Oregon Releases National Study On Workers Compensation Rates

Salem, OR (WorkersCompensation.com) – Oregon has the 13th least expensive workers’ compensation rates in the nation, according to data released today by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS).

The biennial study ranks all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on rates that were in effect Jan. 1, 2012. Alaska had the most expensive rates, followed by Connecticut. North Dakota had the least expensive rates. California had the third-highest rates, followed by Washington at 13 and Idaho at

Oregon was the 11th least expensive state for workers’ compensation rates the last time the study was done, in 2010.

“You’re beginning to see rankings tighten as states adopt the types of reforms that Oregon pioneered years ago,” DCBS Director Patrick Allen said.

Oregon researchers also compared each state’s rates to the national median (midpoint) rate of $1.88 per $100 of payroll. Oregon’s rate of $1.58 is 16 percent below the median.

Because states have various mixes of industries, the study calculates rates for each state using a standard mix of the 50 industries with the highest workers’ compensation claims costs in Oregon. Details about how the study was conducted can be found at http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/dir/wc_cost/about_the_study.html.

A summary of the study was posted Wednesday; the full report will be published in early 2013.

Oregon has conducted these studies in even-numbered years since 1986, when Oregon’s rates were among the highest in the nation. The department reports the results to the Oregon Legislature as a performance measure. Oregon’s relatively low rate today reflects the state’s workers’ compensation system reforms and its improvements in workplace safety and health.

Here are some key links for the study/workers’ compensation costs:

• To read a summary of the study, go to http://tinyurl.com/9wxzycd.

• Prior years’ summaries and full reports with details of study methods can be found at http://bit.ly/9mG3hs.

• Information on workers’ compensation costs in Oregon, including a map with these same state rate rankings, is at http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/dir/wc_cost/map.html.