NEW YORK Worker Safety for Youth A Work Comp Initiative

New York State Insurance Fund Welcomes Grant Winners to Accept Free Safety Training New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), Executive Director James Wrynn congratulated policyholders who received youth education and training grants from the United States Department of Labor this summer and extended an offer to assist these organizations with on-site youth worker safety training services. NYSIF offers free workplace safety training to help workers avoid work-related injuries. As the state's largest workers' compensation insurance carrier NYSIF has one of the most qualified teams of safety and loss control specialists anywhere. Approximately $114 million in grants went to 183 community organizations nationwide in the department's YouthBuild program. The program helps out-of-school youth to obtain their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. NYSIF reached out with a written invitation to grantees in New York State who hold NYSIF workers' compensation insurance policies, inviting them to have a NYSIF safety specialist conduct on-site training geared toward construction safety for young people and teen worker safety in general. The YouthBuild program helps at-risk youth acquire leadership skills and participate in community service while building and renovating affordable housing in their communities. With about 37% of the workers' compensation market in New York, NYSIF has a large base of construction company policies and experience within the industry to help young people work safely on construction sites. (workersxzcompxzkit) NYSIF has among the largest number (at 56) of New York State Department of Labor Certified Safety Consultants on staff, and has partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in providing certified outreach training across a broad spectrum of general industry. Author: Robert Elliott, J.D.