SPRINGFIELD, IL- Sangamon County will be getting more than $97,000 in grant money for workplace safety.
Sangamon County Auditor Paul Palazzolo says the money will strengthen the county's efforts to cut down on worker compensation costs.
Around $79,000 will be used to pay a medical case management firm that helps county employees return to work after an injury.
The remaining $17,000 will be used to buy equipment to make county jobs safer, such as Kevlar gloves for animal control workers, lifts to help pick up larger animals, elbow-length welding gloves and tasers for both animal control employees and sheriff's deputies.
"This Illinois Public Risk Fund grant is an investment in workplace safety that pays dividends in the form of fewer workers' comp claims and, as a result, lower costs to the taxpayer," Palazzolo says.
The Illinois Public Risk Fund is a self-funded workers' compensation pool for public entities that provides an alternative to workers' compensation premiums and related costs.
