Elevating Excellence: Recognizing Innovations in Workers' Comp and Injury Prevention

Join us in celebrating the evolution of workplace safety and injury prevention — introducing the Theo Award!

Like its predecessor the Teddy Award, this award was named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who enacted the country’s first significant workers’ comp legislation. With the Theo Award, National Comp and Risk & Insurance usher in a new era, recognizing the value in each solution, each investment, each piece of the puzzle that makes up a successful workers’ comp program.

What Sets the Theo Award Apart?

  • Expanded Industry Recognition: From Construction to Healthcare and Retail, we honor excellence across all sectors, showcasing diverse best practices in injury prevention and workers’ comp.
  • Focus on Modern Challenges: We seek leaders who innovate and adapt to today's workplace dynamics, from digital health solutions to comprehensive risk management strategies.
  • Celebrating Impactful Solutions: Whether simple safety protocols or complex rehab programs, we honor the initiatives and strategies that are making a tangible difference for injured workers and employers.

Broadening the Scope of Excellence

The Theo Award will honor winners across multiple industry categories. We recognize the value in learning about all effective workers’ comp and injury prevention solutions, including those tailored to specific industries.

What problem have you made an impact on? We want to hear about it. We seek solutions that run the gamut of successful outcomes. That can include solutions related to:

  • decreased injury frequency or severity
  • reduced medical spend
  • improved medical outcomes
  • safety process improvements
  • a more effective risk finance structure
  • streamlined claims management processes
  • faster return-to-work
  • decreased lost time

… and all the other workers’ comp and injury reduction successes you have cause to celebrate. No solution is too simple or too complex as long as it’s making a difference.

Share your success with National Comp and Risk & Insurance. Our goal is to recognize and share workers’ comp best practices of all kinds.

View 2024 Theo Award Winners

Theo Has 3 Questions for You

1. What was your challenge? 2. How did you solve it? 3. What were your results? Tell us your story. As you consider your responses, please keep these key criteria in mind:

  • Performance: If you didn’t measure it, it didn’t happen. What are the metrics you’re using to represent the success of your program?
  • Sustainability: How will this initiative continue to produce positive outcomes for your organization?
  • Adaptation: Each industry and each organization faces its own unique challenges – how was your solution tailored to fit your specific needs and processes? Include any technology implemented to achieve your goals.
  • Teamwork: Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Effective collaboration within the team, and with internal and external partners is vital. How has the collaboration and effectiveness of your stakeholder connections influenced the effectiveness of this solution?

Calling All Industries!

We invite employers of all sizes, in all industries, to apply for the The Theo Award. We also invite TPAs, brokers, carriers and all workers’ comp organizations to nominate their employer-clients implementing game-changing solutions. Theo Award categories listed below. When applying, please select the category from the drop-down menu that best aligns with your organization, or select "At Large" for other industry sectors.

Construction | Education | Entertainment & Events | Government & Public Sector  
Health Care | Hospitality & Food Service | Manufacturing/Heavy Industry
Power & Energy | Retail & Wholesale | Transportation & Logistics | At Large

Instructions & Application Process

Applying is simple! Tell us about your company and workers’ comp leadership. Then tell us about the problem you faced, the solution you created, and the outcome of the effort.  

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of judges, consisting of National Comp advisory committee members and industry experts.

2025 Application: Opening Soon

Please note that applications cannot be submitted via email. All applicants must complete the online application, with the option to include any necessary attachments.

Winning organizations agree to have a representative interviewed for a profile to be featured by Risk & Insurance®. The profile will be published on our website, in eNewsletters, the web digital edition, and mobile apps. Additionally, representatives from winning organizations will be invited to attend National Comp 2025 in Nashville, TN, from November 11-13, to participate in award-related content and celebrations.

Questions?

If there are any questions, please contact Michelle Kerr, R&I National Workers' Compensation Editor and Conference Chair at [email protected].