Colorado Business Resource Book

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Workers’ Compensation

All public and private employers in Colorado, with limited exceptions, must provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees if one or more full- or part-time persons are employed. A person hired to perform services for pay is presumed by law to be an employee. This includes all persons elected or appointed to public sector service and all persons appointed or hired by private employers for remuneration. There are a few exemptions to this definition.

Workers’ compensation insurance coverage is paid by the employer. Employers purchase insurance coverage through a commercial insurance carrier or, if qualified, through self-insurance programs. No portion of the premium may be deducted from an employee’s wages.

In Colorado, there are three ways in which an employer may obtain workers’ compensation coverage:

  • Commercial Insurance;
  • Self-Funding (Individual); or
  • Self-Funding (Groups and/or Pools)

Employer Requirements

  • Obtain and maintain workers’ compensation insurance
  • Display a Notice to Employer of Injury poster at all times
  • Keep a record of all lost time injuries and occupational diseases
  • Report lost time injuries by filing the Employer’s First Report of Injury with the insurer within 10 days (insurer sends form to Division)
  • File a Supplemental Report of Accident form with the insurer upon an employee’s return to work or termination from employment

What You Need to Know

Maintain a Safe Working Environment 

Certification status is granted by the Premium Cost Containment Board to employers who can document that they have had a loss prevention/loss control program in effect for at least one year. Certified employers are eligible for up to a 10% reduction in their workers’ compensation insurance premium. For more information, visit the Employer Safety & Loss Control page or contact Premium Cost Containment at 303-318-8644.

Injured Worker Exit Survey

Insurers are required to conduct a survey of injured workers’ satisfaction within 30 days after a claim is closed. The survey asks injured workers to respond to questions on courtesy, promptness of medical care, promptness of handling and resolving the claim, as well as overall satisfaction with the insurer. Access the survey results>

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All information within this resource book and website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal, tax, business or other professional advice. It is current to the best of our knowledge as of the date of publication. You should contact an appropriate professional to discuss any issue particular to you or your business and only rely upon your own research into those issues. Use of and access to this resource book or the associated website does not create any relationship between the publisher, authors, and the reader, or any other individual or entity. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS, THE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION IN THIS RESOURCE BOOK AND WEBSITE ARE DISTRIBUTED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.