The Delaware Department of Insurance is getting some help from the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce in promoting its Workplace Safety Program, which allows businesses who meet safety criteria to earn lower rates on their workers’ compensation premiums.

Through the agreement, the CDCC will promote the program to its nearly 900 members through its print publication, electronic news bulletin and on its website. The program was created more than 20 years ago by the insurance department to help employers with exposure in Delaware establish and maintain safer than average workplaces and save money on their workers’ compensation premiums in return.

Karen Weldin Stewart

Under state law, qualifying businesses passing a department inspection can save up to 19% on their annual premiums. The department said to date, participating businesses have saved more than $6 million in workers’ compensation premiums.

“We’re pleased to be working with the CDCC to bring this highly beneficial program to a great number of Delaware businesses that might not otherwise be aware of it,” said Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart in a statement. “Small businesses are the life’s blood of Delaware’s economy and the Workplace Safety Program operates to significantly cut one of their most substantial costs of doing business.”

Judy Diogo, president of the CDCC, said the group is “thrilled” to promote the program and save its members money.

“We worked with the other chambers in the state to get legislation passed in the recent years to help reduce our members’ workers’ compensation costs overall and now they have this program to help reduce those costs even further,” Diogo said. “We see this as a great benefit to our members.”