Evaluating the Impact of Delaware’s Workplace Safety Program
The Delaware Workplace Safety Program (DWSP) provides eligible employers with workers’ compensation premium credits for meeting defined safety standards verified through independent inspections. To evaluate how the program has performed over time, the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau analyzed DWSP experience from 2006 through 2021.
This report examines participation levels, credit adequacy, and loss experience for participating and non-participating employers. By assessing long-term trends and outcomes, the analysis offers insight into how the program operates within Delaware’s workers’ compensation system and supports informed consideration of its effectiveness and future direction.
12%
Average safety credit of 12% received by participating employers over the 2006-2021 period.
What’s in the report
- While earlier periods showed substantial indicated debits, more recent experience reflects a narrowing gap between actual credits and indicated levels.
- Participation increased when state rates were higher but has fallen in recent years alongside consistent rate reductions.
- Differences in loss ratios are driven largely by volatility among a smaller pool of participating employers rather than sustained performance gaps.