Texas Workers' Compensation Compliance—Built for the Only Opt-Out State
Whether you're a subscriber filing DWC Form-001 or a non-subscriber managing negligence risk, AlignSure connects your compliance workflows to Microsoft Teams with full audit trails and evidence-ready documentation.
Why Texas Workers' Comp Is Unlike Any Other State
Texas is the only state where private employers can legally opt out of workers' compensation insurance. This creates two completely different compliance regimes—and AlignSure handles both.
Subscriber Employers
~33% of Texas private employers
- Exclusive remedy protection
Employees cannot sue for negligence—claims go through the DWC system
- DWC Form-001 required
Must file Employer's First Report of Injury within 8 days
- Experience mod impacts premiums
Claim frequency and severity directly affect insurance costs
- Return-to-work obligations
Must make good-faith efforts to accommodate injured workers
- Regulatory oversight by TDI-DWC
Subject to audits, reporting requirements, and administrative penalties
AlignSure for Subscribers:
Automated DWC Form-001 filing, experience mod tracking, return-to-work coordination, and TDI audit readiness.
Non-Subscriber Employers
~67% of Texas private employers
- No exclusive remedy defense
Injured employees can sue directly for negligence with no damage caps
- Must file DWC Form-005
Annual notice to TDI-DWC and employees of non-subscriber status
- Cannot use traditional defenses
Contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and fellow-servant defenses are unavailable
- OSHA 300 log still required
Federal recordkeeping requirements apply regardless of subscriber status
- Benefit plan documentation critical
Occupational injury benefit plans must be properly documented and administered
AlignSure for Non-Subscribers:
Incident documentation, OSHA 300 management, benefit plan tracking, and evidence-ready audit trails for litigation defense.
Regardless of subscriber status: Every Texas employer must report workplace fatalities to OSHA within 8 hours and hospitalizations within 24 hours. AlignSure tracks both timelines automatically.
DWC Compliance for Subscriber Employers
Texas subscriber employers face strict filing deadlines and regulatory requirements. AlignSure automates every step—from initial injury reporting through return-to-work coordination.
DWC Form-001 Automation
Pre-mapped fields, real-time validation, and automated submission to TDI-DWC. Never miss the 8-day filing deadline again.
- Pre-populated employer data
- Field-level validation before submission
- Automated deadline tracking
Experience Mod Tracking
Monitor your experience modification rate in real-time. Track the factors that drive your mod and model the impact of return-to-work improvements.
- Real-time mod projections
- Claim-level impact analysis
- Renewal preparation reporting
Return-to-Work Coordination
Structured transitional duty programs, medical restriction tracking, and milestone calendaring that reduce lost time and lower your experience mod.
- Transitional duty matching
- Medical restriction tracking
- RTW milestone automation
TDI Audit Readiness
Maintain audit-ready documentation at all times. AlignSure generates the evidence packages TDI-DWC auditors expect—before they ask.
- Complete filing history
- Timestamped action logs
- Reviewer accountability trails
Premium Optimization
Connect claim outcomes to premium impact. Model how faster return-to-work, lower severity, and reduced frequency affect your next renewal.
- Premium impact modeling
- Loss ratio analysis
- Stewardship reporting
Microsoft Teams Native
File reports, coordinate return-to-work, and manage compliance without leaving Microsoft Teams. No new platform to adopt.
- Teams-native workflows
- Entra ID integration
- SharePoint document storage
Non-Subscriber Risk Management
Two-thirds of Texas employers operate without workers' compensation insurance. Without the exclusive remedy defense, every workplace injury is a potential lawsuit. AlignSure builds the evidence portfolio your legal team needs.
The Non-Subscriber Risk Profile
Unlimited Liability Exposure
No caps on damages. Injured employees can recover economic losses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages through civil litigation.
Lost Traditional Defenses
Texas Labor Code §406.033 eliminates contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and fellow-servant doctrine for non-subscribers.
Employee Notification Requirements
Must file DWC Form-005 annually and post workplace notices. Must notify new hires in writing of non-subscriber status.
ERISA & Benefit Plan Complexity
Occupational injury benefit plans may trigger ERISA requirements. Improper administration creates additional legal exposure.
How AlignSure Protects Non-Subscribers
Incident Documentation System
Structured, timestamped incident reports with witness statements, photos, and investigation records. Every document is immutable and attorney-accessible.
Safety Program Evidence
Document training completion, safety meetings, equipment inspections, and hazard assessments. Build the evidence that your safety program is genuine—not just on paper.
OSHA 300 Log Management
Federal OSHA recordkeeping applies to all employers regardless of subscriber status. AlignSure automates 300, 300A, and 301 form management with proper classification.
Benefit Plan Administration
Track occupational injury benefit plan distributions, employee acknowledgments, and ERISA compliance documentation. Centralized records for legal and financial review.
Multi-Location Texas Compliance
Texas employers with multiple locations face compounding compliance complexity. AlignSure provides centralized oversight with location-level execution.
Centralized Dashboard
Single view across all Texas locations with drill-down to site-level compliance status, open claims, and pending filings. Corporate-level rollup reporting for executive oversight.
Location-Level Workflows
Each location gets jurisdiction-aware incident reporting, local safety committee tracking, and site-specific compliance calendaring. Location managers see only what they need.
Role-Based Access
Entra ID-powered access control ensures site managers, corporate risk teams, HR, and legal counsel each see appropriate data. HIPAA-compliant PHI handling across all locations.
Cross-Location Analytics
Compare incident rates, claim costs, and compliance metrics across locations. Identify high-risk sites, benchmark performance, and allocate safety resources where they're needed most.
Multi-State Support
Texas employers with operations in other states get jurisdiction-specific FROI mapping for all 50 states. One platform for Texas DWC compliance and multi-state regulatory requirements.
Automated Escalation
Configurable escalation rules ensure corporate risk management is notified of serious incidents, filing deadline risks, or compliance gaps at any location—in real time through Teams.
Built for Texas Broker & TPA Partnerships
AlignSure enhances your existing broker and TPA relationships by creating a shared compliance data layer that everyone can trust.
For Brokers
Real-time access to client compliance data transforms stewardship meetings from backward-looking reviews to forward-looking strategy sessions.
- Experience mod projections for renewal preparation
- Loss run analysis with trending data
- Client compliance scorecards
- Stewardship report automation
- Multi-client portfolio dashboards
For TPAs
Structured data feeds replace manual data collection. TPAs get cleaner claim data faster, reducing adjuster workload and improving outcomes.
- Automated FROI data for claim setup
- Return-to-work status updates in real time
- Medical restriction documentation
- Employer cooperation tracking
- Claim outcome analytics
For Carriers
Underwriting-grade data from the source. Carriers get the compliance evidence they need to price risk accurately and reward well-managed programs.
- Verified safety program documentation
- Return-to-work program metrics
- Compliance trend data
- Loss control evidence packages
- Audit-ready documentation on demand
Texas Industry Compliance Focus Areas
Every Texas industry faces unique workers' compensation challenges. AlignSure provides industry-specific compliance mappings and risk management workflows.
Construction & Trades
Highest injury frequency in Texas
Multi-tier subcontractor compliance, OSHA recordkeeping, fall protection documentation, and craft-specific physical demands analysis.
- Subcontractor COI tracking
- OSHA 10/30 certification tracking
- Site-specific safety plans
Energy & Petrochemical
Highest severity claims in Texas
Process safety management, H2S exposure tracking, confined space documentation, and emergency response compliance for upstream and downstream operations.
- PSM/RMP compliance tracking
- Chemical exposure monitoring
- ISNetworld integration readiness
Healthcare
Fastest-growing injury category
Patient handling injuries, needlestick tracking, workplace violence documentation, and HIPAA-compliant injury reporting for healthcare employers.
- HIPAA BAA compliance
- Bloodborne pathogen tracking
- Safe patient handling documentation
Manufacturing & Logistics
Ergonomic & repetitive strain focus
Machine guarding compliance, ergonomic assessment tracking, forklift certification management, and warehouse safety documentation.
- Equipment lockout/tagout tracking
- Ergonomic assessment records
- Certification renewal automation
Agriculture & Ranching
Unique Texas regulatory exemptions
Agricultural employer exemptions, seasonal worker documentation, heat illness prevention, and equipment safety tracking for Texas farms and ranches.
- Seasonal worker compliance
- Heat illness prevention plans
- Agricultural exemption tracking
Professional Services
Growing ergonomic & mental health claims
Office ergonomics, slip-and-fall documentation, remote worker injury tracking, and workplace violence prevention for Texas-based professional firms.
- Remote work injury protocols
- Ergonomic workstation assessments
- Workplace violence prevention
Texas Regulatory Landscape
Understanding Texas workers' compensation regulation requires navigating multiple agencies, deadlines, and compliance obligations. AlignSure maps every requirement automatically.
Key Regulatory Bodies
TDI-DWC (Division of Workers' Compensation)
Primary regulatory authority for workers' compensation in Texas. Administers the workers' comp system, resolves disputes, and enforces compliance for subscriber employers.
Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)
Parent agency overseeing DWC. Regulates insurance carriers, sets premium rates, and manages the Texas Mutual Insurance Company as insurer of last resort.
OSHA (Federal)
Texas does not have a state OSHA plan for private employers. Federal OSHA has direct jurisdiction. Recordkeeping (300 log) and reporting requirements apply regardless of subscriber status.
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
Administers unemployment insurance and workforce development. Workers' comp claims can trigger TWC reporting obligations for certain employment actions.
Critical Deadlines & Requirements
8 Hours: Fatality Report to OSHA
All employers must report workplace fatalities within 8 hours. AlignSure triggers immediate escalation and tracks OSHA notification compliance.
24 Hours: Hospitalization Report to OSHA
In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and eye losses must be reported within 24 hours. Automated deadline tracking ensures compliance.
8 Days: DWC Form-001 Filing (Subscribers)
Subscriber employers must file DWC Form-001 within 8 days of learning of a workplace injury. Penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
Annual: DWC Form-005 (Non-Subscribers)
Non-subscriber employers must file annual notice with TDI-DWC and post workplace notices informing employees of non-subscriber status.
Feb 1 – Apr 30: OSHA 300A Posting
All employers with 10+ employees must post OSHA Form 300A summary in a visible workplace location. AlignSure generates the form automatically.
Why Texas Employers Choose AlignSure
AlignSure is the only compliance platform built specifically for the Texas workers' compensation market—handling both subscriber and non-subscriber requirements in one system.
Texas-First Design
Built from the ground up for Texas's unique opt-out system. DWC Form-001, Form-005, and Texas Labor Code compliance mapped natively.
Microsoft Native
No new platform to adopt. AlignSure binds to Teams, Entra ID, and SharePoint—tools your Texas workforce already uses every day.
Evidence-Ready
Every action is timestamped, attributed, and immutable. Documentation meets the evidentiary standards Texas courts and TDI auditors expect.
Financial Impact
Connect compliance activities to premium savings, claim cost reduction, and experience mod improvement with built-in financial measurement.
Measurable Texas Compliance Outcomes
AlignSure delivers quantifiable results for Texas employers across subscriber and non-subscriber programs.
Automated field validation and pre-population eliminate the data entry errors that cause DWC rejections and penalties.
Structured transitional duty matching and medical restriction tracking accelerate RTW timelines and reduce lost-time claim costs.
Subscriber employers using AlignSure achieve below-average experience mods through better claim management and faster RTW.
Complete, immutable documentation for every compliance action. Ready for TDI audits, OSHA inspections, or litigation discovery.
Who AlignSure Serves in Texas
Risk Managers
Centralized visibility across all Texas locations with real-time compliance dashboards, incident analytics, and proactive risk identification.
General Counsel
Evidence-ready documentation for litigation defense. Immutable audit trails, witness statements, and investigation records meet Texas court evidentiary standards.
CFOs & Controllers
Financial measurement connecting compliance activities to premium savings, claim cost reduction, and experience mod improvement. ROI you can present to the board.
HR Directors
Streamlined injury reporting, return-to-work coordination, and employee notification management. HIPAA-compliant handling of medical information.
Safety Directors
Document safety programs, training completion, equipment inspections, and incident investigations. Build the safety culture evidence that reduces premiums and litigation risk.
Insurance Brokers
Real-time client compliance data for stewardship meetings, renewal preparation, and experience mod projections. Serve your Texas book of business more effectively.
Workers' Comp & FROI
Full workers' compensation management with FROI automation, RTW coordination, and experience mod tracking.
Job Validation & ADA
Validated essential duties enable transitional duty matching and ADA compliance for return-to-work programs.
Financial Measurement
Quantify Cost of Health, Cost of Risk, and the financial impact of your Texas compliance program.
Texas Workers' Compensation FAQ
What is the difference between a subscriber and non-subscriber employer in Texas?
Texas is the only state that does not require private employers to carry workers' compensation insurance. "Subscriber" employers opt into the Texas workers' compensation system through TDI-DWC, gaining liability protections but accepting regulatory obligations including DWC Form-001 filing and return-to-work requirements. "Non-subscriber" employers opt out, retaining flexibility but losing the exclusive remedy defense—meaning injured employees can sue directly for negligence with no cap on damages.
What is DWC Form-001 and when must it be filed?
DWC Form-001 (Employer's First Report of Injury or Illness) is the mandatory filing that subscriber employers must submit to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation within 8 days of learning about a workplace injury or occupational disease. Late filings can result in administrative penalties up to $25,000 per violation. AlignSure pre-maps all DWC Form-001 fields and validates data before submission.
How does AlignSure help non-subscriber employers manage risk?
Non-subscriber employers face unlimited negligence liability when employees are injured. AlignSure provides structured incident documentation, OSHA 300 log management, benefit plan administration tracking, and evidence-ready audit trails that strengthen your legal defense position. The platform documents your safety program investments, training records, and response protocols—building the evidence portfolio your attorney needs.
Does AlignSure support multi-location Texas employers?
Yes. AlignSure manages location-specific compliance requirements across all Texas operations with centralized dashboards and location-level reporting. Each location gets jurisdiction-aware workflows, local safety committee tracking, and rollup reporting for corporate oversight. Multi-state employers also get federal OSHA compliance mapping alongside Texas DWC requirements.
How does AlignSure work with our existing broker or TPA?
AlignSure is designed to enhance—not replace—your broker and TPA relationships. The platform provides real-time claim data sharing, experience mod projections, and stewardship reporting that your broker needs for renewal preparation. TPAs get structured data feeds for claims management. Your compliance data becomes the shared source of truth across all stakeholders.
What industries does AlignSure serve in Texas?
AlignSure serves Texas employers across construction, energy and petrochemical, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and professional services. Each industry vertical gets jurisdiction-specific compliance mappings, industry benchmarks, and regulatory tracking tailored to their risk profiles and Texas-specific requirements.
Ready to Simplify Texas Workers' Comp Compliance?
Whether you're a subscriber managing DWC filings or a non-subscriber documenting your risk management program, AlignSure gives you the compliance infrastructure Texas employers need—inside Microsoft Teams.
Serving subscriber and non-subscriber Texas employers across all industries