Pinnacol Assurance Makes Donation to Advance Safety in the Workplace

Insurance-University partnership commits funds to workplace health and safety training programs


DENVER, Sept. 27, 2011 – Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, is demonstrating its commitment to keeping Colorado workers safe on the job by making a donation to the Colorado School of Public Health's Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC). The partnership will help deliver continuing education programs to health professionals, with training focused on ensuring healthy and safe workplaces for Colorado workers.

“Pinnacol is proud to support this continuing education program,” said Ken Ross, Pinnacol president and CEO. “MAP ERC has both the resources and expertise to provide occupational safety and health professionals with the latest scientific research and the most up-to-date curriculum. They are well-positioned to offer both online and classroom training, making it easy for working professionals to gain the knowledge they need to help keep Colorado’s workplaces safe.”

The new training partnership, funded by a $25,000 gift from Pinnacol to the school, enables the MAP ERC to develop and deliver comprehensive online training and certification review programs to professionals in the Rocky Mountain region. Focusing on worker health and safety, the programs will train health professional who can benefit all industries in Colorado, from construction and energy to service and agriculture.

“These professionals hold the key to both worker safety and workplace productivity. These continuing education programs will help ensure that we keep employees safe and Colorado industries strong,” states Lee Newman, MD, professor of occupational health and MAP ERC director.

The MAP ERC is one of 17 national centers devoted to research and training in occupational health and safety. Spanning from the borders of Canada to Mexico, the MAP ERC works with industries to meet the occupational health education needs of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The gift is the second investment made by Pinnacol to address risk management in the workplace. In 2010 the company committed $5 million to the University of Colorado Denver Business School to develop a nationally recognized risk management and insurance program.

“Risk management is a fundamental part of managing a business and this gift demonstrates our commitment to providing the Rocky Mountain Region with cutting-edge learning opportunities in all areas of insurance that will enhance the reputation of the industry,” Ross noted.

Combined, the gifts leverage university expertise against Pinnacol’s commitment to helping Colorado companies and insurers cooperatively address and prevent the health and safety risks facing Colorado workers. Trainings supported under the new partnership will be developed in 2011 and offered beginning 2012.

About Pinnacol Assurance
Pinnacol Assurance is Colorado’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance. Pinnacol provides comprehensive, competitively priced coverage; immediate attention to claims; a highly qualified network of medical providers; and proactive safety programs to approximately 55,000 Colorado businesses. Since 2005, Pinnacol has returned more than $435 million in general dividends to its policyholders statewide, a mark of the company’s stable and strong financial health.

About the Colorado School of Public Health
The Colorado School of Public Health is the first and only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain Region, attracting top tier faculty and students from across the country, and providing a vital contribution towards ensuring our region’s health and well-being. Collaboratively formed by the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and the University of Northern Colorado, the Colorado School of Public Health provides training, innovative research and community service to actively address public health issues, including chronic disease, access to health care, environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases, and costly injuries.

Contact:
Suzi Stolte
Cell: 720.406.3795
Office: 303.361.4777
suzi.stolte@pinnacol.com