News and Analysis
OMA will File 2019/20 Group Experience Rating Roster Soon
November 9, 2018Employers who have offers for workers’ compensation premium savings through 2019/20 group experience rating programs will want to enroll soon.
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has set November 19 as the final day for workers’ compensation third party administrators – including OMA Workers’ Compensation Services – to file their rosters.
OMA has set Monday, November 12 for employers to enroll to be sure there is time to finalize and quality-check its filing.
Employers who plan to enroll in OMA’s workers’ compensation group retrospective plans have until January 24, 2019 to enroll.
If you have questions or need extra time to enroll, please contact OMA’s Brian Jackson. 11/8/2018
OSHA Announces Site-Specific Targeting Program Based on Electronic Recordkeeping Rule Data
October 19, 2018This just in from OMA Connections Partner Dinsmore: “Yesterday, OSHA issued a Trade Release announcing the revival of its Site-Specific Targeting Program (SST or Program). As we forecasted when OSHA first published the Electronic Recordkeeping Rule (Rule), OSHA will use 2016 Form 300A data – which employers submitted last December – to target specific worksites for comprehensive, programmed inspections.”
Read more from Dinsmore about the program here. 10/18/2018
Where Does OSHA Stand on Safety Incentive Programs, Anyway?
October 19, 2018OSHA recently issued a memorandum clarifying the agency’s position that its rule prohibiting employer retaliation against employees for reporting work-related injuries or illnesses does not prohibit workplace safety incentive programs or post-incident drug testing.
The department believes that many employers that implement safety incentive programs and/or conduct post-incident drug testing do so to promote workplace safety and health.
Action taken under a safety incentive program or post-incident drug testing policy would only violate OSHA’s anti-retaliation rule if the employer took the action to penalize an employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness rather than for the legitimate purpose of promoting workplace safety and health.
For more information, see the memorandum. 10/16/2018
BWC Launches Opioid Workplace Safety Program
October 19, 2018BWC’s pilot program to support employers willing to hire workers struggling to overcome an addiction to opioids and other dangerous substances launched this month in three counties.
The Opioid Workplace Safety Program will provide up to $5 million over two years to help employers in Montgomery, Ross and Scioto counties hire, manage and retain workers in recovery.
BWC is partnering with county Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health boards to coordinate the pilot program. The boards will identify eligible employers and employees, disperse funding and measure results. 10/17/2018
Open Online Course: Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health
October 19, 2018The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has developed for leaders of small to midsize organizations a ‘Massive Open Online Course’ (MOOC) to show how a “Culture of Health” can transform businesses, improving employee well-being while increasing revenue.
The course contains nine one-hour sessions and is available to the public; it can be audited for free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee. More here. 10/17/2018
NIOSH Fact Sheet Addresses Opioid Overdoses in the Workplace
October 19, 2018National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has released a new fact sheet, Using Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose in the Workplace. It provides a series of steps for employers to consider when deciding whether to make the overdose reversal medication available in the workplace. 10/17/2018
In a Group Retrospective Plan? Your Billion Back is Coming
October 12, 2018The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has indicated that it will start sending Billion Back rebates the week of October 22nd to employers that participate in a group retrospective rating program. 10/11/2018
New Report: Ohio Workers’ Compensation Costs Drop Sharply
October 12, 2018According to a new report from the National Academy of Social Insurance: “In 2016, workers’ compensation benefits paid and employer costs as shares of covered payroll dropped dramatically in Ohio compared to the rest of the U.S. …
“In Ohio, workers’ compensation costs to employers as a share of covered payroll declined 13.8 percent in 2016. The decline in employer costs followed another large percentage decline in 2015. Altogether, workers’ compensation costs to Ohio employers fell 29.9 percent from 2014 to 2016, the largest two-year decrease in the country.”
Dr. Abe Al-Tarawneh, Chief of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Division of Safety and Industrial Hygiene, was quoted in the report, saying: “Declines were primarily driven by continuous decreases in the frequency and severity of injuries coming into the system.”
Read more here. 10/11/2018
OMA Safety & Workers’ Comp. Committee Meets Next Week – BWC COO to Speak
October 12, 2018OMA’s Safety & Workers’ Compensation committee meetings are where members catch up on news and policy to help them manage their programs.
The last scheduled committee meeting of 2018 is October 17 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The committee meets at the OMA offices (and a nice lunch is provided by the OMA).
Kevin Abrams, BWC Chief Operating Officer and Self Insured Director, is the featured speaker; he’ll provide the latest news and updates for both state-fund and self-insured manufacturers.
Please register here or call (800) 662-4463. (This registration link is unique to you.) Registration is required for in-person or call-in participation. 10/11/2018
Reminder: BWC Communications Down Oct. 13
October 5, 2018The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will be conducting routine maintenance that will impact internet and phone services on Saturday, October 13.
Due to this scheduled shutdown, BWC’s website will not be accessible nor will its automated phone service via 1-800-644-6292. All other BWC phones will go directly to voicemail. Website users will see a static page of information explaining the outage and will not be able to access any of the site’s functionality.
All systems will be up and running by start of business Monday, October 15, 2018. 10/1/2018