News and Analysis
BWC’s ‘Other States Coverage’ Policy Updates
July 28, 2017Do you send employees outside Ohio to work? Do you wonder if you have adequate workers’ compensation coverage for them? If so, you may want to look into the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Other States Coverage option. This optional policy:
- Prevents workers’ comp coverage gaps;
- Protects you from penalties and stop-work orders in other states;
- Provides peace of mind for you and your workers at an affordable rate.
And if you already have a BWC Other States Coverage Policy, there is special information you need to know about true-up, audits and renewals in this BWC newsletter.
The BWC’s Other States Coverage Unit can be contacted at 614-728-0535. 7/27/2017
State Fund Employers: True-up by Aug. 15!
July 21, 2017The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) annual true-up process is now underway for Ohio private employers. Payroll true-up is an important step necessary for BWC to calculate your workers’ compensation premiums and for you to maintain your policy and participation in rating and discount programs.
True-up means you report your actual payroll for the prior policy year that ended June 30 and reconcile any differences in premium paid. The process is simple. Review true-up instructions here and here (video).
Remember, you must complete the payroll true-up report even if your payroll for the year matches the estimate BWC provided or if you had zero payroll.
BWC will remove employers from their current rating plan or discount program if payroll true-up is not received by August 15. You will also be ineligible for participation in future rating plans or discount programs until all outstanding payroll true-ups are complete. 7/14/2017
BWC Mailing Third Billion Back Rebate Checks this Month
July 21, 2017Employers’ “Third Billion Back” rebate checks from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) are on the way!
The checks will arrive in a white envelope labeled IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED and must be deposited before they expire in 90 days.
Employers are free to spend their rebates as they wish, but BWC CEO/Administrator Sarah Morrison hopes they will consider investing in workplace safety.
Here’s Administrator Morrison with the latest on the rebate in this short video.
This is the third $1 billion rebate in the last four years, made possible by an improving safety climate, prudent fiscal management and strong investment returns. Eligible employers will receive checks that total 66% of their premiums for the policy year that ended June 30, 2016.
Read more about the rebate here and learn about the second part of the plan – a $44 million investment in new health and safety initiatives – here. 7/14/2017
OSHA Proceeds with Electronic Recordkeeping Implementation
July 21, 2017The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will launch on August 1, 2017, the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). The web-based form allows employers to electronically submit required injury and illness data from their completed 2016 OSHA Form 300As. The application will be accessible from the ITA web page.
Last month, OSHA published a notice of proposed rulemaking to extend the deadline for submitting 2016 Form 300A to December 1, 2017, to “allow affected entities sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the electronic reporting system, and to provide the new administration an opportunity to review the new electronic reporting requirements prior to their implementation.”
According to OSHA, the data submission process involves four steps: (1) Creating an establishment; (2) adding 300A summary data; (3) submitting data to OSHA; and (4) reviewing the confirmation email. The secure website offers three options for data submission. One option will enable users to manually enter data into a web form. Another option will give users the ability to upload a CSV file to process single or multiple establishments at the same time. A third option will allow users of automated recordkeeping systems to transmit data electronically via an application programming interface.
The ITA web page includes information on reporting requirements, a list of frequently asked questions and a link to request assistance with completing the form.
We will update you as the proposed December 1, 2017 filing date approaches. 7/18/2017
BWC Employer Webinars Scheduled
July 21, 2017BWC’s 20-minute webinars are proving to be very popular! Next up: how to read your invoice and how to make a payment and understand your payment details.
You can view the webinars from the comfort of your office or attend in person at a location near you. By attending in person, you will have the opportunity to meet with a BWC representative.
Also, it’s not too late to sign up for the July 27 webinar on policy year 2017 renewal, the 2-percent early pay discount and future dating of payments. 7/14/2017
OSHA Published Guide on New Silica Dust Rule
July 21, 2017OSHA has released a Small Entity Compliance Guide for General Industry and Maritime to help small businesses comply with the agency’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica.
The guide describes the steps that employers are required to take to protect employees in general industry and maritime from the hazards associated with silica exposure. These requirements include: assessing worker exposures; using engineering and work practice controls to keep exposures below a specified safety threshold; and offering medical exams to certain highly exposed workers.
Enforcement of the final rule in general industry and maritime is scheduled to begin June 23, 2018. 7/18/2017
Employer Victory at BWC
July 14, 2017When Governor Kasich signed the Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) budget bill, a long sought provision was finally won by the employer community. For years workers had two years to initiate a workers’ compensation claim. Under the BWC budget bill (see analysis), a workers’ compensation claim arising on or after the bill’s effective date (unofficially late September) is barred unless the worker makes the claim within one year.
This is a big win for employers. The change has the potential to spur faster treatment to injured workers, cutting down on health care costs and reducing lost time and productivity. 7/13/2017
BWC Offers Future-Dating of Premium Payments
July 14, 2017The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has announced that a process for future dating payments is now available for customers through its website. Employers can schedule payments for their premium installments to ensure they maintain active coverage and comply with the true-up reconciliation.
The first day the offering was available, June 30, 650 payments for almost $2 million were scheduled for payment to BWC on July 3, 2017.
Here is more information from BWC about the service offering, and here are a few important points about future dating payments:
- ACH transactions only
- No credit card payments
- Your bank may require an authorization code from BWC, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide to its bank with the BWC debit blocker code: #3311334187
7/12/2017
Daily Safety Checklist for Powered Industrial Trucks
July 7, 2017Through its long-standing national alliance with OSHA, the Industrial Truck Association has developed a Sample Daily Checklist for Powered Industrial Trucks to help employers meet their obligation to train operators. Check it out here. 7/5/2017
OSHA Proposes Delay of Compliance Date for Electronic Recordkeeping Rule
June 30, 2017OMA Connections Partner, Dinsmore, posted this update on the OSHA electronic recordkeeping rule this week: “… OSHA announced it plans to publish a formal proposal delaying the compliance date of the electronic recordkeeping rule. … OSHA now proposes to postpone the deadline to December 1, 2017. According to OSHA, this would “provide the new administration an opportunity to review the new electronic reporting requirements prior to their implementation.” The delay would also “allow affected entities sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the electronic reporting system, which will not be available until August 1.”
“OSHA stating the electronic reporting system will be available August 1 is an indication the agency intends to move forward with its implementation of the rule. OSHA also notes, however, it “intends to issue a separate proposal to reconsider, revise, or remove other provisions of the prior final rule. …””
OSHA invites the public to comment on the proposed deadline extension. Comments may be submitted electronically. See the Federal Register notice for details. The deadline for submitting comments is July 13, 2017. 6/27/2017