During the 2015 Legislative Conference in Santa Fe, the New Mexico Association of Counties presented Luna County with an award in recognition of reducing workers’ compensation claims by 39 percent.
Director of Emergency Management Mark Jasso said the award was exciting for two reasons: safety and saving taxpayer dollars. He said he was proud of his colleagues for their dedication to the program and reducing costs that would ordinarily be passed on to taxpayers.
Luna County’s Emergency Services Department is charged with implementing the Risk Awareness Program and all county employees are required to attend the courses.
The 50-week program is designed to reduce the frequency and severity of claims through risk awareness and safety practices.
Subjects range from simple, preventative measures like keeping workspaces clean, to more complicated measures, such as avoiding exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
County employees meet once a week for 30 minutes or less to participate in the classes.