Workers' compensation a $27 million expense for city of Tulsa

TULSA - Road crews are hard at work on south Yale between 61st and 71st. They are widening the road from four lanes to six.

"It's a challenge, but one we're up for," said Russell Gentry, Tulsa County Safety and Training Specialist.

Part of the challenge is being safe with all the traffic and equipment, but there is a plan in place.

"They're all going to wear steel-toed shoes, wearing safety glasses to prevent eye injuries, gloves when needed," said Gentry.

Gentry has seen the county's workers' comp expense drop over the past eight years. He says the key is prevention.

"We can prevent an injury before it takes place by observing the work zone, seeing what the workers are doing and identifying areas where it can be improved on," Gentry said.

Construction isn't the only job that's prone to injuries. In the city of Tulsa, the police, fire and sewer departments top the list of the most injured. Workers' comp is a huge expense too, costing the city $27 million over a three year period.

"We've tried. We've gone through and had training classes. We've tried to get everybody's attention on how we need to do things better. What we need to do to watch ourselves to not be injured etc., and for some reason it just hasn't quite clicked yet," said Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, (R)-Tulsa.

So the city's hoping to change that. It has hired a firm to come in and look at ways to make improvements. City leaders hope to cut the workers' compensation expense in half in three years.

"We all need to buy into the concept that safety pays," Mayor Bartlett said.

The report should be back within two months. The assessment will cost $71,000.

It is being paid for through the city's insurance service fund.