Cullman County employees and officials recently earned statewide recognition for their ongoing effort to help reduce workplace accidents while improving on-the-job safety.

In conjunction with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama and County Risk Services, Inc. (the association’s Montgomery-based administrator for the program), the recognition came as part of June’s National Safety Month, when county employees took part in weekly safety programs including PPE, slip/trip/fall checklists, work zone safety and programs to utilize vehicle maintenance checklists.

As an active participant in the ACCA’s self-funded insurance programs, Cullman County manages risk through the partnership, which allows county commissions statewide to pool resources and expertise as a cost-saving measure.

According to organizers, a total of 61 Alabama counties plus other municipal entities take part in the workers’ compensation program; 59 counties participate in the liability program; and 42 participate in the property insurance pool. Later in the year, county employees also will be recognized with a breakfast to commemorate their participation in the program. Only about one-third of the state’s county commissions participated in the programs offered during the recent June safety month events.

“We’re so excited to be able to recognize the hard work of Cullman County and its focus on enhancing the quality of the work environment for its employees,” ACCA executive director Sonny Brasfield said in a release. “Far too often workplace safety is discarded as unimportant, but this county commission is investing in its employees, and we’re grateful to be able to say, ‘Thank you’ in this way.”