Workers Compensation Expense

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Workers Compensation Expense

Workers Compensation Expense

15. Workers Compensation Expense

The Company is liable under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969, as subsequently amended, to provide for pneumoconiosis (occupational disease) benefits to eligible employees, former employees and dependents. The Company currently provides for federal claims principally through a self-insurance program. The Company is also liable under various state workers’ compensation statutes for occupational disease benefits. The occupational disease benefit obligation represents the present value of the actuarially computed present and future liabilities for such benefits over the employees’ applicable years of service.

In October 2019, the Company filed an application with the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (“OWCP”) within the Department of Labor for reauthorization to self-insure federal black lung benefits. In February 2020, the Company received a reply from the OWCP confirming Arch’s status to remain self-insured contingent upon posting additional collateral of $71.1 million within 30 days of receipt of the letter. The Company is currently appealing the ruling from the OWCP and has received an extension to self-insure during the appeal process. The Company is evaluating alternatives to self-insurance, including the purchase of commercial insurance to cover these claims.

In addition, the Company is liable for workers’ compensation benefits for traumatic injuries which are calculated using actuarially-based loss rates, loss development factors and discounted based on a risk free rate. Traumatic workers’ compensation claims are insured with varying retentions/deductibles, or through state-sponsored workers’ compensation programs.

Workers’ compensation expense consists of the following components:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
	(In thousands)
Self-insured occupational disease benefits:
Service cost	$	1,949	$	1,891
Interest cost(1)		1,110		1,399
Net amortization(1)		591		297
Total occupational disease	$	3,650	$	3,587
Traumatic injury claims and assessments		1,805		2,182
Total workers’ compensation expense	$	5,455	$	5,769

(1) In accordance with the adoption of ASU 2017-07, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” these costs are recorded within Nonoperating expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations on the line item “Non-service related pension and postretirement benefit costs.”