The Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) awarded its annual safety awards during its 56th annual conference, held Aug. 7-9, 2024, in Hot Springs/Garland County.
The Safety Award Program was established by the AAC to recognize those counties that have made outstanding efforts to provide a safe working environment for employees. Each county is evaluated annually based upon a 100-point grading system, with the possibility of 15 bonus points for qualifying counties. Those counties receiving a grade of 75 to 115 points are presented a safety award. Counties that are under the Worker’s Compensation Rule 32 Hazard Program do not qualify for a safety award, nor will they qualify if the Loss Ratio is 50 percent or above. The loss ratio calculation is based on 2023.
The 31 counties receiving 2024 AAC safety awards were:
Baxter, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleburne, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Drew, Franklin, Hempstead, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Ouachita, Perry, Poinsett, Scott, Sevier, St. Francis, Stone, White, and Yell counties.
In addition, Calhoun County received a certificate for no reportable injuries in 2023.
Drew County scored 99 points on the 100-point grading system. Up to 15 bonus points are awarded to counties that provide a Job Hazard Analysis on more than two job classifications and that attended the May 2024 AAC Safety Conference. Drew County also had a loss ratio of 16 percent, well below the 50 percent threshold.
