BPW Health Screenings
Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter
Because of liability issues
Bamberg Board of Public
Workers Commissioners were
told they need to avoid
sponsoring an on-site work out
facility for their employees or
making contributions to a gym
membership. Instead of having
an on-site work facility for
employees or making
contributions to a gym
membership, Commissioners
will look at sponsoring health
screenings for BPW workers.
“We found out from the
insurance carrier in looking at
a facility for our employees to
work out, the insurance carrier
said don’t do it,” Board of
Public Works General
Manager Bruce Ellis told
Commissioners at their May 3,
meeting. Ellis said that if
someone hurt their back lifting
weights it would be covered
under Workman’s
Compensation because it is a
service provided by the
company.
BPW Assistant Manager
Will Martin said that he
received some basic
information from the
Municipal Association that
said most companies are going
away for on-site fitness
facilities because if an
employee gets hurt in a facility
or in a gym membership you
sponsor, “it could come back
to bite you.”
It was noted that the
Regional Medical Center
offers a wellness center where
they perform blood screenings,
provide health profiles, make
health recommendations, and
provide educational and
information sessions to
employers. The cost for the
health screenings are
estimated to cost between $40
and $45 per employee and it
was also noted that the
insurance company would pay
approximately $300 per
person for a screening.
Board of Public Works
Commissioner Buddy
Sandifer, who brought up the
idea of sponsoring a wellness
program for employees at last
month’s meeting, said he like
what he heard about the
program. “I think we should
pursue it, looking out for our
employees the best way we
can, because you don’t know
what you might pick up on,”
Sandifer said.
Martin said that he hoped
to have a finalized health
screening program to present
to the Commissioners at next
month’s board meeting.
