(Columbia-AP) Dec. 12, 2005 - Governor Mark Sanford is considering scrapping a program that makes it easier for employers to hire and keep workers with past workplace injuries.

The governor's office Monday released recommendations developed by a committee Sanford appointed as a response to rising worker's compensation rates.

Lewis Creel is the human resources director of Alcoa in Berkeley County and chaired the panel. He says in the report that the group focused on issues that will have the most effect improving the system.

One of the recommendations is doing away with the Second Injury Fund.

Rita Postell, a spokeswoman for Piggly Wiggly, says her company is not in favor of getting rid of the Second Injury Fund. The fund has paid nearly $2.5 million in claims to Piggly Wiggly since 2002.

The panel says that program no longer is needed because the Americans with Disabilities Act makes it illegal to discriminate against workers with disabilities.

Posted 4:40pm by Chantelle Janelle