County adds workers’ comp to fire & rescue volunteers’ insurance coverage

Following a staff summary and overview by an insurance company representative, the Warren County Board of Supervisors approved the addition of a workers’ compensation package for the county’s volunteer firefighters.

The Tuesday, July 18, vote at the board’s only meeting of the peak summer vacation month was 4-0.  Happy Creek Supervisor Tony Carter, a member of the Stoneburner-Carter Insurance Agency abstained from the vote.  Stoneburner-Carter was listed as a party to the VFIS benefits summary presented in the agenda packet.

The staff summary of the proposal notes, “VFIS has partnered with VACORP to provide excess accident and sickness benefits to supplement the workers’ compensation benefits.”

The workman’s comp package is being offered to volunteer firefighters and EMS members by VACORP under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act.  VACORP Executive Director Chris Carey responded to questions from the board about why and how the changes were now being offered.  He said that legislative changes to state codes taking effect July 1 made the inclusion of workers’ comp for volunteer emergency services personnel a more viable financial option than previously.

As VACORP Executive Director Chris Carey listens, County Fire & Rescue Chief Richard Mabie assesses the workers’ comp and insurance proposal – “It’s a no brainer.”

Carey told the supervisors that while now only about 20-percent of volunteers statewide were covered, he predicted that within the next three years that figure would climb to 80 percent.

Of the addition of workers’ comp coverage for volunteers “benefits the volunteers and it benefits the county as well.”

For the county government one of those benefits is seen as a tool or recruitment and retention of the crucial volunteer aspect of county emergency services.

Board Chair Linda Glavis asked Warren County Fire & Rescue Chief Richard Mabie, watching the presentation and discussion from the back of the WCGC meeting room, if he cared to comment on the proposal.

Mabie approached the podium to say, “Only if you don’t quote me saying ‘This is a no brainer.’ ” Mabie noted that the proposed package would provide essentially equal coverage to volunteer staff as county career staff already has,” adding, “And as Doug (Stanley) said, hopefully it will be a retention tool.”

Also on Tuesday night, in her role as chair of the Front Royal Rotary, Jennifer McDonald presented the final of five $5,000 checks to the County to cover costs for the Rockland Park Shelter.

The annual cost presented for the workers’ comp package through VACORP was $14,414.  An accident and sickness benefits package presented through VFIS as a supplement to the worker’s comp proposal was projected at an additional cost of $29,927.

Fork District Supervisor Archie Fox asked Carey about the rationale for the “sickness” aspect of the coverage.  Carey explained that it related to health consequences of the work, such as lung issues from smoke inhalation; infections related to injuries and even heart issues that can arise from the physical exertion and stress of the work.

That answer satisfied the supervisor.

Staff noted that “the County purchases similar “volunteer accident and life insurance” coverage through Chesterfield Insurance at a budget set aside of $45,000.

So if you trust this reporter’s math, even with the addition of the worker’s comp package to the accident and sickness coverage proposal, the county is still saving $659 from its previous accident and life insurance package without the workers’ comp aspect.

Like the chief said, “It’s a no brainer.”