Once you’ve made your purchase, complete the reimbursement request form and submit supporting documentation to MEM. After the form is approved, we’ll notify you within 30 days to provide details on check reimbursement and post-award reporting.

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• Potential impact on the exposure
• Appropriateness of the intervention
• Frequency of use
• Claims history and potential exposure

View past safety grant winners.

The post How are safety grant winners selected? appeared first on MEM.

With hundreds of volunteers coming together for the Blitz Build, safety was our top priority,” Austin View explained, “Thanks to Brad and the MEM safety grant, we were able to equip everyone with the necessary gear and training, creating a truly safe and successful build experience.”  

Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity joined 58 businesses in benefiting from MEM’s safety grants in 2023, bringing the program’s total impact to more than $2.8 million since 2016. (See full list of winners here) 

“It’s always rewarding to help policyholders, but with Habitat, it felt extra special,” Brad Minor shared. “They genuinely rely on financial assistance for crucial safety equipment like harnesses and lanyards, things many businesses take for granted.”

MEM’s safety grant also unlocked a productivity boost for Show-Me Central Habitat’s ambitious 143-home project.  

“Previously, our work on siding and fascia stalled at 6 feet due to safety limitations,” said View. “Now, thanks to railings and harnesses, we can deploy more workers safely and speed up construction of our 143-home project. 

Improving working conditions and safety is just one of the benefits Minor said he enjoys about the safety grant application process. 

 “Safety grants such as this go beyond protection. They touch lives. Risks addressed, confidence built, morale boosted – all thanks to this investment and the commitment of management to a safer jobsite.” 

In the case of Habitat for Humanity, safety is about more than protecting volunteers, but also protecting the American dream.  Habitat for Humanity helps families in need achieve homeownership through affordable mortgages on modestly sized houses. Targeting single-income families with 1-2 children, they empower hardworking individuals who struggle to afford a home on their own. 

All MEM policyholders are eligible for a safety grant, regardless of premium size or claims history. Successful applicants earn one-to-one matching grants of up to $10,000 toward approved safety initiatives. Policyholders are required to monitor any claims data and report on the success of the safety grant so MEM can help other businesses learn from their success.  

Questions about MEM’s Safety Grant Program? 

Visit our frequently asked questions page here. 

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What are safety grants?

Safety grants are funds provided by the government or private organizations to businesses looking to improve their workplace safety programs. These grants are designed to help businesses pay for equipment, training, and other safety initiatives that will help prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.

Who qualifies for safety grants?

Typically, safety grants are available to small and medium-sized businesses and non-profit organizations. Some grants may also be available to large companies, depending on the specific grant program and its eligibility requirements.

Types of safety grants

There are several different types of safety grants available, including grants for specific industries, such as construction or manufacturing, and grants for specific safety initiatives, such as fall protection or fire safety. There are also grants available for training programs and for buying safety equipment.

How to apply for safety grants

The application process for safety grants varies depending on the grant program. It generally involves submitting a proposal that outlines your safety initiative and showing why your organization needs funding. You may also need to supply financial information, such as a budget and a business plan, and show how the grant will be used to improve workplace safety.

The benefits of safety grants

The benefits of safety grants are many. They can help companies reduce the cost of work comp, improve the health and safety of employees, and reduce the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses. Safety grants can also help companies to follow OSHA regulations, reduce insurance costs, and improve overall employee morale.

Missouri Employers Mutual Safety Grants

We believe funding should never stand in the way of keeping people safe. That’s why we created the MEM Safety Grant program. MEM policyholders can apply for a grant to buy equipment that enhances safety in the workplace.

Our safety grants supply one-to-one matching funds. That means for every dollar you spend on an approved project, we’ll match it – helping you double your investment on your most important and impactful safety projects.

To learn more, check out our previous grant winners or view our Safety Grant FAQs.

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Missouri businesses are invited to compete for cash prizes and help make our roadways safer in the inaugural Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) Business Showdown, sponsored by AAA Missouri and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, in collaboration with Missouri Employers Mutual, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and General Motors.

The BUPD Business Showdown is a new, FREE distracted driving prevention training course that provides participating businesses with cash incentives for employee participation. The goal of the program is to educate drivers on the dangers of cell phone use while driving and offer solutions for preventing distractions behind the wheel. 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the U.S., killing more than 17,000 workers from 2011-2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2019, U.S. work-related vehicles cost employers $39 billion, according to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. 

“Statistically, car crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths, and we know cell phone distraction is playing an increased role,” said AAA Missouri Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations Angela Nelson. “To protect employees and keep work comp costs down, safety should be the top priority for every employer.  We know many businesses don’t have a safe driving policy – and that’s the first step to ensuring employees are safe when they’re behind the wheel.” 

According to data from Missouri Employers Mutual, work-related vehicle crashes also come at a high financial cost for employers. Lost time vehicle crash claims cost an average of $126,000. 

“The number of motor vehicle-related workers compensation claims rises each year, and more than half of them involve litigation expenses. The simple act of enforcing a company seat belt policy can reduce injuries and costs,” said Missouri Employers Mutual Vice President and Chief Claims Officer Jennifer Langan. 

How to Participate and Win Cash Prizes 

Missouri businesses with five (5) or more employees are eligible to participate. 

There are four easy steps for businesses to compete in the BUPD Business Showdown contest and be eligible to win cash prizes: 

1. Register your business 
2. Adopt a safe driving cell phone policy  
3. Have employees complete the 20-minute, online distracted driving prevention training video 
4. Once completed, have employees submit the online Buckle Up, Phone Down pledge 

Cash prizes, provided by AAA Missouri, funded through grants from the Governors Highway Safety Association and General Motors, will be awarded to three businesses with the highest percentage of employees who complete the training video and submit the online safe driving pledge. 

• 1st Place | $7,500 
• 2nd Place | $6,000 
• 3rd Place | $5,000 

The contest period runs from Jan. 9 to March 31, 2023. Winners will be announced and invited to an awards presentation at the Missouri State Capitol in April.  

Interested? Check out additional BUPD resources and complete contest rules.  

Eliminate Distracted Driving  

All motorists are encouraged to eliminate distracted driving by following these tips: 

• Put it away. Place your mobile device out of sight to prevent temptation. 
• Know where you’re going. If using a navigation system, program the destination before driving. 
• Pull over. If you must call or text while on the road, pull off the road safely and stop first. 
• Ask passengers for help. If riding with someone, seek their help to navigate, make a call or send a message. 
• Be a good passenger. Speak out if the driver of your vehicle is distracted. 
• Don’t be a distraction. Avoid calling or texting others when you know they are driving. 
• Activate Do Not Disturb. Setting up this feature on iPhone or Android devices will prevent calls from coming in while you’re driving.  
• Everyone should prevent being ‘intexticated’. Just as drivers need to pay attention, so do pedestrians and bicyclists. Never call, text, or play games while walking or cycling. 

Accept the BUPD challenge today and encourage your employees to drive like it’s their job, by buckling their seat belts and putting their phones down while driving! 

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Watch below as Tisha Greco, MEM’s Safety and Risk Services (SRS) Resource and Support Center Manager explains the basics and benefits of safety grants, what it takes to apply and how agents play a role in the process. 

What is a Safety Grant? 

At MEM, we want to encourage employers to look for safety solutions to reduce or eliminate injuries and illness. Our Safety Grant program is a solution that helps our policyholders by offering a 1-to-1 match of up to $10,000 for MEM policyholders to invest in innovative safety solutions.   

Benefits of a Safety Grant 

The Safety Grant program benefits both our policyholders and MEM. The benefits to a policyholder can be unique as the business itself.  Many of our Safety Grant winners find that they benefit from: 

• Fewer claims 
• Increased employee morale 
• Improved efficiency 
• Competitive advantages 

The role of an agent 

It can be a challenge for policyholders to understand what a Safety Grant can and can’t be used for. Safety Grants are for critical equipment or solutions that can help keep employees safe. Agents can help a policyholder examine important information needed to apply for a Safety Grant, such as:  

• The greatest safety risks present in the workplace
• The innovative safety solutions available 
• The piece of equipment or solution that would make the greatest impact 

Keep in mind that Safety Grants can’t be used for items like first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, or other standard personal protective equipment (PPE). 

MEM’s Safety and Risk Services Consultants will also be helping along the way. They are there to support both the agent and the policyholder throughout the process. 

How to apply 

Policyholders should visit the safety grant program website and get started by completing the Safety Grant Consultation Request Form themselves. It’s important that the policyholder completes the application, as communication between MEM and the policyholder needs to be direct.  

As the application is completely anonymous to the panel that awards the grants, it’s essential that when filling out the application to communicate the: 

• Scope of the work 
• Need for a solution 
• Current method of completing the job
• Impact the new solution will make 

To increase the chances of being awarded a Safety Grant, be sure to include photos and videos. 

Safety Grants are accepted on an ongoing basis and either approved or declined the following month. Let us help you make a difference in the way you do business.  

Interested in the Safety Grant program? Visit our Safety Grants page to learn more about the program and the application process. Or read about safety grant success stories on our blog.   

The post Safety Grants: An Investment in Your Future and Your Employees  appeared first on MEM.

Quicker turn around by awarding money every month

Beginning June 1, we will accept grant applications on an ongoing basis and either approve or decline requests the following month.

Ex. Applications received June 1 – June 30 will be notified of a decision by July 31*.

A one-to-one match up to a total of $10,000 per calendar year

Policyholders can apply multiple times throughout the year for different safety interventions, up to a total of $10,000 per calendar year. A decision must be made on any previous requests before beginning a subsequent application.

Ex. If a policyholder is awarded $3,000 in July, the policyholder could apply in August for up to $7,000.

First-come, first-served basis

Once the safety grant budget has been depleted for the year, we will stop accepting applications until the following January. In January, we will reconvene the application process and reset available safety grant funds.

60-day reimbursement timeline

Once notified of an award, policyholders have 60 days to submit for reimbursement or the money will be forfeited and returned to the grant fund for reallocation. Before applying for a safety grant, applicants should verify their ability to acquire the requested items within this timeframe.

Request a safety and risk consultation

Policyholders can get a jump-start on the pre-application safety and risk consultation for the July awards by logging in to the grant website any time after March 2 and submitting the Safety Grant Consultation Request Form. Once the consultation is complete and the application process opens on June 1, policyholders will be notified when they’ve been granted access to complete the application.

Interested in the Safety Grant program? Visit our Safety Grants page to learn more about the program and the application process. Or read about safety grant success stories on our blog.

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“The safety grants program is here to help policyholders reduce or eliminate employee injuries, and improve their business safety and productivity,” Jim Owen, President and CEO of MEM said. “We’re proud of the impacts this program has made over the last five years in making workplaces safer and allowing businesses to move forward with confidence.”

The 11th safety grant cycle awarded $259,000 to 38 policyholders. The program is designed to help policyholders pinpoint areas of their business where an injury could occur, or in many cases, purchase equipment related to injuries previously experienced. In this cycle, 37% of the policyholders receiving grants experienced injuries two years prior in the area that the safety grant-funded equipment to be purchased will address. The remaining 63% of grant winners received funds to address an exposure and subsequent need to increase employee safety in that area.

Program is making measurable impact in reducing injuries

Five years into the program, safety grant recipients continue to see positive results. Since implementing the safety equipment purchased with their grants, the 280 businesses have experienced only 14 claims totaling $49,000. That’s a 96% reduction in claims and a 94% reduction in claims costs.

Preventing injuries

For Village Gallery, a 2018 safety grant for the purchase of a saw stop table saw prevented a major injury to an employee at the custom cabinetry business.

“It was an incident where an operator let his guard down and wasn’t paying attention,” Carl Williams, owner of Village Gallery said. “His finger got to the blade and the saw stopped it from moving. So instead of potentially losing a finger, he received a very small nick instead.”

Williams said prior to receiving the safety grant, his business experienced a claim related to use of a table saw.

“We have been very pleased working with MEM, and we hope to revisit the safety grant program again in the future,” Williams said.

Improving efficiency

New safety grant winner Washington Metal Fabricators looks forward to the time that their new safety-grant funded equipment will save, in addition to making the process used with the equipment safer. The custom metal fabricator has been in business since 1979. With the purchase of an anvil lift, operators will be able to use the crane system and hoist fitted with suction cups to lift sheets of metal on to a table.

“The new lift will allow us to load the metal sheets with less labor and avoid getting cut from the raw material,” Marvin Rooffener, production engineer for Washington Metal Fabricators said. “It will help speed up production and help the operator be much more efficient in running parts.”

All of MEM’s policyholders are eligible for a safety grant, regardless of premium size or claims history. Successful applicants earn one-to-one matching grants up to $10,000 toward approved safety initiatives. Policyholders are required to monitor claims data and report on the success of the safety grant so MEM can help other businesses learn from their success.

The following businesses were selected to receive safety grants this cycle:

Washington Metal FabricatorsWashingtonCrane system with hoist and vacuum lifter

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More than just pain, investing in ergonomics can also save your business money. Learn how MEM policyholder Culligan of Mid-Missouri changed some of their ergonomics practices to do so.

Inspired? Pledge to move better by checking out some of our top ergonomics pain points:

1. Avoid back strain.

Overexertion is the leading cause of workplace injury, making up 34% of lost-time injuries.

According to the National Safety Council, the causes of most of these injuries fall into a few categories:

• Directing excessive physical effort at an object (lifting, pulling, carrying, throwing)
• Repetitive motion (typing, using tools or instruments)
• Free bodily motion (bending, crawling, twisting, kneeling)

The types of movements that can lead to strains and sprains often seem harmless – but the frequency of these injuries shows that many employees are underestimating the risk or are simply unaware of safety protocols that can prevent them.

2. Lift safely.

Using unsafe or careless lifting techniques can put you at risk for a serious back injury.

Make sure your employees know the basic best practices for lifting:

• Stabilize your body by keeping your feet shoulder width apart.
• Squat and let your leg muscles do the heavy lifting. Avoid bending and relying on your back muscles.
• Avoid twisting while lifting.
• Get help and team-lift heavy loads.
• When possible, use tools or equipment for heavy lifts. Some examples: skid steer, loader or dolly.

3. Stretch often.

When your muscles aren’t prepared, it doesn’t take much to strain them. Stretching gives your body a chance to warm up and reduces your risk of muscle injury.

Many strains and sprains result from repetitive motion – doing the same job day after day, sometimes for years. While stretch breaks and proper form can reduce this risk, sometimes the most effective solution is to change or eliminate the motion entirely.

One Missouri Employers Mutual policyholder reduced this risk by starting a stretching program on a specific schedule.

4. Look at your processes and equipment.

In some situations, a process improvement can be all it takes to reduce exposure to repetitive motion and strains. Perhaps the job can be performed from a seated work station instead of requiring the employee to bend over. Alternatively, if the employee is repeatedly bending over to pick up materials, maybe the materials can be positioned on a nearby platform instead of the ground.

You should also consider equipment options that could alleviate your team’s most harmful repetitive motions. An up-front investment in new equipment pays for itself quickly when you consider that an employee with an overexertion injury misses 13 days of work on average. This lost productivity plus the impact that a work comp claim can have on your insurance premium makes doing everything you can to prevent injuries a no-brainer.

5. At a desk? Examine your setup (and your posture).

Employees in business and professional services might not be moving heavy objects all day, but they’re also at risk for strains and sprains. Sitting at a desk for seven or eight hours a day can be harmful to the body, especially if the work station is not set up ergonomically.

Teach employees about the 20/20/20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet or more away for 20 seconds. Your eyes need the full 20 seconds to relax, keeping their tissues flexible and oxygenated. It’s a great opportunity to get up, stretch and get a drink of water. Your ergonomics training should also address good posture for long-term sitting.

6. Talk a walk, listen and learn.

Speaking of getting up and moving, we have great listening resources available while you take a break from your work station.

Check out our WorkSAFE Podcast where we talk with an expert about what overexertion injuries are and how they happen. Then, we will explain how employers can prevent them at work and at home. Finally, we’ll talk about rehabilitating strains and sprains.

Working from home? We have a WorkSAFE Podcast dedicated to optimizing your workstation so it is ergonomically correct.

The post Let’s Celebrate Ergonomics Month by Pledging to Move Better! appeared first on MEM.

“COVID-19 has brought unprecedented safety challenges to businesses,” said Jim Owen, President and CEO of MEM. “Our safety grant program supported businesses in quickly getting the equipment they needed to keep their employees safe and healthy.”

Eight of 33 grant award winners received funds for COVID-19 related items.

Keeping essential workplaces safe and clean

MEM’s safety grant reimbursed Mid-America Transplant for the purchase of an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer, foot door pulls and other safety measures. This allowed them to continue their work of providing organ and tissue donations to a service area of more than 84 counties covering eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and northeast Arkansas.

‘We’re a 24-hour business because of the nature of our work,” said Scott Gardner, safety and security coordinator at Mid-America Transplant. “When the pandemic hit, it was very difficult to even find a cleaning service that would be available for the disinfection work we needed in our office, so we purchased our own equipment.”

Cleaner air in close quarters

At Warren County Emergency Communications Center, social distancing on the job is not possible. Four to six dispatchers are stationed together in one room for 12-hour shifts.

The 22-person staff serves two ambulance districts, three fire districts, three police departments and the sheriff’s office. MEM’s safety grant program will allow them to purchase an air purifier system to improve the quality of their HVAC system.

“Everyone here was so excited to learn we received the grant,” said Megan Ramey administrative assistant with Warren County. “We are hoping the air purifier will help keep us well, and we are really grateful.”

Cycle 9 Safety Grant winners

The MEM Safety Grants program partners with policyholders to identify a safety need or improvement that can reduce or eliminate illnesses or injury in the workplace.

In 2021, MEM will celebrate five years of the safety grants program, and past recipients are seeing positive results. In the two years prior to receiving their grants, 226 recipients experienced 254 claims totaling nearly $5 million. Since implementing the safety equipment purchased with their grants, recipients have only experienced only 12 claims totaling less than $50,000 in the areas addressed by their grant-funded equipment.

The following businesses were selected to receive safety grants in MEM’s ninth cycle:

Learn more about MEM’s Safety Grants Program and how to apply.

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“It’s an unprecedented time for many of us, but our policyholders can always count on our commitment to safety,” said Jim Owen, President and CEO of MEM. “We are proud to continue the safety grants program because we know many businesses are tightening their belts, and we don’t want funding to stand in the way of keeping people safe.”

All of MEM’s nearly 17,000 policyholders are eligible for a safety grant, regardless of premium size or claims history. Successful applicants earn one-to-one matching grants up to $10,000 toward approved safety initiatives. Policyholders are required to monitor claims data and report on the success of equipment purchased with safety grant funds, so MEM can help other businesses learn from their success.

For Car-Anth Manufacturing, the safety grant means reducing the risk for pinch-point injuries in their welding operation. Pinch-point injuries are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries which involve being caught in or struck by moving machinery.

“We are very excited about this safety grant award,” said John Klorer, vice president of Car-Anth Manufacturing. “This is a welder that is really going to be a trend setter in the spot-welding department and MEM’s award is definitely a tipping point for us to embrace the new technology.”

Car-Anth was founded in 1940, and the St. Louis manufacturing facility provides machining, fabrication and welding services.

Steadfast Transcontinent Inc. wanted to find a way to reduce the likelihood of back strain after changing the tires. Strains and sprains make up 50% of injuries in the trucking industry and are the most costly. The cargo and freight company received a safety grant for their purchase of a tire changing machine.

“On behalf of our guys in the shop changing tires every day and my wife and myself, we really appreciate the grant,” said Ricky Bibbs, president and owner of Steadfast Transcontinent. “It takes a lot of manpower to break down the tires with hand tools and the machine really speeds up the process. We promised the guys we would get one the last time one of them hurt his back and now, with the economic situation, this is a real blessing.”

Located in Hornersville, Missouri, Steadfast was founded in 1988 and is licensed to run 25 trucks.

The following businesses were selected to receive safety grants in MEM’s eighth cycle:

Learn more about our SafetySMARTS Safety Grants program and how to apply.

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We’re proud to report that together with our policyholders and agent partners, we accomplished that goal in 2018. More than 85% of our policyholders were injury-free, including a record number of large businesses.

One million dollars in safety grants

It’s three years now that we’ve been awarding safety grants to selected policyholders for the purchase of equipment that improves workplace safety. Since 2016, we’ve given away more than $1.2 million in grants, matching funds for 144 policyholders. Our favorite safety grant statistic? We’ve helped these policyholders improve safety at work for more than 4,500 employees.

What are grant winners purchasing and how is it affecting their day-to-day operations? Read these success stories to find out.

One year of safety dividends

In 2018, we celebrated a full year of rewarding our policyholders with safety dividends. More than 13,000 – or 91% of eligible policyholders – earned a safety dividend last year by having safety policies and procedures in place. The average dividend was about 4.4% of a policyholder’s premium, but some policyholders earned as much as 25% of their premium back in the form of a dividend!

More highlights from 2018

We measure success in many ways at MEM. Below are just a few more highlights from the year. Want to learn more? Check out our full 2018 Annual Report.

MEMAnnualReport2018-infographic

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