportunity to increase our value as a workers’ compensation carrier and help our insureds’ workers go home safe,” said Hohenwarter. “Being the first carrier to do this is just the icing on the cake.”
ICW Group policyholders will be notified by their Risk Management Consultant when a training is available. For more information on safety programs and trainings available through ICW Group, visit its Policyholder Center.
About ICW Group
Based in San Diego, ICW Group Insurance Companies is the largest privately held insurance company domiciled in California. Quoting more than $3.5 billion annually, ICW Group represents a group of Workers’ Compensation, Assumed Reinsurance and Catastrophe insurance carriers, including Insurance Company of the West and Explorer Insurance Company. ICW Group is recognized nationally as an industry leader in helping policyholders achieve fewer and less costly claims while elevating the trusted agents who advise them. For more information, visit ICW Group’s Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
Media Contact
ICW Group
Jessica Northrup
858.924.8662
jnorthrup@icwgroup.com
