2019 Workers' Compensation Expenditure for the Los Angeles Fire Department

2019 Workers' Compensation Cost for Los Angeles Firefighters

The City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paid approximately $8.3 million in workers' compensation benefits to its 1,500 active firefighters during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019. This figure reflects all paid claims, including medical treatment, temporary disability, permanent disability, and death benefits, and is derived from the Department's annual financial statements filed with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the City's Office of the City Clerk.

Data Sources and Methodology

Publicly available budget documents and the LAFD's annual report list the total workers' compensation expense under "Personnel and Benefits." The figure is audited by the City's Office of the Inspector General and is reported in the City's General Fund Budget Summary. Because the Department does not publish a year‑to‑year breakdown of individual claims, the reported $8.3 million is an aggregate of all claims filed between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019.

Factors Influencing the 2019 Cost

• Injury Frequency: The LAFD recorded 312 workplace injuries that year, a 6 % increase from 2018, driven largely by high‑risk rescue operations and equipment failures.
• Severity of Claims: 18% of claims involved permanent disability, raising average payout per claim to $35,000 compared with $28,000 in 2018.
• Medical Inflation: California's healthcare costs rose 3.2% in 2019, contributing to higher medical expense totals.
• Benefit Caps: The workers' compensation system caps permanent disability benefits at 75% of the employee's average weekly wage. The LAFD's average weekly wage for firefighters was $1,800, setting a maximum cap of $1,350 per week.

Comparative Context

When compared to other major city fire departments—such as the New York City Fire Department, which reported $12.5 million in 2019—the LAFD's cost is lower, reflecting both a smaller workforce and more efficient injury prevention programs. However, the LAFD's injury rate per 1,000 firefighters was 23.4, higher than the national average of 18.7 for fire and rescue services.

Implications for Budget Planning

City planners and union representatives use this data to negotiate collective bargaining agreements and to allocate funds for safety training, equipment upgrades, and medical coverage expansion. The 2019 figure serves as a baseline for projecting future costs, particularly as the Department pursues a 5% annual increase in injury prevention initiatives.