Source: https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Workers-Compensation/publications/Pages/WC%20Act/PA-Workers-Comp-Rules--Regs-Chapter-129.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 00:44:46+00:00

Document:
AIPS -- Form LIBC-210I, Insurer's Annual Report of Accident and Illness Prevention Services, which provides detailed information about services being maintained or provided by a workers' compensation insurer to its policyholders.
AIPPS -- Form LIBC-220E, Annual Report of Accident and Illness Prevention Program Status, which provides detailed information about a self-insured employer's prevention program or prevention services being provided to employer members of a group self-insurance fund.
Accident analysis -- The review of injury and illness records for the purpose of identifying trends, causal factors and methods of preventing and reducing work-related accidents and illnesses.
Accident and illness prevention services providers -- A person or persons providing accident and illness prevention services for an insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund who meets the requirements in § 129.702 (relating to accident and illness prevention services providers credentials and experience).
Accident and illness prevention services -- Services, within the context of the act, which include: surveys, proposed corrective actions, training programs, consultations, analyses of accident causes and industrial hygiene and industrial health services.
Act -- The Workers' Compensation Act (77 P. S.§§ 1-1041.4 and 2501-2626).
Act 44 -- The act of July 2, 1993 (P. L. 190, No. 44).
Act 57 -- The act of June 24, 1996 (P. L. 350, No. 57).
Adequate -- A Bureau of Workers' Compensation final determination that the insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund has fulfilled the program and service requirements as stated in this chapter.
Affiliated company -- Employers which are closely related through common ownership or control.
Applicant-employer -- An insured employer, an individual self-insured employer or an employer member of a group self-insurance fund having its own separate Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) applying to the Bureau for certification or certification renewal of its workplace safety committee.
Application -- Form LIBC-372, Application for Certification of Workplace Safety Committee, used to apply for Department certification.
Audit -- An inspection of documentation or other evidence relating to the adequacy of accident and illness prevention services or programs as authorized by section 1001(c) of the act (77 P. S. § 1038.1(c)).
Bureau -- The Bureau of Workers' Compensation of the Department.
Centralized workplace safety committee -- A safety committee comprised of personnel, both employer and employee representatives, who are selected from and reasonably represent those job functions located at all auxiliary or satellite employer locations, in addition to the headquarter facilities (if the headquarters facility is located in this Commonwealth) and which represents the health and safety concerns of all personnel at those auxiliary or satellite locations.
Certification -- The Departmental approval of an applicant-employer's application for certification of its workplace safety committees.
Certification renewal -- Form LIBC-372R, Certification Renewal Affidavit of Workplace Safety Committee, used to attest to the continued operation, according to Departmental requirements, of a previously certified workplace safety committee.
Commissioner -- The Insurance Commissioner of the Commonwealth.
Consultation -- Providing advice relative to existing and potential hazards.
Contracted accident and illness prevention services providers -- A person or organization which meets the qualification standards in § 129.702 (relating to accident and illness prevention services providers requirement) under contract with an insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund for the purpose of maintaining or providing accident and illness prevention services and programs as required under the act.
Credential -- A designation in the health and safety field recognized by the Department.
Department -- The Department of Labor and Industry of the Commonwealth.
Director -- The Director of the Bureau.
Effectiveness measures -- Any one of the various statistical means used by an insurer, self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund to evaluate the adequacy of accident and illness prevention programs and services such as Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) incidence rate comparison, loss ratio or experience modification factor.
Emergency action plans -- Plans to be at least annually reviewed by individual self-insured employers and which address the need for immediate action to protect employees due to the occurrence of life-threatening or endangering exposures. Examples of types of plans include: building and site evacuation; hazardous material spill; and urgent employee medical treatment.
Evaluation methods -- Periodic reviews of accident and illness prevention services or programs to determine if actual health and safety concerns, experience and exposures are being addressed, and conducted at least annually.
Group self-insurance fund -- A group of employers authorized by the Bureau to act as a self-insurance fund under section 802 of the act (77 P. S. § 1036.2).
Group self-insurance fund initial report of accident and illness prevention services -- A report to be filed with the Bureau when an application for group self-insurance fund status is submitted which details accident and illness prevention services to be maintained for member companies.
Hazard identification methods -- Methods used to conduct hazard identification and for providing proposed corrective actions for the purpose of eliminating or reducing occupational accidents, injuries and illnesses. Activities may include: providing solutions; explanations; resources; reference materials; and referrals.
Industrial health services -- Services that include a consultation concerning the well-being of people in relation to their job and working environment. This consultation may produce proposed corrective actions aimed at identifying, controlling and preventing exposures as part of the implementation of a program of accident and illness prevention services.
Industrial hygiene services -- Services that include consultation concerning suspected chemical, physical or biological exposures. This consultation may produce proposed corrective actions designed to control or prevent identified exposures and is directed toward implementing a program of accident and illness prevention services.
In-service status -- The classification granted to an accident and illness prevention services provider who does not possess a Bureau-recognized credential under § 129.702.
Insurer -- An entity or group of affiliated entities subject to The Insurance Company Law of 1921 (40 P. S. §§ 341 -- 477(d)), including the State Workers' Insurance Fund, but not including self-insured employers or runoff self-insurers, with which an employer has insured its liability under section 305 of the act (77 P. S. § 501).
Insurer's initial report of accident and illness prevention services -- Form LIBC-211I, Insurer's Initial Report of Accident and Illness Prevention Services, which shall be filed with the Insurance Department when an insurer applies for a license to write workers' compensation insurance in this Commonwealth which details accident and illness prevention services to be maintained by or provided to policyholders.
Loss run -- A report containing an employer's incurred losses including the following information concerning an employee's injury or illness: type; cause; medical cost; compensation paid; and moneys reserved for claim payment.
Member -- An employer participating in a group self-insurance fund.
Program coordinator -- An employee or contracted individual selected by an individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund to coordinate the accident and illness prevention program.
Quorum -- A majority of permanent workplace safety committee members.
Recommendations -- Findings included in an audit report issued by the Bureau which must be satisfactorily implemented and supported by written documentation in order to achieve a final determination of adequate.
Renewal -- A new policy offered by an insurer and accepted by an employer for the next annual anniversary date of the applicant-employer's workers' compensation insurance policy after certification of its workplace safety committee.
SWIF -- The State Workers' Insurance Fund.
Self-insured employer -- An individual self-insured employer who is authorized by the Department to self-insure its workers' compensation liability under section 305 of the act, or a group of employers authorized by the Department to act as a group self-insurance fund under section 802 of the act.
Self-insured employer's initial report of accident and illness prevention program -- A report to be filed with the Bureau when an application for individual self-insurance is submitted which details the accident and illness prevention program to be maintained by the employer.
Suggestions -- Findings of an audit or report evaluation issued by the Bureau which would improve accident and illness prevention programs and services but are not mandatory to achieve a final determination of adequate.
Survey -- A review of past accident records or an onsite assessment, or both, to identify existing and potential hazards and the initiation of further corrective actions, as appropriate.
Training program -- Training which enables employers and employees to enhance knowledge, skills, attitudes and motivations concerning health and safety issues, and requirements relating to operations, processes, materials and specific work environments.
Workplace -- A permanent location in this Commonwealth of the applicant-employer at which full-time or permanent part-time workers perform their job duties or from which job assignments are made and administrative controls are exercised.
Workplace safety committee -- A joint employer and employee committee established at a workplace for the purpose of hazard detection and accident and illness prevention activities.
Worksite -- A temporary location at which full-time or permanent part-time workers perform their job duties for a limited period of time.
This subchapter interprets the requirements of the act that an insurer desiring to write workers' compensation insurance in this Commonwealth shall maintain or provide adequate accident and illness prevention services as a prerequisite for a license to write this insurance. Services shall be adequate to furnish accident and illness prevention required by the nature of the insurer's business or its policyholders' operations. This subchapter also establishes the criteria that the Department will employ in determining the adequacy of the services required to be maintained or provided by an insurer.
(1) Notice of availability of services. Notice that services required by this subchapter are available to the policyholder from an insurer shall appear in at least 10 point bold type and shall accompany each workers' compensation insurance policy delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth. The notice shall include information about the 5% premium discount available to employers who form a certified workplace safety committee as described in this chapter. The required elements of the notice include the name, address and telephone number of the contact person or department for additional information about the services.
(2) Requirements to maintain accident and illness prevention services. An insurer shall have the capacity to provide services that are adequate to furnish accident and illness prevention required by the nature of the insurer's business or its policyholders' operations. Capacity to provide services is defined as an insurer having established means to deliver services such as those listed in paragraph (3) based upon anticipated policyholder requests for services or based upon an insurer's evaluation of policyholder requirements. Capacity to provide services shall be established by an insurer utilizing its own or contracted staff who shall meet the requirements established by the Department as outlined in Subchapter E (relating to accident and illness prevention services providers requirements).
(i) An insurer shall provide accident and illness prevention services to policyholders who request them or based on the insurer's determination of the policyholders' operational requirements. Services shall be provided through an insurer's own or contracted staff who meet the requirements established by the Department in Subchapter E.
(B) Providing or proposing corrective actions in the area of industrial hygiene services as requested by the policyholder or as determined by the insurer to meet the policyholders' operational requirements, for example, air quality testing.
(C) Providing or proposing corrective actions in the area of industrial health services as requested by the policyholder or as determined by the insurer to meet the policyholders' operational requirements, for example, health screenings or substance abuse awareness and prevention training policies and programs.
(a) As part of their application for a certificate of authority submitted to the Insurance Department, applicants for a license to write workers' compensation insurance shall provide information concerning their accident and illness prevention services required under § 129.102 (relating to accident and illness prevention services requirements) using Form LIBC-211I, Insurer's Initial Report of Accident and Illness Prevention Services.
(b) As part of the process of licensing to write workers' compensation insurance in this Commonwealth, the Insurance Department will forward to the Bureau the report in subsection (a) for a determination of adequacy. The Bureau will provide a final determination of adequate or inadequate to the Commissioner.
A licensed insurer shall, by June 1 of each year, provide the Bureau with information concerning accident and illness prevention services offered or provided to the insurer's policyholders during the preceding calendar year. The information shall be provided using the AIPS report. In addition, documentation required by other governmental regulatory agencies can be used as supporting evidence of accident and illness prevention services. Report information shall be subject to Bureau verification.
(5) The dates on which services were provided and the policyholder's responses to proposed corrective actions.
(a) The Bureau may audit an insurer's accident and illness prevention services at least once every 2 years.
(b) The Bureau may audit an insurer's accident and illness prevention services if the insurer fails to file an AIPS by specified time frames or fails to meet the requirements of this subchapter.
(a) The audit of the insurer's accident and illness prevention services will take place at the insurer's main office in this Commonwealth unless otherwise agreed by the Bureau and the insurer. If the insurer has no office in this Commonwealth, the audit will take place at the Bureau's headquarters.
(b) At the site where the audit will occur, the insurer shall provide the documentation required by § 129.108 (relating to record keeping requirements) and any other documentation chosen by the insurer supporting the existence and adequacy of required services.
(a) After the conclusion of the audit, the Bureau will issue a written report containing its findings. The report will indicate whether the Bureau has issued a final determination of adequate or an initial determination of inadequate with regard to an insurer's accident and illness prevention services.
(c) The Bureau will provide written notification to the insurer of specific deficiencies and recommendations for corrective action if it assigns an initial determination of inadequate. Within 60-calendar days from the date of the audit report, the insurer shall provide written documentation that it has complied with the Bureau's recommendations. If the insurer believes that it will take more than 60 days to implement the recommendations, it shall file a plan of correction in accordance with § 129.113 (relating to plan of correction/reports of progress on correcting deficiencies). At the end of the 60-calendar day correction period, a final determination of adequate or inadequate will be assigned. The insurer will receive notification of this final determination. The Commissioner will receive notification of final determinations of inadequate.
An insurer shall file a plan of correction to implement audit report recommendations referenced in § 129.112(c) (relating to written report of audit) for any deficiency requiring more than 60 days to correct. The plan shall include a timetable for correction acceptable to the Bureau. Progress reports shall be filed by the insurer detailing corrective actions at the end of each 30-day period of the correction plan period. The Bureau may audit the insurer's accident and illness prevention services if the insurer fails to file progress reports, implement recommendations, or provide acceptable documentation of corrective actions. At the end of the correction plan period, a final determination of adequate or inadequate will be made, and the insurer will be notified of the determination. The Commissioner will be notified of final determinations of inadequate.
This subchapter interprets the requirements of the act that an individual self-insured employer shall maintain an adequate accident and illness prevention program as a prerequisite for retention of its self-insured status. The subchapter establishes the criteria that the Bureau will employ in determining the adequacy of the accident and illness prevention program required to be maintained by an individual self-insured employer.
(3) Assignment of responsibilities for developing, implementing and evaluating the accident and illness prevention program.
(5) Methods for identifying and evaluating hazards and developing corrective actions for their mitigation.
(6) Industrial hygiene surveys required by the nature of the individual self-insured employer's workplace and worksite environments, for example, air quality testing.
(7) Industrial health services required by the nature of the individual self-insured employer's workplace environment, for example, health screenings, substance abuse awareness and prevention training programs.
(8) Accident and illness prevention orientation and training.
(9) Regularly reviewed and updated emergency action plans.
(10) Employee accident and illness prevention suggestion and communications programs.
(11) Mechanisms for employee involvement, which may include establishment of a workplace safety committee as described in Subchapter F (relating to workplace safety committees).
(12) Established safety rules and methods for their enforcement.
(13) Methods for accident investigation, reporting and recordkeeping.
(14) Prompt availability of first aid, CPR and other emergency treatments.
(i) Comparison of the individual self-insured employer's incidence rate as derived using the OSHA/BLS formula to the current OSHA/BLS industry-wide rate published annually in the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
(ii) Comparison of individual employer injury and illness rates determined by means of a formula prescribed by the Bureau to current, Statewide rates by industry published annually by the Bureau in the Pennsylvania Work Injuries and Illnesses Report.
(v) Other methods used by individual self-insured employers deemed appropriate by the Bureau.
(xi) Other protocols as may be appropriate for the individual self-insured employer's operations.
(a) Accident and illness prevention services providers employed by an individual self-insured employer or serving through a contract to perform accident and illness prevention services shall meet the requirements in Subchapter E (relating to accident and illness prevention services providers requirement).
(b) The Bureau may require that the individual self-insured employer provide documentation or evidence to support that the requirements for accident and illness prevention services providers have been met by each individual providing accident and illness prevention services, whether employed or under contract, based on the criteria in Subchapter E.
(a) As part of its application for individual self-insurance status submitted to the Bureau, an applicant for individual self-insurance status shall provide the Bureau with detailed information on its accident and illness prevention program as required under § 129.402 (relating to program requirements) using form LIBC-221E, Initial Report of Accident and Illness Prevention Program.
(b) As part of the process of granting individual self-insurance status, the Bureau will use this information to determine whether to grant individual self-insurance status.
(a) At the time of reapplication for renewal of self-insurance status, an individual self-insured employer shall, as required under section 815 of the act (77 P. S. § 1036.15), provide the Bureau with detailed information on its accident and illness prevention program using the AIPPS report, for the last complete fiscal year preceding the date of the renewal application.
(b) In addition, documentation required by other governmental regulatory agencies can be used as supporting evidence of accident and illness prevention programs.
(c) Report information shall be subject to Bureau verification.
Upon receipt of a report required under § 129.404 (relating to reporting requirements for individual self-insurance status employers), the Bureau will review the report data and make a final determination of adequacy or an initial determination of inadequacy of programs. An inadequate determination may result in an audit of services before a final determination is made. The Bureau will provide notification to the employer of its final determination.
(1) Number and dates of surveys conducted.
(2) Proposed corrective actions and their disposition.
(5) Analyses of accident causes.
(6) Industrial hygiene services provided.
(7) Industrial health services provided.
(8) Qualified service providers utilized to provide program services whether contracted or employed.
(a) The Bureau may audit an individual self-insured employer's accident and illness prevention program at least once every 2 years.
(b) A combined audit may be conducted for affiliated companies of an individual self-insured employer if the same facilities, accident and illness prevention program, and accident and illness prevention services providers are used by each of the companies.
(c) The Bureau may audit an individual self-insured employer's accident and illness prevention program if the individual self-insured employer fails to file an AIPPS by specified time frames or fails to meet the requirements of this subchapter.
(e) At least 60 calendar days prior to an audit, the Bureau will notify the individual self-insured employer in writing of the date on which the audit will occur.
(1) If not already submitted, a completed annual AIPPS report for the most recently completed fiscal year and, if requested, the AIPPS reports for the 2 preceding consecutive fiscal years including those of its affiliated companies, if applicable.
(2) The name, address and telephone number of the contact person.
(3) A description of the types of accident and illness prevention program services provided during the last completed fiscal year.
(4) The name, address, business telephone number, credentials, experience and status (whether employed or contracted) of each person acting as an accident and illness prevention services provider for the individual self-insured employer.
(b) At least 15-calendar days prior to the date of the audit, the individual self-insured employer shall provide the Bureau with information on forms prescribed by the Bureau that describe the employer's accident and illness prevention program.
(c) If the information necessary for the audit is not furnished, the Bureau may cancel the audit, and a final determination of inadequate will be forwarded to the Director. The Director will provide notification of its final determination to the employer and initiate appropriate action regarding continuance of self-insurance status. A final determination of inadequate may be challenged by the individual self-insured employer in accordance with Subchapter G (relating to hearings).
(a) The audit of the individual self-insured employer's accident and illness prevention program will take place at the employer's main office in this Commonwealth unless otherwise agreed by the Bureau and the employer. If the individual self-insured employer has no office in this Commonwealth, the audit will take place at the Bureau's headquarters.
(b) At the site where the audit will occur, the individual self-insured employer shall provide the documentation required by § 129.406 (relating to report findings) and any other documentation chosen by the employer supporting the existence and adequacy of required program elements.
(a) After the conclusion of the audit, the Bureau will issue a written report containing its findings. The report will indicate whether the Bureau has issued a final determination of adequate or an initial determination of inadequate with regard to an individual self-insured employer's accident and illness prevention program.
(b) The Bureau will notify the individual self-insured employer of a final determination of adequate.
(c) The Bureau will provide written notification to the individual self-insured employer of specific deficiencies and recommendations for corrective action if it assigns an initial determination of inadequate. Within 60 calendar days from the date of the audit report, the individual self-insured employer shall provide written documentation that it has complied with the Bureau's recommendations. If the individual self-insured employer believes that it will take more than 60 days to implement the recommendations, it shall file a plan of correction in accordance with § 129.412 (relating to plan of correction/reports of progress on correcting deficiencies). At the end of the 60 calendar day correction period, a final determination of adequate or inadequate will be assigned. The individual self-insured employer will receive notification of this final determination.
An individual self-insured employer shall file a plan of correction to implement audit report recommendations referenced in § 129.411(c) (relating to written report of audit) for any deficiency requiring more than 60 days to correct. The plan shall include a timetable for correction acceptable to the Bureau. Progress reports shall be filed by the individual self-insured employer detailing corrective actions at the end of each 30-day period of the correction plan period. The Bureau may audit an individual self-insured employer's accident and illness prevention program if an individual self-insured employer fails to file progress reports, implement recommendations or provide acceptable documentation of corrective actions. At the end of the correction plan period, a final determination of adequate or inadequate will be made, and the individual self-insured employer will be notified of the determination.
An individual self-insured employer may contest a final determination of inadequate under Subchapter G (relating to hearings).
(xi) Other protocols or standard operating procedures appropriate for members' workplace and worksite operations.
(2) Analyses of the causes of accidents and illnesses at the members' worksites.
(3) Providing or proposing corrective actions in the area of industrial hygiene services as requested by the group self-insurance fund member or as determined by the group self-insurance fund to meet the group self-insurance fund members' operational requirements, for example, air quality testing.
(4) Providing or proposing corrective actions in the area of industrial health services as requested by the group self-insurance fund member or as determined by the group self-insurance fund to meet the group self-insurance fund members' operational requirements, for example, health screenings or substance abuse awareness and prevention training policies and programs.
(3) The dates of the group self-insurance fund's responses.
(a) The Bureau may audit a group self-insurance fund's accident and illness prevention program at least once every 2 years.
(b) The Bureau may audit a group self-insurance fund's accident and illness prevention program if the group self-insurance fund fails to file an AIPPS report by specified time frames or meet the requirements of this subchapter.
(c) At least 15-calendar days prior to the date of the audit, the group self-insurance fund administrator shall provide the Bureau with information on forms prescribed by the Bureau that describe the selected group self-insurance fund member's accident and illness prevention program.
(a) The audit of the group self-insurance fund's accident and illness prevention program will take place at the group self-insurance fund administrator's main office in this Commonwealth unless otherwise agreed by the Bureau and the group self-insurance fund administrator. If the group self-insurance fund has no office in this Commonwealth, the audit will take place at the Bureau's headquarters.
(a) After the conclusion of the audit, the Bureau will issue a written report containing its findings. The report will indicate whether the Bureau has issued a final determination of adequate or an initial determination of inadequate with regard to a group self-insurance fund's accident and illness prevention program.
(c) The Bureau will provide written notification to the group self-insurance fund administrator of specific deficiencies and recommendations for corrective action if it assigns an initial determination of inadequate. Within 60-calendar days from the date of the audit report, the group self-insurance fund shall provide written documentation that it has complied with the Bureau's recommendations. If the group self-insurance fund believes that it will take more than 60 days to implement the recommendations, it shall file a plan of correction in accordance with § 129.463 (relating to plan of correction/reports of progress on correcting deficiencies). At the end of the 60-calendar-day correction period, a final determination of adequate or inadequate will be assigned. The group self-insurance fund administrator will receive notification of this final determination.
A group self-insurance fund shall file a plan of correction to implement audit report recommendations referenced in § 129.462(c) (relating to written report of audit) for any deficiency requiring more than 60 days to correct. The plan shall include a timetable for correction acceptable to the Bureau. Monthly progress reports shall be filed by the group self-insurance fund detailing corrective actions at the end of each 30-day period of the correction plan period. The Bureau may audit a group self-insurance fund's accident and illness prevention program if the group self-insurance fund fails to file progress reports, implement recommendations, or provide acceptable documentation of corrective actions. The group self-insurance fund will be notified of the determinations made by the Bureau.
This subchapter sets forth the requirements for accident and illness prevention services providers. These requirements apply only to those individuals either directly employed by or retained under contract with either a workers' compensation insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund and who provide accident and illness prevention services for the workers' compensation insurers' policyholders, the individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund members. Procedures by which organizations and associations may apply for recognition of credentials are also outlined.
(a) A workers' compensation insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund shall directly employ accident and illness prevention services providers or shall retain contracted accident and illness prevention services providers who meet the requirements as described in this section to provide accident and illness prevention services.
(e) The 2 years of accident and illness prevention experience required in subsection (d) shall include current, full-time professional experience providing accident and illness prevention services which accounts for at least 60% of the individual's activities. Acceptable activities include: identifying hazards; conducting safety and health surveys; proposing corrective actions; analyzing accident causes; and recommending or providing industrial hygiene and industrial health surveys and consultations.
Proof of an individual's credentials and experience as an accident and illness prevention services provider shall be maintained by the insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund. For audit purposes, the proof of credentials and experience for each accident and illness prevention services provider shall be retained for the most complete current year and 2 preceding consecutive years.
(c) Applications shall be submitted to the Bureau between 90 -- and 30-calendar days prior to the annual renewal of a workers' compensation policy, self-insurance renewal year or group self-insurance fund year.
(a) An applicant-employer's committees shall be located within this Commonwealth.
(2) Join the committee for a continuous term of 1 year from the date of the first meeting attended. Records of member rotation shall be maintained by the applicant-employer for 5 years from the date of the Bureau's receipt of the application.
(2) Reviewing the applicant-employer's hazard detection and accident and illness prevention programs and formulating written proposals.
(1) Develop operating procedures, such as rules or bylaws, prescribing the committees' duties.
(a) If the Bureau determines that the applicant-employer's committees meets the requirements, it will send a letter of certification approval to the applicant-employer. The Bureau will grant certification approval to an applicant-employer who, by signing the acknowledgements and agreements page of the application, agrees to continue to operate the workplace safety committee according to all requirements upon which initial certification is based. The employer may not disband committees except for valid business reasons.
(b) The insured applicant-employer shall submit a copy of the letter of certification approval to its insurer to receive an initial 5% reduction of its workers' compensation premium. The reduction will be effective upon the commencement of the policy renewal period next following the date of Bureau certification. An applicant-employer who is a member of a group self-insurance fund established to grant a 5% reduction in annual member contributions, shall submit a copy of the letter of certification to its group self-insurance fund administrator to receive the initial 5% contribution reduction. The reduction will be effective at the commencement of the next group self-insurance fund year following certification.
(d) If an application is disapproved, the applicant-employer will receive written notification listing specific reasons for disapproval. The applicant-employer may resubmit a corrected application for reconsideration prior to the renewal of its workers' compensation policy, self-insurance renewal year or group self-insurance fund year. The applicant-employer may challenge the disapproval determination under Subchapter G (relating to hearings).
(a) After initial certification, the applicant-employer may, using form LIBC-372R, Certification Renewal Affidavit of Workplace Safety Committee, apply to the Bureau for renewal of its initial safety committee certification. Affidavits will be generated by the Bureau and provided to eligible applicant-employers for submission. Affidavits shall be submitted to the Bureau between 90 and 15 calendar days prior to the annual renewal of a workers' compensation policy, self-insurance renewal year or group self-insurance fund year. Certification may be renewed for a total of 4 remaining years after the initial certification.
(d) An insured applicant-employer shall submit a copy of the letter of certification renewal to its insurer to receive a 5% premium reduction of its workers' compensation insurance premium at the next renewal premium period following the date of Bureau certification renewal. An applicant-employer who is a member of a group self-insurance fund established to grant a 5% reduction in annual member contributions, shall submit a copy of the letter of certification renewal approval to its group self-insurance fund administrator to receive the renewal 5% contribution reduction. The reduction will be effective at the commencement of the next group self-insurance fund year following certification renewal.
(f) If a renewal affidavit is disapproved, the Bureau will notify the applicant-employer of the specific reasons for disapproval. The applicant-employer may resubmit a corrected renewal affidavit for reconsideration prior to the renewal of its workers' compensation policy, self-insurance renewal year or group self-insurance fund year. The applicant-employer may challenge the disapproval under Subchapter G (relating to hearings).
Copies of the required documents of the functioning committee as defined in §§ 129.1005(c) and 129.1006(e) (relating to committee responsibilities; and committee member training) shall be retained by the applicant-employer for 5 years.
This subchapter sets forth the process to be followed for hearings related to appeals of final determinations of inadequate as they pertain to accident and illness prevention services and programs, final determinations of approved or disapproved as they pertain to a workplace safety committee initial application or renewal affidavit, denials of recognition as an accident and illness prevention service provider or denials of credential recognition.
(a) A party contesting a final determination shall file an original and two copies of a written request for a hearing to the Director within 30 calendar days of the date of the determination. The hearing request shall be made to the Bureau at the address listed on the determination.
(b) A proof of service indicating the date and form of service of the written request for a hearing shall be provided to the Bureau at the time the request for hearing is filed.
(a) The Director will assign requests for hearings to an impartial hearing officer who will schedule a de novo hearing. The hearing officer will provide notice to parties of the hearing date, time and place.
(b) The hearing will be conducted in a manner to provide the parties with an opportunity to be heard. The hearing officer will not be bound by strict rules of evidence.
(c) Testimony will be recorded and a full record kept of the proceeding.
(d) Following the close of the record, the hearing officer will issue a written final decision and order.
(e) Any party to the hearing aggrieved by a decision rendered under subsection (d) may, within 30 days, appeal the decision to the Commonwealth Court. The hearing officer's determination will include a notification to the parties of their appeal rights.
(f) Subsections (a) -- (e) supplement 1 Pa. Code Part II (relating to the General Rules of Administrative Practice and Procedure).
(g) If, after all appeals have been exhausted, the group self-insurance fund or individual self-insured employer is subject to a final determination that its accident and illness prevention program is inadequate, the group self-insurance fund or individual self-insured employer's certificate to self-insure its obligations under the act shall be void. The group self-insurance fund or individual self-insured employer's failure to properly insure its obligations under the act, through an insurer licensed to provide that coverage in this Commonwealth, within 15 days of the final determination may result in criminal liability under section 305 of the act (77 P. S. § 501).
(h) If, after all appeals have been exhausted, the insurer is subject to a final determination that its accident and illness prevention program is inadequate, the Bureau will notify the Commissioner that the insurer has failed to comply with section 1001(a) of the act (77 P. S. § 1038.1(a)). In that notification, the Bureau may recommend that the insurer's license to write that insurance in this Commonwealth be revoked.
Whenever the Department has information, through its own investigation or through complaint by any party, upon which it believes that an insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund has failed to establish, maintain or provide accident and illness prevention programs or services, using qualified personnel, and to provide proof of those programs or services required under the act, or upon which it believes that an applicant-employer has misrepresented that it has established or maintained a certified workplace safety committee according to Department criteria, the Department may serve upon the insurer, individual self-insured employer or group self-insurance fund, or applicant-employer an order to show cause why the respondent should not be found in violation of Chapter 7E of the act (77 P. S. §§ 1038.1 and 1038.2) or related regulations and civil penalties assessed. The order to show cause will set forth the particulars of the alleged violation.
(7) This section supersedes 1 Pa. Code §§ 35.14 and 35.37 (relating to orders to show cause; and answers to orders to show cause).

References: § 129
 § 1038
 § 129
 § 1036
 § 129
 § 501
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 1036
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 129
 § 501
 § 1038