Seminar gives agents a peek at latest cool tools, economic forecast, and the future workplace
The annual event covered everything from “The (Legal) Price is Right” to “Fat Ivan.”
Attendees of the 2017 Workers’ Compensation Insurance Seminar in May dove into an array of topics, including the Oregon job market, “cool safety tools,” and the future of the workplace.
SAIF President and CEO Kerry Barnett opened the annual event with the development of the Safe and Healthy Workplace Center and the status of the legislative session.
Barnett observed that as the workplace gets more difficult to define—with more people working on the road and from home, and with fewer people working regular eight-hour shifts—the workers’ comp system has to adapt to meet their safety needs.
State Employment Economist Nick Beleiciks updated the group on Oregon’s job market. The state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s ever been and is lower than the national average for the first time since the mid-90s.
Seminar participants chose from small breakout sessions, like the one on “cool tools” that make work safer—inventions like the Halo Light, the Tablemover, and “Fat Ivan.”
Other sessions explored navigating underwriting and premium audits, the benefits of return-to-work, some pretty big legal numbers, and how to respond when a client has a traumatic loss.
Over 165 agents and SAIF staff attended the event at the Salem Convention Center.
“Thanks to all of our awesome presenters and people working behind the scenes, this year’s seminar was a huge success! Feedback from participants indicated that the topics were timely, relevant, and entertaining,” said Christy Witzke, VP of marketing, sales, and communications.