Bureau of Workers' Compensation Celebrates 100 Years of Service

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) marks a century of progress at its annual educational conference in Murfreesboro which begins Wednesday, June 12.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the first workers' compensation bill in Tennessee, BWC will host a gala at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro.

"It will be an evening to remember and reflect on the changes in our country and the workers' compensation system in the last century and the impact that workers' compensation has on workers in Tennessee," said BWC Administrator Abbie Hudgens.

During the gala, BWC will announce the recipient of the inaugural Sue Ann Head Award for Workers' Compensation Excellence. Head was a longtime administrator for Tennessee's workers' compensation program. 

"There are many people who have made contributions to workers' compensation and we are excited about the opportunity to recognize some of them who exemplify the model of excellence and innovation personified by Sue Ann Head who was the administrator for almost 30 years," Hudgens explained.

Also to help celebrate the 100th anniversary, the Bureau produced a hardcover book that chronicles the history of workers' compensation in the state of Tennessee.

The three-day educational conference agenda has keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and there is an exhibit hall where attendees can get the latest information on products and services that impact workers' compensation.

Each year nearly 700 attendees from across Tennessee come to the conference to learn best practices from industry experts. This year, discussion topics range from accident prevention in the workplace, to ethical practices and dealing with opioids.

"Tennessee's conference is considered by many to be one of the best conferences on workers' compensation in the county, with an impressive range of topics and outstanding speakers," according to Hudgens.

A fundraising auction will also be conducted for Kids' Chance of Tennessee, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides assistance in the form of college scholarships to children whose parents were killed or catastrophically injured in a work-related accident. Applications will be made for continuing education credit for attorneys, rehabilitation providers, and human resources professionals and a certificate of completion will be provided for other disciplines.

The conference is sponsored by the Tennessee BWC, in association with the International Workers' Compensation Foundation (IWCF), a nonprofit corporation dedicated to workers' compensation research and education. The goal of this conference is to educate those who participate in the Tennessee workers' compensation system, regarding current and pending rules, procedures, policies and forms and to provide an opportunity for dialogue among those participants.