Workers' Compensation Management Bureau

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Welcome to the Workers' Compensation Management Bureau

The Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau (WCMB) supports state agencies in promoting safe and healthy workplaces for all employees. The WCMB provides expertise, guidance and resources to help prevent job-related injuries and illnesses through proactive safety programs, training, holistic risk management strategies, and return-to-work support.

By focusing on prevention, education, and effective claim management, the WCMB helps minimize the likelihood of workplace accidents and associated impacts

Our Services

The Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau (WCMB) works closely with State agencies and the State’s workers’ compensation insurer, Montana State Fund, to help prevent injuries at work, assist in the management of workers’ compensation insurance claims, and the Stay at Work (SAW)/Return to Work (RTW) process. Both work-related injuries (these happen at a specific point in time), and occupational diseases (these develop over time), can have many long-term impacts to both agencies and employees such as increased agency workers’ compensation insurance premium costs, business disruptions, financial hardship to employees, long-term disability, and an employee’s quality of life outside the workplace. Preventing injuries is always the best practice for employees and State agencies.

The diversity of work performed by state agencies requires a proactive approach to addressing risk and potential for employee injury. We work with agencies to conduct risk assessments, implement safety committees, accident investigation processes, and define workers' compensation and return-to-work programs.

Background

The Department of Administration’s Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau (WCMB) was established by statute (Montana Code Annotated Section 39-71-403(1)(b)(i)), in 2007 to address significant rising costs in workers’ compensation insurance premiums for State of Montana agencies. The WCMB serves as the central resource for agencies in managing workers' compensation insurance, and works to enhance existing safety, loss-prevention, risk management and return-to-work activities. When State agencies encounter a significant number of on-the-job injuries or illnesses it leads to higher costs for State agencies, which ultimately affects the bottom line for the State of Montana and results in the need for increased tax revenue to pay workers’ compensation insurance premiums.

WCMB and Montana State Fund

The WCMB works closely with Montana State Fund (MSF) to ensure service expectations for workers' compensation coverage are met for the State of Montana and all state agencies, and includes oversight of the activities of MSF safety management consultants, claims examiners, and underwriters.

Resources
Definitions
  • The WCMB Assists State of Montana agencies with preventing job-related injuries and/or illnesses, as well as managing workers’ compensation claims.
  • Montana State Fund: Provides workers' compensation insurance for State of Montana agencies.

 

Reporting

In Montana, an employee has 30 days to notify their employer of a work-related injury. Please note it is in an employees’ best interest to notify the employer and file the claim as soon as possible.

Once the employer has been notified of the injury, the department has six days to report the injury to their insurance provider.

Employee Responsibilities

If you have sustained a work-related injury, you must complete the following:

  1. Inform your supervisor immediately.
  2. Contact your Human Resources Department or safety officer to complete the First Report of Injury (Claim) Form as soon as possible. No later than within 24 hours of the injury.
  3. Complete department specific reporting and documentation procedures.

Employer Responsibilities

Upon notification of a work-related injury:

  1. Ensure appropriate first aid or emergency care is provided to your employee.
  2. Complete the First Report of Injury (FROI) online submission form through Montana State Fund.
    1. FROI Instructional Video

Fraud Reporting

To report suspicious activity or fraud, visit the Montana State Fund Fraud Reporting site. 

A Return-to-Work Program aims to facilitate employees' safe and swift return to work, preserving their physical capabilities and financial security while ensuring compliance with Montana's workers’ compensation laws. The State of Montana Return-to-Work Program Manual outlines the minimum requirements each agency should have in place to run an effective Return-to-Work Program.

How a Return-to-Work Program Can Help

Benefits to employees:

  • Recover more quickly
  • Experience smoother transition to regular duty
  • Minimize employee stress related to on the job injury
  • Continue, without disruption, receiving normal paycheck and state employment contributions and benefits
  • Maintain relationships with co-workers and management
Employers

All injury claims are different and with that come unique challenges.

Benefits to employers:

  • Maintain productivity in the workplace
  • Support the culture of caring for our employees
  • Provide a safe and timely transition back to work
  • Keep trained and experienced workers on the job
  • Minimize workers’ compensation costs

Employer resources:

The WCMB works with agencies who cannot accommodate an injured worker's restrictions by identifying and potentially placing them in another agency temporarily. The host agency that provides the temporary work receives the benefit of the experience and education of the injured worker, and the home agency continues to pay their salary.

At the WCMB, keeping workers safe is our top priority. We believe every employee deserves a safe and healthy place to work. Our safety program helps employers and employees prevent injuries, reduce risks, and follow safety guidelines.

We provide simple tools, resources, and support to make workplaces safer every day. By working together, we can create safer workplaces and protect the people who keep our agencies running.

The WCMB's Medical Surveillance Program is designed to proactively monitor and protect the health of State of Montana employees who may be exposed to occupational hazards. This program supports compliance with OSHA and other regulatory requirements while promoting early detection and prevention of work-related health issues.

The program is administered by Benefis Specialty Center in Helena, who works closely with the WCMB and each state agency to design medical surveillance services tailored to the state agencies' specific needs. The WCMB will work with each state agency to develop a medical surveillance program that aligns with operational and regulatory requirements and complies with the offerings of the Benefis Specialty Center contract.

Services

Medical Surveillance Exams

Medical surveillance exams provide data to detect early signs of work-related issues allowing for timely intervention, process modifications, or personal protective equipment adjustments before serious illness or accidents occur. By establishing baselines, tracking trends over time, and confirming fitness for duty, medical surveillance exams ensure compliance with OSHA standards and drive continuous safety improvements across the workplace.

Exams include Chest X-Rays, Urinalysis, CBC Panel, CMP Panel, Lipid Panel, Lead/Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP), Heavy Metals, Spirometry, Respiratory FIT test, and Audiogram.

  • Initial Exam - Establish baseline health status
  • Annual Exam - Monitor for emerging changes
  • Exit Exam - Document final health conditions to ensure ongoing workforce protection and regulatory compliance
Individual Specialty Screenings

Individual screenings are also available for agency employees. Refer to OSHA guidance on testing frequencies for each screening.

  • Audiogram - Tests hearing at different pitches to spot early hearing loss from workplace noise
  • Blood Lead Level (BLL) Blood Test - Monitors how much lead is in an employee's blood to spot any exposure early
  • CBC Panel - Detects anemia, infection, or blood issues which can reveal if workplace chemicals are impacting health
  • Chest X-Ray- Screen for early lung problems from dust, asbestos, or other irritants
  • Complete Metabolic Panel Urinalysis - Tests liver, kidneys, and other systems function to detect early signs of organ damage from work hazards
  • Fit for Duty Exam - Determines the employee's ability to safely perform their job
  • Respiratory FIT Test
  • Qualitative - Uses a machine to measure how much air leaks into the respirator and provides an exact fit score
  • Quantitative- Uses taste or smell agents to check if respirator seals properly
  • Spirometry (Pulmonary Function) Test- Assesses lung function by measuring how much air a person can inhale and exhale and how quickly
  • Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP) Blood Test - Monitors for long-term lead exposure

To get connected with Benefis Specialty Center in Helena, complete the State of Montana Medical Surveillance Examination Checklist for Services form and email it to Rob Virts at robert.virts@mt.gov. Rob is available to answer any questions and guide you through establishing a program at your agency.

New Employee Safety Video

Federal and State statutes require all new employees receive new employee safety orientation training. In addition, specific tasks may require employees to receive task specific safety training prior to starting work.

Your agency will ensure you receive the correct additional training to help keep you safe while at work.

This training is intended to provide general safety orientation training for state employees.

Accompanied with this video is a download handbook.

The new employee safety orientation explains how to assess the risks from a hazard and what to do. Included in this presentation are the minimum requirements for lifting and emergency actions along with guidance for supervisors and reporting an injury.

The State Safety Group was created to meet state statutory requirements for all agencies and to enhance the communication, training and support provided to all state agencies in managing their employee safety & health programs. This group exists to provide those holding safety responsibilities a quarterly opportunity to receive training, share ideas, suggestions, and network with other state agency safety personnel. The Safety Coordinator or Chair of each agencies Safety Committee represent their respective agencies on this group.

State employees with an interest in employee safety or workers' compensation are welcome to attend our quarterly meetings. Email WCMB@mt.gov for meeting details.

Upcoming Meetings

  • June 2025 - Annual Agency Renewal Meetings
  • October 23, 2025 - Virtual Meeting
  • December 2025 - Mid-Year Stewardship Meetings

Meeting Minutes

On this page you will find helpful tools to assist you in managing your employee safety program. These tools include safety topics, training, and resources to assist you in providing practical steps to protect your employees from injury and ensure the future success and growth of safety and health in your organization.

Click on the links to find helpful, practical information to get you started on your safety journey.

Lifting

Montana State Fund

OSHA/Compliance

Safety Committee Requirements

Return-to-Work/Stay-at-Work Program Education

  • Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work Program - Learn what a Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work program is, the roles and responsibilities within the Return-To-Work process, and how the Workers’ Compensation Management Bureau can assist you in your return-to-work efforts.
  • Return to Work Basics - Overview of the State of Montana return to work program that provides with knowledge and tools for managing a r return-to-work program.
  • The Internal Process - General overview of tools, statutes, and processes in place to manage workers’ compensation claims and return an injured worker to work following an injury.
  • Transitional Duty - Learn what transitional duty is and how it works in helping return an injured worker to work during their healing period.

WCMB Services

Note: WCMB Services are only available to state of Montana government employees.

  • For private sector, local government, and municipality workers' compensation inquires, contact:
  • For independent contractors workers' compensation exemptions:
  • For State of Montana Government Employees:
Main Email: WCMB@mt.gov
Main Phone: (406) 444-7462, (800) 287-8266, TTY (406) 444-1421
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 200130, Helena, MT 59620-0130