Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County is among the nonprofit organizations across Colorado participating in a new program helping injured workers return to the workforce.

Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurer in Colorado, launched the return to work program to offer injured workers light duty options while supporting local causes.

“Even as injured workers ease back into volunteering only a few hours a week, they see benefits such as opportunities to interact with others in a professional environment, the chance to test their bodies and provide feedback to their physicians and a return to the structure regular works provides,” said Nevine Laughlin, return to work director at Pinnacol Assurance.

Pinnacol consultants work with injured workers to find light- or modified-duty options and pair them with nonprofits if that constitutes a good option. Workers take on a variety of tasks, including answering telephones, assembling boxes of food, delivering donations, greeting customers and sorting donated clothing.

Consultants track the progress of injured workers and work with their employers to plan their return to work when they’re medically cleared to do so.

Nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado participate in the program, including ARC and Goodwill Industries.  The Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose also participates.

Pinnacol Assurance provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage to nearly 1 million workers in Colorado. For more information, visit the website at www.pinnacol.com.