A push to improve workplace safety in Kentucky seems to be paying dividends.

A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Kentucky’s rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses hit an all-time low of 3.4 per 100 full-time employees in 2016. That rate is down from 3.7 in 2015 and marks the lowest rate since the federal government began collecting this data in 1996.

The recently released statistics on workplace safety represent a huge improvement for Kentucky, which had a rate of 8.4 incidents per 100 employees in 1996.

The record-low rate still leaves the state below the national norm for workplace safety. The bureau’s report said about 2.9 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses were reported nationally by private industry employers in 2016, resulting in a rate of 2.9 incidents per 100 employees.

Through a program called Kentucky Safe that has been in place for less than a year, the Labor Cabinet’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health Education and Training is providing training and consultations geared toward keeping injury and illness rates heading downward.

“These reports clearly show that Kentucky is moving in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done,” said Derrick Ramsey, Kentucky’s labor secretary. “Our mission at the labor cabinet is to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place by educating employers and employees about workplace safety so that the 1.9 million men and women working in Kentucky return home each day safe and sound.”

The head of one local industrial authority said the goals of Kentucky Safe are shared by southcentral Kentucky employers.

“We have a good safety record throughout southcentral Kentucky,” said Dennis Griffin, executive director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority. “We have communities that take it seriously.”

As an example, Griffin mentioned an electrical safety course being offered through the industrial authority Jan. 23. The Franklin Electric Plant Board, Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. and Simpson County Electrical Inspector Bob Matthews are involved in the half-day seminar that is offered free to local employers.

“It’s a way to further promote safety,” Griffin said. “We’ve done it the last several years.”

Such safety initiatives can have a big impact on a company’s bottom line, according to labor cabinet communications staff member Alexandria Englen.

She noted that employers nationwide pay almost $1 billion per week for direct workers’ compensation costs alone. Indirect costs such as accident investigation, corrective measures and repairs of damaged equipment and property only add to those costs.

– Follow business reporter Don Sergent on Twitter @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.