Utah's prosperity is defined in terms of business success and the creation of quality jobs throughout the state. As the state agency most directly involved in relations between employers and employees, the Labor Commission helps to set the stage on which economic success will occur. The following is a summary of Commission's 1000 Day Plan milestones to date:

Invest in People - Use workplace safety to protect Utah's investment in its skilled and educated workforce. Use the workers' compensation system to encourage investment in the rehabilitation of injured workers.

• Implementation of SHARP (Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program) by the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division (UOSH), a consultation program oriented towards small, high-hazard workplaces.
• Expansion of VPP (Voluntary Protection Program), a compliance program that promotes effective worksite-based safety and health.
• UOSH personnel have undergone professional training at the OSHA Training Institute (OTI), through the University of Utah Rocky Mountain Center.
• Payment of 1,900 claims for disabled injured workers through the Employers' Reinsurance Fund (ERF) and the Uninsured Employers' Fund (UEF).
• Adoption of medical fee schedule and guidelines on an annual basis to allow injured workers access to quality health care.

Technology Investment/employment/entrepreneurship - Continue a philosophy, backed by regulatory and adjudicative action, relying on flexibility, fairness and efficiency to create an environment that supports the growth and development of business.

• Adopted Utah occupational safety and health standards that are uniform with federal standards, to promote consistency and clarity.
• Utah's occupational safety and health rules made available to the public through the UOSH web page and the Workplace Safety web page.
• Implemented an electronic system to allow filing of safety and health complaints or request assistance from UOSH Consultation.
• Adoption of updated procedural rules to manage increasing litigation.
• Recruitment of additional Medical Panelists from the medical profession to expedite impartial review of workers' compensation claims.
• As of May 1, 2003, the time for issuing adjudicative orders has been compressed.
• Mediation efforts have reached the benchmark of resolving over 400 disputed workers' compensation cases and 50% of all complaints filed with the Antidiscrimination and Labor Division.
• Electronic interchange established between the Labor Commission and Workers' Compensation Fund for injury claims information.
• Electronic interchange established between the Labor Commission and all workers' compensation insurance carriers for policy information.
• Creation of a searchable database on the web for injury statistics.
• Creation of an automated Utah OSHA newsletter on the web.
• Participation statewide in New Employers' Workshop to educate employers about labor law requirements.
• Implemented electronic offices for all Safety Division inspectors, increasing field time of inspectors.
• Introduction of the Safety Division's check-off (punch) system, reducing paperwork as well as the lag time between inspection and the correction of violations.
• Adoption of the Safety Division motto: "How Can We Help You?" demonstrating an improved working relationship with the public and customers.
  

Life Quality - Apply the persuasive and investigative tools of Utah's Antidiscrimination Act and Fair Housing Act to encourage a community that respects and welcomes the diversity that can contribute to Utah's success. Likewise, apply workplace safety tools to promote the quality of life in the workplace.

• Qualification for federal Special Enforcement Funds in recognition of UALD's efforts to enforce federal and state fair housing laws.
• Implementation of UOSH Compliance Assistance position to provide general information about UOSH standards and compliance assistance resources.
• Achieved a 20% voluntary reduction of force in the Safety Division while maintaining the present work load and holding overdue inspections of boilers, elevators, and pressure vessels to an average of 5%.

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