HELENA -- Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Friday unveiled a new safety and disability management program for state employees that is aimed at helping control rising worker compensation costs.

''Montana state government is the largest employer in the state, and our employees are the most important resource we have in serving the people of this state,'' Schweitzer said in a news release. ''I want our employees to come home every day without an on-the-job injury.''

Sheryl Olson, deputy director of the Department of Administration, said state agencies would pay about $17 million in workers compensation premiums in fiscal 2007.

''Those costs have been going up dramatically,'' Olson said. ''They're a huge expense of state government. We need to drive that cost down.''

The new program will focus on safety programs and disability management, Olson said.

The administration department will ask the upcoming Legislature for money to hire three new employees for the program, she said.

One will raise awareness among state employees about safety so they can prevent injuries on the job. That person will also search buildings looking for problem areas, such as steps where injuries are common or where there are hazards in hallways.

Another employee will work with hurt employees to make sure they get back on the job as soon as possible. The third will manage the program and work with state agencies to lower their premium payments, Olson said.

The most common injuries in state government are slips, trips and falls, Olson said. Repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back and neck strain, are also common.

All state managers were asked to attend a training session Friday to hear Richard Pimentel, a nationally renowned expert on reducing worker injuries.