ARKANSASa OKLAHOMA

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EIY NOW, maybe you have heard of Elhe tremendous results attained by the Mid-America Lumbermens Association workers' compensation pool this past year.

The 370 firms participating in the association workers' compensation savings plan have received dividend checks totaling $337,212. For over 30 consecutive years the association has returned a dividend to the dealers who have placed their workers' compensation insurance with the association program. The largest participation check exceeded $16,500.

Although workers' compensation premiums are set by state law, there are some variances. AII in all, most premiums for workers' compensation, regardless of the insurance company writing the policy, are similarly priced. Most insurance companies, rather than refunding money back to the insureds, would put good experience results in the high profit category. That is to say that good experience results would result in more money to the insurance company rather than less premium paid by you, the insured.

The Mid-America Lumbermens Association is interested in seeing your business thrive and continue for many years, One way that this is possible is by provid- ing you with fair and reasonable insurance products. When the losses are not great, it makes sense to reward the participants who diligently try to run safe and profitable yards. The Mid-America Lumbermens Association in Arkansas and Oklahoma endorse s Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance and works closely with the LUA because it is our belief that no other insurance company knows your business better than they do. They're experts in the lumber field and their policies are geared toward your business. lf you want to be included in the type of potential dividends such as were received by the workers' compensation pool participants this year, call us or tell your MLA field representative the next time he is in your yard, so we can contact you as soon as possible regarding the fine insurance products available through Mid-America Lumbermens Association and Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance. lf your insurance company is not offering the kind of potential return that is available through the Mid-America Lumbermens Association and Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance, then you are paying too much for your insurance. This potential for return and lower prices is possible not only on the workers' compensation policies but also through the property and casualty and group health plans.

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executlvc vlce prcrldent employees submit to a lie detector examination when filing worker's compensation claims. r|q{E following is an excerpt from a I letter written bv our attornev. Robert Bass, in answer.to a question from a member concerning a requirement that

Timber Producfs Inspection, lnc.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION AITD QUALITY CONTROL SER. VICES FOR ALL WOOD PRODUCTS, AND ALL SPECIES, TNCLUDING GRADEMARKING OF LUMBER UNDER THE ALSC PROGRAM, QUALITY MARXING OF TREATED LUMBER UNDER THE AWPB PROGRAM, AND QUAUTY CONTROL/QUALITY MARKING PROGRAMS FOR FIRE RETARDANT TREATED WOOD,TRUSSES, AND BUILDING LOGS. SERVICES TNCLUDE TRATNING, QUALI. TY MONITORING, CERTIFICATION, SAMPLTNG, REINSPECTTON, SPECIFTCATION WRITING AND/OR CLARIFICATION AND CONSULTATION ON LUMBER

(TREATED/UNTREATED), TRUSSES, PLYWOOD, POLES, CROSS TIES, FINGER. JONT, T.AMINATED STOCK, AND BUILDING LOGS.

84 CCA C 8s ABOVE GROUNO lP-2 .25 ORY

"...While Texas law does not, to my knowledge, prohibit employers from requiring employees to take lie detector examinations, it does prohibit the admissibility of such test results into evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding. In other words, if an employee is terminated because he failed the lie detector test, the employer would not be able to introduce the reason for firing the employee (the test results) in any proceeding for wrongful discharge.

"As you know, there is a growing problem with discharged employees suing former employers for racial or sexual discrimination. If the employee was terminated solely on the gorund of a failed lie detector test, the employer could not justify the termination in the discrimination suit.

"The problem is even more acute in the worker's compensation area. Article 8307c of Vernon's Revised Civil Statutes prohibits any employer from discriminating against (i.e. firing) an employee for filing a worker's compensation claim. Thus, if a claimant is fired solely on the ground that he failed a lie detector test,

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Texas

(Continued from previous page) the employer would almost certainly be successfully sued under this statute.

"I would certainly discourage any general implementation of such a policy and would be reluctant to use it even in selected situations. Such tests are still looked upon with extreme disfavor and suspicion by Texas Courts. If other evidence exists, the tests are usually unnecessary. If other evidence does not exists, the test results are useless... "

Dr. Bill Stewart, instructor for our estimating workshop, has advised the office that he will retire after he completes the September program. In view of this, the programs planned for October and January have been placed on hold pending the acquisition of another instructor,

It is estimated that more than 750 students have attended his workshops during the 15 years he has worked with us. He also is author of the L.A.T.'s estmating manual. He will be missed by the industry.

Thol's How h Goes!

Freight Bill Auditing Changes

With new deregulation rules, railroads are considering a change in the time limit for which claims for overcharges on freight bills can be filed from the current three-year period to nine-months. As a result, freight auditors recommend auditing freight bills everv six months.