The largest carrier of workers' compensation in New York is offering a premium credit program for personal protective equipment -- a move meant to make it easier for businesses and other workplaces to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The New York State Insurance Fund this week annonced the plan, which offers policyholders of workers compensation a 5% credit of their annual premium for the purchase of PPE supplies. The maximum reimbursement is $500. 

The creidt covers safety items for workers like masks, goggles, gloves, gowns and hand sanitizer. 

“With the PPE Premium Credit Program, we aim to assist companies around the state make the transition back to work in a safe and affordable way,” said Eric Madoff, the executive director and the CEO of NYSIF. “As a partner in safety, we are here to help our policyholders keep themselves, their employees and their businesses protected.”

New York gradually beginning reopening businesses in the spring after non-essential work halted in March and April in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The state has required businesses and other workplaces to have guidelines in place that include supplies of PPE for workers in addition to social distancing requirements.