Minnesota workers’ compensation claims and insurance premium rates have fallen sharply since 1996, a trend state officials attribute to improved workplace safety efforts in construction and other industries. In this 2015 photo, Trevor Taylor, left, a fall-protection specialist for Maplewood-based 3M Co., and Jason Kunz, a 3M safety account representative, demonstrated safety equipment with help from a mannequin during an OSHA-sponsored event in Minneapolis. (File photo: Craig Lassig/Special to Finance & Commerce)

MN sees big drop in workers’ comp claims since 1990s

Construction has seen particularly notable improvements, and attributed that to a variety of changes: better training, more signage, hiring more safety professionals, setting up safety committees, contractors’ requiring lower accident rates from subcontractors, and other changes.