By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Dallas County is one of 44 other counties that recently received an award from the Association of County Commissions of Alabama for participating in a safety incentive discount program.

The program awards counties that make ongoing efforts to provide a safe work environment for employees. This marks the third year in a row Dallas County has received the award.

“We’re very proud of that,” said Judge Kim Ballard, chairman of the Dallas County Commission. “We will continue to get the award because we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Dallas County was awarded a cash prize of a little more than $18,000 for its safety prevention measures.

The award helps payback the cost of worker compensation premiums each department has to pay, but the bigger payoff is the risk reduction.

“We’ve actually cut our loss rate tremendously by doing this,” Ballard said. “You don’t think just talking about [safety] and pointing out simple things that you can do will decrease your liability.”

Betty Russell, the county’s safety coordinator, said the benefits of participating in the safety incentive program are well worth the effort it takes to inform workers on how to perform their jobs safely.

“[The award] is extremely beneficial. Eighteen thousand dollars is very helpful,” Russell said.

But the program isn’t just about receiving the award; it is about increasing work safety and decreasing the number of injuries.

“It is a benefit to our employees that we are taking every possible precaution that we can to make sure that they are safe on the job,” Russell said. “We have had improvement in safety measures, and the number of injuries has decreased”

Russell said the award is based on a number of different criteria. One thing the county is required to do is form a safety committee that meets regularly.

“We discuss any issues that have come up,” Russell said. “We take a look at what has happened, and we try to come up with preventative measures and things we can do that will increase the safety for all of our employees.”

The county must also provide training to employees.

“Our people are trained,” Russell said. “[Employees] get regular training on certain things. The road department has had driver safety training and just various things. They all receive safety training.”