Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado’s leading workers’ compensation insurer, is issuing its seventh consecutive general dividend. This year, $41 million will be distributed to more than 50,000 qualifying businesses — nearly 85 percent of policyholders — throughout the state.

The general dividend rewards Pinnacol policyholders who are committed to workplace safety and effective claims management practices. With the 2011 declaration, Pinnacol has returned more than $435 million in general dividends to Colorado businesses since 2005.

In the Denver metro area, more than $18 million will be awarded to businesses this year, bringing the seven-year total for the area to more than $214 million. A total of $1.4 million will be funneled to more 1,600 businesses in Douglas County.

“This dividend offers some relief to businesses that continue to feel the pain of the slow economic recovery. We hope it will help create more jobs and provide a boost to the state’s business climate,” said Ken Ross, Pinnacol president and CEO.

This year’s dividend is based on policyholder performance between June 2009 – June 2010. Dividend checks are calculated based on the size of a policyholder’s annual premium compared with claims costs.

Pinnacol’s policyholders represent the full spectrum of Colorado’s industries, high-tech, transportation, and agriculture.