North Dakota Workers’ Comp Handling More Out-of-State Claims

The boom in the western North Dakota oil patch has led to a workload increase for the state’s workers’ compensation agency.

The number of claims by workers from other states is expected to increase from about 2,700 in 2010 to about 6,000 this year. The number of claims by people working in oil field jobs is expected to rise from about 750 in 2010 to 3,400 this year.

Workforce Safety and Insurance Director Bryan Klipfel tells The Bismarck Tribune it’s harder to manage claims by workers coming from other states, because they often want to get treatment back home rather than in North Dakota.

WSI has added nine adjustors over the last couple of years and also is adding 32 temporary employees, bringing the agency’s workforce to about 270.