KC gains $100K grant

Texas Mutual Insurance Company yesterday announced it will award a $100,000 grant to Kilgore College Workforce Development Program.

The workers' compensation insurer has issued $200,000 in grants to the program during the past two years. The grants fund free health and safety courses for employers, employees and the general public.

"Many companies in the area have had to cut more and more safety courses out of their budgets," said Martha Woodruff, director of KC Workforce Development. "We are just thrilled to get this grant to offer free, high-quality employee training to help businesses keep their workers safe."

The courses focus on general safety topics, as well as topics designed for the oil and gas industry. Students receive Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification for some courses and continuing education units for all courses.

For more information, visit www.kilgore.edu/risk_management.asp, or contact Ben Cammack at bcammack@kilgore. edu or (903) 988-7426.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company, based in Austin, has given similar grants to Midland College and College of the Mainland in Texas City. The company also offers free workers' comp workshops across the state. The workshops include a presentation by a Texas Mutual safety professional.

The grants and workshops are part of the company's ongoing initiative to prevent workplace accidents.

"On-the-job injuries carry monetary and, most importantly, human costs," said Russ Oliver, president of Texas Mutual. "As the state's leading provider of workers' comp insurance, it is our responsibility to promote safe workplaces. Any time we have the opportunity to get that message to Texas employers, we consider it money well spent."

For more information about safety training offered through Texas Mutual Insurance Company, visit www. texasmutual.com and click on Safety & return to-work.

Texas Mutual is the state's leading provider of workers' compensation insurance, with approximately 25 percent of the market.