If you employ workers in Utah, you need to know the state workers’ compensation insurance laws that pertain to your small business. Here are ten fast facts to know.
1. Every employer in Utah must provide workers’ comp coverage for all employees, with a few exceptions. Employees who may be excluded from needing workers’ comp insurance in Utah include certain agricultural workers, real estate brokers, sole proprietors, partners, and members of limited liability companies.
2. The Utah Labor Commission published the Employers’ Guide to Workers’ Compensation to help employers understand the basics of the state’s workers’ comp system.
3. In Utah, the Department of Insurance establishes basic premium rates for workers’ comp coverage. These rates are then modified to reflect the specific risks of each occupation and each employer’s claims history for work-related injuries and illnesses.
4. Employers who purchase workers’ comp insurance in Utah by fraudulently underreporting payroll or participating in other material misrepresentations are open to criminal prosecution.
5. If you subcontract work to or partner with another company, you can check their workers’ comp coverage information through Utah’s Workers’ Compensation Coverage Verification website. The site is maintained by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).
6. If one of your workers reports a work-related illness or injury, your company has seven days to report the claim via an Employers First Report of Injury or Illness Form (Form 122e) to your insurance carrier. Your insurer then has 14 days to electronically submit the “First Report of Injury”to Utah’s Industrial Accidents Division.
7. The Utah Workers’ Compensation Act doesn’t prohibit an employer from dismissing an injured employee if they can no longer perform the job. Further, if an employee isn’t able to return to work to perform the same job duties, a business owner isn’t required to offer that worker a new position.
8. If workers sustain permanent partial disabilities on the job that deters them from completing the same type of work they were doing before the workers’ comp incident, they can apply for rehabilitation services through the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.
9. In 2019, 51 fatal occupational injuries were recorded in Utah, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
10. If your small business is eligible for a workers’ comp waiver, you can submit your request online with Utah’s Workers Compensation Coverage Waivers System.
Remember, every situation is different and state workers’ compensation laws are subject to change, so be sure to do your research and speak with a trusted advisor.
Thanks for reading! Please note that this content is intended for educational purposes only. As laws change regularly, you should refer to your state legislation and/or an advisor for specific legal counsel. If you’re a small business owner, learn more about workers’ compensation insurance or check your current rate in 3 minutes.
